New to this forum but not new to Starcraft boats. I've owned lots (newer models) and I posted a few of them on the Starcraft owner picture thread but this was purchased from NYS (freshwater only) and I imported it back into Ontario. Actually, I have purchased all of my Starcraft boats in the US with the exception of my first (1996 160 Fishmaster).
So, the boat. Yes, another Islander refurb thread but I've longed to own a hardtop the first time I saw a 26' hardtop on Lake O in the 1990's. Sure I owned a 2007 221V with a bimini and full enclosure previously, but I could not pass up this 1995 given the price. Ah, the price....cheap enough that I knew it was a deal but also cheap enough that I knew I needed to put some work into this so that it could be enjoyed for many more years. Here it is after I just brought it home.
One day after I purchased it, I buffed the snot of the exterior to remove all the oxidation it got from neglect as I could see the bigger picture and not the current state of affairs. This is what it looked like after 12 hours of buffing and waxing. Pictures do not do any justice as it came up looking great. The boat was used but not abused.....just neglected. Fortunately, I love making things look new and I love tinkering with boats.
Stupid me - I never got any before shots of the interior before I got to work on it. One of the previous owners glued down a rubber covering over the aft section of the floor on both the starboard and port sides. The floor above the tank is solid as is the floor in the cuddy. There is some minor water damage to the cuddy which I will correct but I'm leaving things otherwise in their current state. And that rubber flooring....it caused all the moisture from the factory vinyl flooring to not breathe and it was so spongy, I could easily jump on this and leap over the gunwales to the ground. I thought I was on a springboard in a pool. I did take a picture of the floor after I ripped up one side but you should be able to see what was on the other side.
This will be a long process for me as I have knee surgery scheduled this week and I've stripped the interior already, removed the floors, and have removed 70% of the floatation. My worst concerns were realized once I had a look at the transom. The water logged sponge (factory closed cell floatation) abutted against the transom was wet. I could drill in to the core, no water leaked out, but it was wet in comparison to the wood above this area which was perfectly dry. So, two thoughts on this. Let it dry out and then slap some CPES next spring to make it solid/eliminate potential rot and then bolt a 1/4 aluminum plate to this area to make it a bit more sturdy. Or, remove the existing transom and put in a new piece. Option two makes more sense to me, although it is much more work given that I've never removed an I/O or have the equipment (sorry no large oak trees that I can use in my yard) to remove it. This way it will last for many more years and give that additional security that everything that should be done was completed.
I've reviewed most of the Islander and Holiday refurbs as well to gain some ideas of what to do for not only the transom replacement, but also what materials should be used for the wood preservation as well as materials. As I progress through this, I will bounce off ideas and welcome all suggestions brought on by this group as lots of you have gone through this.
As of today, here is where the interior is (1 week after purchase and limited time to complete this due to the damn heat/humidity).
There is some hull damage to the bow as well from either power loading and smashing it off the bow roller or it was not secured on the trailer properly and they banged it hard enough to significantly damage it. Over and over again. My bodywork knowledge will tackle that later but I will take some pictures of that and post them seeking guidance from you guys as there may be a better way to get it somewhat in a normal state of mind. Some damage to the hull under the gas tank as well where they applied silicone from the exterior on the rivets. This made me laugh, but as everything is coming up, I will have full access to this area, bang it out and then install new rivets. Fun times ahead!!!!
So, the boat. Yes, another Islander refurb thread but I've longed to own a hardtop the first time I saw a 26' hardtop on Lake O in the 1990's. Sure I owned a 2007 221V with a bimini and full enclosure previously, but I could not pass up this 1995 given the price. Ah, the price....cheap enough that I knew it was a deal but also cheap enough that I knew I needed to put some work into this so that it could be enjoyed for many more years. Here it is after I just brought it home.
One day after I purchased it, I buffed the snot of the exterior to remove all the oxidation it got from neglect as I could see the bigger picture and not the current state of affairs. This is what it looked like after 12 hours of buffing and waxing. Pictures do not do any justice as it came up looking great. The boat was used but not abused.....just neglected. Fortunately, I love making things look new and I love tinkering with boats.
Stupid me - I never got any before shots of the interior before I got to work on it. One of the previous owners glued down a rubber covering over the aft section of the floor on both the starboard and port sides. The floor above the tank is solid as is the floor in the cuddy. There is some minor water damage to the cuddy which I will correct but I'm leaving things otherwise in their current state. And that rubber flooring....it caused all the moisture from the factory vinyl flooring to not breathe and it was so spongy, I could easily jump on this and leap over the gunwales to the ground. I thought I was on a springboard in a pool. I did take a picture of the floor after I ripped up one side but you should be able to see what was on the other side.
This will be a long process for me as I have knee surgery scheduled this week and I've stripped the interior already, removed the floors, and have removed 70% of the floatation. My worst concerns were realized once I had a look at the transom. The water logged sponge (factory closed cell floatation) abutted against the transom was wet. I could drill in to the core, no water leaked out, but it was wet in comparison to the wood above this area which was perfectly dry. So, two thoughts on this. Let it dry out and then slap some CPES next spring to make it solid/eliminate potential rot and then bolt a 1/4 aluminum plate to this area to make it a bit more sturdy. Or, remove the existing transom and put in a new piece. Option two makes more sense to me, although it is much more work given that I've never removed an I/O or have the equipment (sorry no large oak trees that I can use in my yard) to remove it. This way it will last for many more years and give that additional security that everything that should be done was completed.
I've reviewed most of the Islander and Holiday refurbs as well to gain some ideas of what to do for not only the transom replacement, but also what materials should be used for the wood preservation as well as materials. As I progress through this, I will bounce off ideas and welcome all suggestions brought on by this group as lots of you have gone through this.
As of today, here is where the interior is (1 week after purchase and limited time to complete this due to the damn heat/humidity).
There is some hull damage to the bow as well from either power loading and smashing it off the bow roller or it was not secured on the trailer properly and they banged it hard enough to significantly damage it. Over and over again. My bodywork knowledge will tackle that later but I will take some pictures of that and post them seeking guidance from you guys as there may be a better way to get it somewhat in a normal state of mind. Some damage to the hull under the gas tank as well where they applied silicone from the exterior on the rivets. This made me laugh, but as everything is coming up, I will have full access to this area, bang it out and then install new rivets. Fun times ahead!!!!