My New Old 1973 18' SS

[Crazyman1225]

Hello To Everyone,
I joined this site a few months ago EDIT I have been on the look out for another Starcraft since then. I finally found one that was an hour and a half away from where I live. I went and looked at it and fell in love with it. I will admit that she is in rough shape interior wise, and has no power plant to move her around. But the motor will be in the future after the boat and trailer are finished being fixed up. I paid $200 dollars for the boat and trailer as she was sitting. The hull has minor surface scratches in it and I was told that she didn't leak. But that doesn't matter. I will check for leakage and then seal up the seams with Gluv-it. The trailer is in need of a new axle, as you will see in one of the pictures that I had to trailer it home on a hand truck. I also had to trailer the boat individually due to too small of a trailer. I spent 7 hours on the road that day just bringing everything home. Everything appears to still be original in the boat. The floor consist of walking on the flotation foam, there is no wood left in the old girl. She will be getting a new floor, a new transom, seats, a paint job, I may as well say the entire works will be redone. Top to bottom, and front to rear. There is one question that may be stupid, but has to be asked because I am not sure of their intentions. In the bow of the boat there are the two fiberglass slats that go from the bow to the front of the console. ( seen in pics) What are these for? Are they just supports for a fabric bow cover?
I am going to also see if I can get some pictures of this old girl to go along with this post.

I would also like to inform you that I read a post the other day that gave a phone number to call , and you could request literature for these old tins. I called the number, and the lady took my mailing address and was going to send me the literature for my girl. All that she asked was for the model and size of the boat, and of course an address to send it to. When I receive my copy, I will try to copy and paste it to the site for other members to have.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

The Rest of the pictures.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

The Last pictures.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

I just picked up a 90 hp Mercury for my SS. It was being used last year till the transom on the boat needed replacing. Will probably need the carbs cleaned and a water pump will be done just as a precaution. I couldn't pass up the cost for this bad boy. $00.00

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

Would anyone please care to enlighten me as to what the two fiberglass slats are for in the bow of my SS ? Thanks

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

Hard to say. Those look like they were roughly installed by PO not factory. Only thing I can think of is the hull mabey twisting slightly. I have mine on blocks and out of the water you can hold ont the hull and twist it out of the water If the consuls are not connected tightly to the floor that might have made it unstable. Or the floor loose. Now that my new floor is in it won't twist anymore????

 

[1973 supersport 180]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

I have the identical boat you are restoring. My dad purchased it brand new in 1973. It has passed between my two older brothers and is now mine. It is currently in excellent working order complete with the original Johnson 115 outboard.

If you are still wondering about the forward slats they were for a white vinyl bow cover. You should have a row of snaps around the bow and tracks in front of the windows. This tight fitting cover had a zippered hatch for bow access. Worked great when plowing through a 5' chop on Lake Mille Lacs with water shedding off the bow.

I am just starting my renovation. Front and Rear carpeted casting platforms, livewell, folding rear step on jump seats, new vinyl flooring, updated color scheme. Thinking of grey and navy.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

Thank you for the information about the slats in the bow of the boat. There is a row of snaps all the way around the bow, and there are the tracks in front of the window just as you described. No bow cover came with the boat, although I would like to have one on it eventually. So that will be an item in the future that will have to be tracked down and ordered. While restoring the old gal, do you think I should remove the existing snaps, and then install new when a cover is located? Just wondering if a new cover would have the same snap spacing as an original? Thank you for your help.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

You'll never find a cover. It will have to be a custom job. Being custom, it can be made to match your existing snaps.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: My New Old 1973 18' SS

ok, thank you ezmobee