12ft StarCraft rebuild

[waterfalljoe]

My first post on here...
My dad and I bought this ~12ft Starcraft together when I was 14. I paid for my half by mowing lawns and such. It was a great summertime boat for bass fishing, catching crawdads with homemade traps, bowfishing for carp and general recklessness. I just got the boat back in my hands (my dad has a few other boats to keep up) and was planning on tuning it up for a hunting boat and general harbor plunker.
The first steps I have in mind are to: sand, then stain and revarnish the seats; sand, gluvit and then paint the bottom/exterior; sand, then non-slip paint the interior; and replace the transom wood. After that some new fittings and finish work and find that ever-elusive great deal, perfect condition 8-12hp outboard.
I figure I will drop a few pics on here once in awhile as I get going. Any notes are welcome as it looks like others on here have tread this path. And if anyone knows the year/model and could comment I would appreciate it. SeaScamp?
Some pics are attached below (I hope).

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Talk about memories...I had one. Dad bought one for me in the 8th grade for bringing grades up. That was Spring 1963. He had bought a new 51/2 Johnson for me Christmas, which was too large for my 8ft pram. Those were wonderful days. Thank you for this.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Nice little rig there, welcome to the tin can club

I've got a 12' AeroCraft very similar. I added removable decking and have had a blast with it whether I was rowing it growing up as a kid or running my 5.5hp on local rivers.

Gluvit will be a good thing to use on rivets and seams to prevent any leaks. That stuff is great. Check out some of the aluminum boat restorations for ideas.

Good luck to ya!

 

[waterfalljoe]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Capt'n Chris,
They are wonderful little boats, ehh...I am thinking this one could end up in my son's hands some day--he is only 6months old right now though! Makes me want to put that little extra effort to keep her seaworthy.

 

[waterfalljoe]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Huron Angler,
I checked out your thread...nice boat and I dig the handiwork and that bug motor. I am rebuilding my transom wood as well...years and years of Oregon weather turned it to mush.
How does that minnkota push your aerocraft around the water with a bit of gear and a crew of two? I have a minnkota 12V 40lb and I am planning on using this boat to get around Lake Sonoma for pig hunting. I am trying to gauge how hard to seek out a "proper" outboard.
--Joe

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Huron Angler,
I checked out your thread...nice boat and I dig the handiwork and that bug motor. I am rebuilding my transom wood as well...years and years of Oregon weather turned it to mush.
How does that minnkota push your aerocraft around the water with a bit of gear and a crew of two? I have a minnkota 12V 40lb and I am planning on using this boat to get around Lake Sonoma for pig hunting. I am trying to gauge how hard to seek out a "proper" outboard.
--Joe

Thanks Joe, I've been happy with the 30lb Minn Kota. It has pushed the 12' and my 16' against currents no problem. I do want a 55lb but the 40lb will be plenty for that boat.

Mine does about 5mph+ with two guys and fishing gear. I can get 9-10mph with the 5.5hp Johnson. To plane out you will want to keep the weight down as much as possible, and balanced.

Your boat is probably rated for 7.5-10hp so I'd look for a Johnson or Evinrude tiller in that range.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Super cool that boat has been in your family for all that time!

Great project and welcome!

 

[TheWrks]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Welcome waterfalljoe that's a sweet "Tinny" looking forward to you resto photo's

Scott

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Nice little boat. If you're going to paint the interior anyway, I think I'd apply the Gluvit from the inside.

 

[waterfalljoe]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

I got the seats out which was no problem. But, in general around the boat some bolts come off like they are brand new... and others seem almost hopelessly rusted in place. I read a touch on different metal incompatibilities... is that a possible culprit here? If so, what metal should I choose when I go to put new hardware around this boat: galvanized? ...stainless?... something else? For some places, the original hardware is going right back in as it already lasted decades.
I sanded down the front seat and even though the finish was terrible to start with, good wood was found underneath. This is getting fun.
(After and before pics below)

 

[waterfalljoe]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

I may be going about this from the wrong end, but I found an outboard! I picked up a used tohatsu 9.9 which should fit the bill just perfect. I am near finished sanding the exterior and all the rotten wood is out.
I also picked up a batch of supplies from gluvit to petit easypoxy white to self-etching primer to marine-tex putty. Off to pennsylvania for the holidays, but two days between returning home and re-starting work are set aside to make some progress.

Just one question...I found some "merranti a/b" philippine mahogany marine plywood in 2' x 4' sections. Is this product good and strong enough (after epoxy-ing of course) for the transom? I'd like to re-build the transom stronger than it was as the transom used to flex a good bit with an 8hp on there.

I'll post some pics up when there is some tangible, visible headway.

Happy Holidays to y'all.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

You want to realy get the transom knee installed right if any thing is loose it will leak or allow the transom to flex.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Looking at your pictures I think Puget Sound is correct. If you want to lose the flex you might need to attach the new transom to the knee brace. Perhaps make your transom bigger with a cutout for the knee brace then attach brackets on each side of the knee brace then attach the bracket to the new transom. An other option would be to move the knee brace forward and put a larger transom between the skin and the knee brace. How thick is the current transom? You might try to double up the transom also, just not sure if that would help.
GLG

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 12ft StarCraft rebuild

Perhaps make your transom bigger with a cutout for the knee brace then attach brackets on each side of the knee brace then attach the bracket to the new transom.

Good idea, that's what I did on my little tinny, minus the side brackets. I figured a larger transom footprint would stiffen it up a bit while I was at it.

I might add some aluminum brackets now that I think about it.