1964 Starcraft fiberglass boat restoration project

[JGarvin60]

I "scored" a 1964 Starcraft boat with a 75 horse Johnson v4. It needs lovin! I need help!!! Its been sitting for 8 years, floor is rotted, motor had a mouse nest in it, all the wood inside the boat is shot and most of the cables are rusted and broke. I've posted pictures. I'd like to know where I should start, if I should start or if its not worth saving. PLEASE HELP!! Thanks in advance! Jake

 

[roscoe]

Gonna require some serious work, replace stringers, floor transom, floor covering seats, steering, wiring, motor work.

How many thousands are you willing to spend?
And how many months working on it?

Better plan on spending $3,000 ++ on up to $5,000, and ending up with a rig that is worth $900.


Unscore fast.


Lots of restorations covered here on iboats.

Read a few so you know what you are up against, and how much time and money you will need.


https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...and-hull-repair/10730167-more-than-i-can-chew

 

[CaptainSteveo]

I "scored" a 1964 Starcraft boat with a 75 horse Johnson v4. It needs lovin! I need help!!! Its been sitting for 8 years, floor is rotted, motor had a mouse nest in it, all the wood inside the boat is shot and most of the cables are rusted and broke. I've posted pictures. I'd like to know where I should start, if I should start or if its not worth saving. PLEASE HELP!! Thanks in advance! Jake

That looks like the world's most expensive free boat. If you truly love it and want a huge project you can go for it. But it's going to be $5000 or more to fix I bet.

 

[ahicks]

If you don't know anything about working with fiberglass, and for some reason unable/unwilling to learn, that project needs to be bailed on. It's a big project that's going to take some time (years). I don't see it costing 5k for materials and a suitable motor though.....

 

[JGarvin60]

Kinda what I was afraid of....I know how to fiberglass, and LOVE it, but I also want a fishing boat. I also don't have $5000 to put into it. Thanks for all the input!

 

[roffey]

The floors look completely done. You should check at your local lumber yard, marine grade plywood is $100 a 4X8 sheet (https://www.plywoodcompany.com/MainS...ductDetail/700).

I purchased a 1968 tin fishing boat two years back. The motor had been hardly used in the past 20 years. I took it home and cleaned up what I could, put fresh gas in and it started on the second pull. After running it on the lake I found out the fuel pump was bad and the prop was spun. $150 later my boat and motor run like a top.

My advice is price it out and look at the restore threads here, good luck and keep us posted if you decide to dig in, literally, lol.