1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

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jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Next steps for me are as follows:

Finish attaching interior aesthetic parts
Mount hyrdraulic lifter pump to floor
Paint the console and attach components
Add hinges to bow hatch door
Add playmats to bow deck for padding
Replace gas hose leak on engine
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

I almost forgot this small task. Framing in the cooler seat so it doesn't slide while motoring.

Fairview Park-20130309-00477.jpgFairview Park-20130309-00478.jpgRocky River-20130310-00484.jpg
 

BonairII

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Sunday we had a chance to paint the bow floor, attach the bow deck and fasten everything down. We were able to cut out the storage hatch.

Mounting the bow deck was tricky, we had to reinforce the old aluminum bow framing so we could attach to something. We also had to reinforce the old bow seat brackets that were attached to the hull with some oak strips. This gave us something to screw into. In the previous set of pictures, you can see the small oak blocks used.

View attachment 184789View attachment 184790View attachment 184791View attachment 184792View attachment 184793

Wouldn't be a bad idea to stuff some floatation foam under the bow deck(in the empty space on either side of the storage area)
 

jjacobs007

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

looking good jacob!!
 

ShowMeGuy

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Wouldn't be a bad idea to stuff some floatation foam under the bow deck(in the empty space on either side of the storage area)
Yeah.... Why not while you got her tore apart.....

I think a couple more coats of white on the floor would help it out big time... Although, still looking good...
 

classiccat

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Really nice progress! Just in time for spring!!!

I wish that I had seen this sooner, I could've thrown some ideas your way...I had done a similar conversion on a 16' BlueFin (Starcraft's poor cousin).

After using it for a few years, there's very little I'd change.
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Wouldn't be a bad idea to stuff some floatation foam under the bow deck(in the empty space on either side of the storage area)

I already have the deck fastened down, how critical is it that I get that in there? I am minus two pieces of foam because of the conduit under the floor. I stuffed as much in there as I could.
 

64osby

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Is it screwed down or riveted. If it's screwed it should be easy to pop it off and add more foam.
 

jjacobs007

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Nice looking dog you have there! I have a german myself...
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

The weather is getting nice and May 1 is my date to hit for completion. This past weekend I was able to get my side panels added back on the boat. They are a little higher now due to a thicker floor, but that gives me more storage!!!

I also constructed a way to fold down my windshield so I am able to put the cover on and not worry about wind tearing the windshield off. Also, there will be no question about it fitting into it's dry rack spot. Simple framing and hinges made this work. I need to figure out a way to latch down the sides of the windshield tightly so it doesn't vibrate when traveling.

Fairview Park-20130316-00537.jpgFairview Park-20130316-00538.jpgRocky River-20130324-00621.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Big question now. I have a gas leak in a hose above the lower carb that I need to fix. Seems to be coming from an upper hose which leads to the bottom carb bowl. When I rebuilt the carb back in the previous spring, I think flexing the hose caused the leak. It's behind the starter. 800 1972 Mercury Thunderbolt.

Any easy way to fix a gas leak without a complete tear out and replace (there is concern with finding parts).
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Have been debating sanding and painting the hull / interior aluminum with rustoleum. I only really want to keep the boat for like a year, is it even worth it????
 

BonairII

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Big question now. I have a gas leak in a hose above the lower carb that I need to fix. Seems to be coming from an upper hose which leads to the bottom carb bowl. When I rebuilt the carb back in the previous spring, I think flexing the hose caused the leak. It's behind the starter. 800 1972 Mercury Thunderbolt.

Any easy way to fix a gas leak without a complete tear out and replace (there is concern with finding parts).

Any/all old fuel hose should be replaced. Old fuel lines will deteriorate and foul your carbs....which could possibly starve a cyl(s) of fuel and ruin your motor.
 

ShowMeGuy

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Any easy way to fix a gas leak without a complete tear out and replace (there is concern with finding parts).

Not that I know of.. The old hoses and compression lines on my 72 850 were in the same shape. I used some barb fittings and some hose. Just be careful where the hose clamps go as there wasn't much room for them on mine with the starter back in etc...
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Great weekend for painting, I did just that. Got the console painted finally. Pulled everything off to paint, taped some things that couldn't be removed.

Fairview Park-20130329-00657.jpgIMG-20130329-00656.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

We attached the hatch on the bow seats. We need to come up with some sort of latch to keep it down when motoring.
Fairview Park-20130330-00664.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

After painting the console we decided to pull off the motor lid and start looking at the gas leak. I noticed that the crimps on all my hoses were leaking when I pumped the ball. After calling Ravenna Marine for parts, I learned that parts are no loner available. I made a trip to Lakewood Hardware and picked up some brass fittings, rubber hose, and hose clamps. After about 3 hours worth of work and adjusting, the thing stopped leaking. I had to move the filter cap on the carb bowl a bit in order to re-route the hose, the new fittings and hose wouldn't fit because of the starter. We got it to fit eventually and now the motor runs great. It was real easy to fix using a hose clamp and brass fitting.

carb.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

After the paint dried, we attached the windshield, components, and steering wheel. I also added the fish finder as well. The console is set up and complete. We used a lot of the old parts in order to set up this windshield. It's a pain, we may look for a better way to do it, or just attach it without folding down.

Cleveland-20130330-00666.jpgRocky River-20130330-00663.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

In the front of the boat on both sides I added some rod holders. I also added a cleat for bumpers. This should make adjusting length on the fly much easier now.

Cleveland-20130330-00665.jpgFairview Park-20130329-00658.jpgFairview Park-20130329-00659.jpg
 

jacobmeyers

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Re: 1972 Starcraft Super Sport 16' Conversion to Center Console

Here are a few shots of the boat so far. Not much left to do. Still deciding whether or not I paint the hull.

Fairview Park-20130330-00669.jpgFairview Park-20130330-00670.jpgRocky River-20130330-00667.jpgRocky River-20130330-00668.jpgRocky River-20130330-00671.jpg
 
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