Hi everyone this is my 1st post. However I have been reading along for about 1 year now getting an idea where to start on my 70's starcraft.
I bid on the boat on ebay with an 65 hp Evinrude on it and lost the bid and someone else got the starcraft for 1200 with motor.
I then decided to buy another boat an old fiberglass Glaspar with a 1961 starflite engine 75hp for $450 total. Well two days after I picked up the Glaspar, the owner of the starcraft emailed me and told me he was testing the boat with the buyer and the engine blew, so if I wanted the boat only he would sell it to me for $600 with a continental trailer that looked fairly new.
I went from never owning a boat in my life to having two that needed work. So I took the engine off the Glaspar and gave it to a coworker. Long story on the engine, I decided to replace it and got a Johnson Tracker 35 hp with oil injection. I still have the starflight in pieces no one can seem to get it to spark and I didnt want to waste more $ on it. So right off the bat I made some bad choices and lost cash, oh well.
Regardless I really wanted the starcraft and I got it. The boat looks pretty good in its current shape. However I want to make sure I have it for years to come so I noticed the transom wood was rotting. I have cut boards for that and I am in the process of replacing it. I also noticed a soft spot in the floor and figured well might as well do that at the same time and if I am gonna do that I might as well flood the boat look for leaks and seal up. I bought 2lbs of gluvit and a small package of marine tex. I also bought some alumina weld sticks just in case.
I am not sure of the year the title says its a 1971 but the dash says Jupiter and all of the jupiters I have seen have a flat dash boad. Mine comes up like a car dash for the driver and then goes into a flat dash towards the passenger. So I think its either a later model or they redid the boat and used a later model dash.
I will try to get more pictures soon, need to clear out my garage after christmas and start working on it again. Right now the boat is covered in boxes of holloween decorations and x mas boxes for lights etc.
I have attached pictures of the transom project. So far I un bolted all of the rusted out bolts. I got all of the bad wood out, which was swelled up but a crow bar helped losen it all up. I bought marine board plywood at home depot. I know its expensive but I read mixed reviews some say buy marine board others say just buy a board and seal it. I dont wanna do this again anytime soon so I went for the overpriced marine board and soaked it in armor all water seal for 4 coats and 4 days of drying. Any other suggestions? I was thinking about using caulk in the sides of the board grain to prevent water intrusion but I am not sure if I am going over board. I also want to replace the screws the old ones are rusted pretty good. Any suggestions on what kind to use or avoid does it matter? I assume a zinc based metal screw?
Next step is the floor. I am thinking about marine grade plywood again but its so expensive. Will I need one or two sheets? I was also thinking what about pink or blue foam on the bottom and then metal sheeting for the floor? Has anyone used this, what about concrete board? I used concrete board on my brothers bathroom when we did the wet areas. Its not that heavy compared to wood. I know I am might be asking dumb questions but I want to do this boat right the 1st time if possible.
Thanks for your help, allot of you have already gave me great advice just reading along! Hope to post some more pics soon and hopefully I can ID the year and make for sure.
Tony - Riverview, Fl.
I bid on the boat on ebay with an 65 hp Evinrude on it and lost the bid and someone else got the starcraft for 1200 with motor.
I then decided to buy another boat an old fiberglass Glaspar with a 1961 starflite engine 75hp for $450 total. Well two days after I picked up the Glaspar, the owner of the starcraft emailed me and told me he was testing the boat with the buyer and the engine blew, so if I wanted the boat only he would sell it to me for $600 with a continental trailer that looked fairly new.
I went from never owning a boat in my life to having two that needed work. So I took the engine off the Glaspar and gave it to a coworker. Long story on the engine, I decided to replace it and got a Johnson Tracker 35 hp with oil injection. I still have the starflight in pieces no one can seem to get it to spark and I didnt want to waste more $ on it. So right off the bat I made some bad choices and lost cash, oh well.
Regardless I really wanted the starcraft and I got it. The boat looks pretty good in its current shape. However I want to make sure I have it for years to come so I noticed the transom wood was rotting. I have cut boards for that and I am in the process of replacing it. I also noticed a soft spot in the floor and figured well might as well do that at the same time and if I am gonna do that I might as well flood the boat look for leaks and seal up. I bought 2lbs of gluvit and a small package of marine tex. I also bought some alumina weld sticks just in case.
I am not sure of the year the title says its a 1971 but the dash says Jupiter and all of the jupiters I have seen have a flat dash boad. Mine comes up like a car dash for the driver and then goes into a flat dash towards the passenger. So I think its either a later model or they redid the boat and used a later model dash.
I will try to get more pictures soon, need to clear out my garage after christmas and start working on it again. Right now the boat is covered in boxes of holloween decorations and x mas boxes for lights etc.
I have attached pictures of the transom project. So far I un bolted all of the rusted out bolts. I got all of the bad wood out, which was swelled up but a crow bar helped losen it all up. I bought marine board plywood at home depot. I know its expensive but I read mixed reviews some say buy marine board others say just buy a board and seal it. I dont wanna do this again anytime soon so I went for the overpriced marine board and soaked it in armor all water seal for 4 coats and 4 days of drying. Any other suggestions? I was thinking about using caulk in the sides of the board grain to prevent water intrusion but I am not sure if I am going over board. I also want to replace the screws the old ones are rusted pretty good. Any suggestions on what kind to use or avoid does it matter? I assume a zinc based metal screw?
Next step is the floor. I am thinking about marine grade plywood again but its so expensive. Will I need one or two sheets? I was also thinking what about pink or blue foam on the bottom and then metal sheeting for the floor? Has anyone used this, what about concrete board? I used concrete board on my brothers bathroom when we did the wet areas. Its not that heavy compared to wood. I know I am might be asking dumb questions but I want to do this boat right the 1st time if possible.
Thanks for your help, allot of you have already gave me great advice just reading along! Hope to post some more pics soon and hopefully I can ID the year and make for sure.
Tony - Riverview, Fl.
