Re: aaaand so it begins - starcraft rebuild
Time to show off some goodies!
This photo is all electrical - there's about $400 sitting on the bench here - all marine grade tinned (anyone thinking they can get by with regular wire... do yourself a favor - go marine grade. The previous owner(s) of my boat went the cheap route with mods and repairs - I yanked at least a mile of rusted mess out during the tear-down phase):
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
Here's a run-down of what's in this photo:
Back row: (right to left) rule-mate 500 gph bilge pump (with integrated float switch) to replace the one that came in the boat (crap), new float switch to replace the one that was hooked up to the rule-mate 2000 gph that I bought last year (I had the old float switch laying around), new rule three-way bilge switch for the new pump (the 2000 gph already has one), new waterproof switch panel (got it 30% off at boaters world), 50 ft. of 14 gauge red, black, and white.
Second row: bunch of adhesive-lined heat shrink for various wire gauges, yellow 6 gauge to run from my johnnyrude 115 to a battery isolater (not pictured), 30 ft. of 14 gauge 3-wire bilge pump cable, 4 gauge pos/neg battery cable (to suppliment some additional 4 gauge I bought last year), 6 gauge pos/neg to run from house battery in stern to ground and fuse terminals in console,
Third row: bunch of ring terminals in various sizes, 16 gauge gray for tach, 16 gauge yellow for trim down relay (I couldn't get green for this), 16 gauge blue for trim up relay and for instrument lighting, and a bag of wire ties with a hole built in for screwing them down.
This one speaks for itself (about $350 here)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
Not pictured are the tach and trim gauges on the way. No speedo - gps will tell me my speed. I already ordered a tach - but being the brainiac that I am, I didn't realize outboard and I/O tachs are different, had to send it back to exchange for the right tach. The top-mount shift/throttle (teleflex ch-7500) is dreamy. The wheel... well, I just had to. Still shopping for a replacement compass.
This hatch will become my anchor locker in the bow. Later photos will explain this in detail as I get to it.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
Random items here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
a new/old trim/tilt for my johnnyrude, new coupler (and lock) for the trailer, some engine paint, zinc for the motor, and full extension heavy duty slides for drawers I will build into my bench seat.
Fuel stuff so far
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
40 gallon moeller below-deck that will be mounted above deck in front of the console, fuel hose from tank to motor, new prime bulb, stainless clamps, and you can't see it but a new vent fixture that has upward elbow bend built into it. I still need: fill hose, vent hose, fill deck fitting, and my buddy Joe is fabbing up some mounting brackets for the tank.
NB can give you the low-down on these gems:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
For those of you not from around here: Rhode Island is/was crammed with jewelry and silverware makers - not as many as before, but still a good amount. My afore-mentioned buddy Joe works as an OSHA compliance officer/jack of all trades for a local jewelry maker (along with a few other gigs - Joe is one of those guys who can do everything.... very well). Unannounced to me, Joe called upon one of his guys to make me a brass tuna. Joe knows that tuna are an obsession for me. This brass tuna is a one-off. Nothing else like it - couldn't buy it for any money. This will go on the console somewhere.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...authkey=Gv1sRgCLis177855WxrgE&feat=directlink
There is a ton of stuff not pictured, including the $1000 bucks of electronics I bought for the boat last year (gps and sounder), my epoxy and glass mat that has yet to arrive, all manners of paint I've yet to acquire (non-skid and topside paint), and a million things I haven't thought of yet.
When I bought this boat - the guy described it as "turn-key". Hmmm... I doubt it. With the money I'll have into it by the end, I could have bought a much better boat - this has been brought up in other restoration threads... To the folks who would say "sell it and cut your losses - buy a better boat..." my reply is this: I'll know every inch of this girl, and know that it's been done to the best of my ability, and it will mean much much more to me than any real "turn-key" boat (if they exist - and I'd argue that they don't, really).
Some of us enjoy the journey as much as the destination.