'73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

OK So I have been lurking for a couple of days now but since I already started work on my boat I figured I'd go ahead and post up some pics.

I found her sitting at a car lot that I was doing some side jobs at and they were in a hurry to get her out of there because she was so ugly. So I swapped them some labor for her and even got them to get all the title work and tags done for me!

Progress will be slow since I dont have any real budget for this rebuild so please bear with me.

So without further adieu:













I think its safe to say a paint job is in order!

I already peeled the floor out which was an interesting use of rubber trailer mat and and foam rubber. Probably very effective but ugly and f%*&in HEAVY.

I have most of it scuffed ready for a rattle can paint job for this summer. Hopefully I will manage to get the extra shed cleaned out by this winter and can strip it all the way down to bare metal, re-prime and paint it for good. In the meantime I will work on getting all the wiring, brightwork, windscreen, and engine trimmed up.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Man, you scored yourself one very sweet, and very ugly, ride! She will dress up like a beauty queen though if you want her to.

I really like those little 14' Holidays! Congrats and welcome to iboats

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

jasoutside said:

Man, you scored yourself one very sweet, and very ugly, ride! She wi dress up like a beauty queen though if you want her to.

Click to expand...

I like it, has a Mad Max feel to it. Welcome to the Starmada OH!

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Welcome to iboats!

Please do yourself a favor and read through these topics. We have tons of aluminum Starcraft restorations here AND trust me I speak for EVERYONE here forget the rattle can paint job idea!! You will see

Read HERE http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

Nice boat!

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Jasoutside:
Thanx for the welcome! I almost wish it were winter again so I would have an excuse to really tear into her... almost

CBgale:
I just got done reading thru the resto on your Falcon! That is a sweet little boat, I hope mine comes out as sharp as yours did!

Bob_VT:
I'm on it boss! I have already read NB and CB's threads and flipped thru a couple more. I have had the restorations thread up on my comp for the last three days. I hadnt seen the how to's thread yet but I just brought it up and will head over there in a sec. You are right about the rattle can job, it is not coming out well at all but I think one more coat will at least make it passable for now.


I look forward to having a better budget if I can get back to my usual mode of employment and then all bets are off! I'm thinking 2 tone raspberry and creme paint, Engine turned stainless and mahogany or holly/teak dash and transom. I would really love to put a proper teak and holly sole in her too but teak is ridiculously expensive. I will be putting in seating like the jetstar had rather than the holidays original arrangement and could really use patterns for the seat bases and folding mechanisms if anyone has them.

Oh and if anyone has a source for the aluminum trim that goes across the top of the transom I could really use it. Mine is pretty banged up under the outboard and I would like to replace it with a good piece. I may need the windshield brace on the port side as well, it looks like someone used it as a step at some point and bent it.I may be able to bend it back but since it is channel I expect it will try to flare and twist when I do, so If anyone has that piece I would be interested in it as well.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Just a late night thought but has anyone ever swapped in a PWC drive setup and turned one of these into an I/O? I cant help but think she'd make a cool crackerbox. Plus a couple of 30 hp jet ski drives would really make her move

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Aluminum source is the local junk yard. Buying scrap is far cheaper then buying new.

Yes, we have discussed putting a water jet motor in aluminum boats....... you DO NOT have room for a pair but, maybe one. It would be a very expensive experience.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

On the aluminum piece, I dont even know where there is a boat junkyard within a hundred miles of here but there are some sizeable lakes north of me a ways.

On the water jet, where is the big expense in putting one in? Aside from the drive and engine I would imagine the rest is mostly fabrication and raw materials are relatively cheap. I will admit I know very little about PWC's but it seems like the biggest hassle would be getting a good (lasting) seal around the inlet and outlets and getting a good solid mount setup built into the hull. It occurs to me that vibration would be a problem here. Either way its not an option on my current budget but something I might be able to try later.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

This should entertain you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnJI0cKLh5E

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Woodonglass said:

This should entertain you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnJI0cKLh5E

Click to expand...

Watching stuff like that, he my just find that $$ in his budget

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Welcome to the Starcraft fleet, nice old Holiday there.

It does have a Mad Max look to it, LOL. Tons of potential, and the before/after pictures will be great.

I do not believe you will want to use teak for the transom, dash panel yes. Plywood sealed with epoxy is the best material for transom rebuilds.

Good luck to ya!

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Woodonglass:
That is an interesting clip but that thing did not look like it handled well at all. You are tempting me though!

Jas:
I wish I could pull it off but someone would have to GIVE me a jet ski with a good drive-line and even then I would have to nickel and dime it together. I am technically unemployed at the moment.

Huron Angler:
I was thinking more along the lines of veneer for the dash and transom. I would also like to put some side panels in as well, with some wood trim on them but I cant see buying solid pieces of teak for this, and all the wood is gonna get a good coat of epoxy resin or varnish and anything that isnt visible will get a coat of glass mat. The sole would probably be solid teak with 1/4" spacing between ~1" planks but only because it will need to support some weight.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

You better price that Teak first!!! VERY EXPENSIVE and VERY HEAVY wood. Check this guys build out.

CEDAR...IMO is a MUCH better choice.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=291903&page=4

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Hey I also wanted to ask you guys about my outboard. Its an 80's 28 SPL. Is there anything I should watch out for with it? Any known issues? Its starts right up and purrs but it does slobber gas out the venturi so I'm sure the carb needs rebuilt and the tell tale seems weak to me but I know virtually nothing about outboards too. I have been a ragboat guy for quite a while so lots of this is new to me.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Great motor. Does sound like you need carb rebuild and an impeller replacement though.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

This will have all you need.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Ok just rechecked the price of teak..... OUCH! I bought all new grabrails for my old sailboat a few years ago and it wasnt nearly that bad! Not cheap either but still not that steep!

I personally dont like the look of cedar, what other options are there? Fir? Oak? What else holds up well in a marine environment?

Thanks for the link Woodonglass. Is there a wiring diagram on the site for that engine? My wiring is all rotten and fubared, about 6-8 wires and only 2-3
different colors.

BTW thanks to everyone for all the help so far!

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Clear Douglas Fir or Clear Yellow Pine will work fine. Coated in Marine Varnish will last for YEARS!

Go here to get a Manual for your motor

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/parts.php

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

Pine? We have several saw mills within a few miles of here and most of what they cut is pine. I'll have to do some looking but if it will work then I can get that stuff cut to order for next to nothing. Not sure about the color though will have to check on that. I wouldn't have thought pine would hold up well.

Thanx for the link for the manual I'll have to order one when I get a bit more cash to play with.

Re: '73 Starcraft Holiday 14 Refit

A few more pics with the deck out: