1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

[piperjoe]

I just had shots in both thumb joints.

Now THAT sounds like a not such good thing. Ouch! Sure hope the shots help you feel better, my friend.

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Making some more progress…

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[airshot]

I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimensia issues...not pretty and hard to accept after 50 plus years. Just for your information, I have a 16' Sylvan side console, weight around 1000 plus pounds. I have a 40 hp Merc Classic, the 4 cylinder 2 stroke model, that looks and runs like new. My boat will do 31 plus mph ( gps), so a 70, should make your boat fly !

 

[airshot]

I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimens

I just had shots in both thumb joints.

Have had those shots in my finger joints....hurt like hell, but did help, far less pain nowadays and not much locking up like they used to do.....

 

[piperjoe]

I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimensia issues...not pretty and hard to accept after 50 plus years.

I am so sorry that you and your wife are facing dimentia issues. After 56 years I find my soul shaken to the core from time to time. Embrace each and every good day together and plow through the bad days with sensitivity and compassionate care.

Sounds like your Merc is doing the job for you and that’s a good thing. Have asked lots of questions of boaters within our area and many feel 70 hp is about right for our large inland lakes and Lake Michigan. Won’t need to run it full all the time, however, the extra power could be helpful if I need to get off the water quickly when upcoming bad weather warrants a speedy retreat to the dock.

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[airshot]

I am so sorry that you and your wife are facing dimentia issues. After 56 years I find my soul shaken to the core from time to time. Embrace each and every good day together and plow through the bad days with sensitivity and compassionate care.

Sounds like your Merc is doing the job for you and that’s a good thing. Have asked lots of questions of boaters within our area and many feel 70 hp is about right for our large inland lakes and Lake Michigan. Won’t need to run it full all the time, however, the extra power could be helpful if I need to get off the water quickly when upcoming bad weather warrants a speedy retreat to the dock.

Safe boating,
Joe

I totally understand the need for extra hp.., but how often can you run wide open near 40 mph when the lake is rough with a storm blowing in ? My point was to show you you could get buy with less to and still have a good performing boat.

 

[piperjoe]

I totally understand the need for extra hp.., but how often can you run wide open near 40 mph when the lake is rough with a storm blowing in ? My point was to show you you could get buy with less to and still have a good performing boat.

Okay, well you certainly did show me. Have a nice evening, Sir.

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Just a bit of a heads up. After the last session in the boat I found myself with a large and painful open blister on each knee. This despite sweat pants and using a double thickness garden pad to keep my knees off the deck. I should have used a quality set of strap on knee pads. My old set wore out and I thought I’d get a new set later…big mistake! Frankly, it’s going to be a few more days before I kneel on anything or strap on knee pads. The only good thing is being off my feet after getting a Flu and a Covid-19 shot yesterday, as did the Admiral. And onward we go!

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[airshot]

Can't remember how many times I have punished myself because I thought I would fix the issue soon, yet it got forgotten. Or the old favorite...won't hurt anything just this once ! I feel your pain and have been there many times..

 

[piperjoe]

It’s been a rough couple of weeks with the Admiral. Kidney stone surgery and an ambulance ride to the ER room at the hospital last Friday evening. About 18 hours of various tests and then she was transferred to a private hospital room due to Dementia confusion problems. I remained with her from Friday until Sunday discharge and did not get much sleep. This afternoon is kidney stent removal time and Monday morning we go to our primary physician for further medical treatment and consultation. Needless to say there has been no further work on the boat. Oh, those large blisters on my knees are still bandage covered and I’m using hospital grade antiseptic ointment to assist with healing. Perhaps next week if the knees cooperate!

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[redneck joe]

Hang in there, and buy knee pads.

 

[piperjoe]

AYESIR

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Finishing up a few things on the boat and then will tarp/park it for the upcoming Winter season. Enjoy the holidays. Later…

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[redneck joe]

See you in the spring, be well and our thoughts are with you and your bride.

 

[piperjoe]

Thank you. Your post is greatly appreciated.

Safe boating,
Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Hi folks,
Hard to believe my last post was made so long ago. Nevertheless, Spring is coming up soon and though we are experiencing near blizzard conditions at the moment with nearly everything shut down due to the road conditions I find myself looking forward towards getting the boat onto the driveway.

Joyce is having a good day and enjoys watching the snowfall. We have a foot or more of fresh snow on the driveway and I have offered to gas up the snow shovel for her….I’m still waiting for her to put her coat and boots on…

Hope all is good with everyone! Take care and be safe.

Joe

edit: Forgot to mention that the decision on using the original Johnson outboard is no longer relevant to this restoration project. The engine was smashed/destroyed when the heavily snow covered marine shop storage building roof collapsed earlier onto the area where boat motors had been stored. A very large beam came down onto the top of the motor hitting it dead center…can you say “flattened!”. I’ll be selecting a new replacement later as I really would like to avoid an oar locks addition to the boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Welcome back..

I lost some boat stuff and motors to a garage flood several several years ago...

 

[airshot]

Hi folks,
Hard to believe my last post was made so long ago. Nevertheless, Spring is coming up soon and though we are experiencing near blizzard conditions at the moment with nearly everything shut down due to the road conditions I find myself looking forward towards getting the boat onto the driveway.

Joyce is having a good day and enjoys watching the snowfall. We have a foot or more of fresh snow on the driveway and I have offered to gas up the snow shovel for her….I’m still waiting for her to put her coat and boots on…

Hope all is good with everyone! Take care and be safe.

Joe

edit: Forgot to mention that the decision on using the original Johnson outboard is no longer relevant to this restoration project. The engine was smashed/destroyed when the heavily snow covered marine shop storage building roof collapsed earlier onto the area where boat motors had been stored. A very large beam came down onto the top of the motor hitting it dead center…can you say “flattened!”. I’ll be selecting a new replacement later as I really would like to avoid an oar locks addition to the boat.

Perhaps a good "Omen". use it wisely....

 

[redneck joe]

Welcome back. The universe just gave you a reason to splurge on a brand new motor. Seize the day...

 

[piperjoe]

Well, the universe gave me something else to consider today. Fired up my Ariens snowblower, that has worked great for 9 years (first one lasted 16 years) this afternoon, to clear the 2 feet deep snow from the driveway. Ran about ten feet, blowing the snow about 30 feet, and suddenly no snow coming out the chute. Thought I broke a shear pin but it wasn’t that. The impeller engagement rod was loose and extended further out of the machine than normal. “Oh darn”, says I. “I can fix this in a jiffy”, says I. It was 4:30 pm and 18 degrees with the garage door up for light and using metal wrenches was not fun. The impeller rod end wasn’t connected to anything, a brass sleeve had fallen to the bottom of the housing unit, idler pulleys had become separated from the belts, and a large spring looks to be broken. I stopped looking at that point because the ten digits at the end of my ungloved hands were getting numb. I am unable to get a vehicle from my garage to the street. Did you ever call a snowblower repair shop for assistance after a blizzard? I swear I could hear hands rubbing together and a bit of laughter when discussing repair and pricing. One shop offered to come pick the machine up, make the repair, and bring the snowblower back….for $124 trip fee. $95 hour labor plus parts, tax, and whatever on top of the trip fee. I have a truck and a trailer here at home and can’t use either at present. Talk about frustrating. So, after some thought I am considering getting a new snowblower, repairing this one myself later when the weather is warmer, and donating the repaired snowblower to the county folks who help out the senior citizens (which is what I did with my last Ariens snowblower). So, saved new boat motor funds will most likely go towards a new snowblower. At least some of the money.

Or, I could just gas up the snow shovel and do the driveway the old fashioned way for old times sake, or talk a neighbor into using his snowblower to clear my driveway, or get someone to plow the snow out of the driveway. Lots of fun here in Up North Michigan when it snows! Looking forward to Spring.

Safe boating,
Joe