16’ Starcraft restoration

[Chuck93]

Hi everyone new member to the forum here I just entered the Starcraft fold yesterday brought home a 16’ possibly a kingfisher? (cant find a hin everywhere) it’s got a 99 40 hp Mercury/Force that was said to be in running condition

 

[Chuck93]

The prior owner had started a floor redo got as far as ripping the interior out and putting a temporary center stringer in and a piece of plywood and quit and the boat sat for years

 

[Chuck93]

I’m not sure how to head in with rebuilding the deck as I don’t have the original form to go off of and haven’t found a rebuild thread on here yet that matches the boat I have I’ll see if I can post some pictures of the boat

 

[Chuck93]

 

[SHSU]

Welcome to the Starmada!!

Think the work done by @BWR1953 matches what you are looking for reference

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/i-have-returned-with-a-starcraft-this-time.649577/

After you peruse that, come back with any questions or updates.

SHSU

 

[BWR1953]

Yeah, that definitely looks a lot like my Kingfisher. Same steering wheel, console design and the exact same bow light (and location.)

Mine didn't have a splash well, but that could have been removed by a PO since there were some extraneous holes back there.

The HIN on mine was located at the starboard stern, just below the gunwale.

 

[Chuck93]

I read over most of your thread there BWR great job on the resto you have one fine looking boat there
I noticed your boat and other kingfishers I saw on different threads have a aluminum center stringer which mine doesn’t currently have
can’t figure out why someone would have removed that I’ve got a call in to a metal supplier about some 1 1/2x 5 1/2 1/8 wall aluminum tubing they’re supposed to call me back tomorrow

 

[Chuck93]

I looked for the hin where you found yours and there’s nothing there.
Another thing I noticed is that none of the other kingfishers I’ve found yet have a splashwell?

 

[SHSU]

Any Coast Guard or Safety Decals up near the console?

SHSU

 

[BWR1953]

I read over most of your thread there BWR great job on the resto you have one fine looking boat there
I noticed your boat and other kingfishers I saw on different threads have a aluminum center stringer which mine doesn’t currently have
can’t figure out why someone would have removed that I’ve got a call in to a metal supplier about some 1 1/2x 5 1/2 1/8 wall aluminum tubing they’re supposed to call me back tomorrow

1/8 wall tubing would be way overkill as a center stringer. I think the stringer in mine is only "0.060 or somewhere thereabouts.

I looked for the hin where you found yours and there’s nothing there.
Another thing I noticed is that none of the other kingfishers I’ve found yet have a splashwell?

I know, right?

During my research phase, I did see a few KFs with splashwells, but they were rare.

Maybe a PO removed your HIN plate? Any weird looking marks back on that part of the stern?

 

[Chuck93]

Made a little progress on the boat today took the motor off and the consol and extracted the rotted transom and started washing it out which proved to be a job moss and all sorts of debris had gotten inside the ribs and kept clogging up the center drain pathways tried to get them all cleaned out the best I could

 

[Chuck93]

I got a quart of gluvit in the other day and plan to coat the seams and rivets on the inside I have a couple questions on that
1. Does care needed to be taken so that the center drain ways under the ribs along the keel remain open
2. How clean is clean enough? spray on purple power and pressure wash it out or does it need to be completed down to bright metal

 

[Chuck93]

Cleaned up the inside of the hull some more today found a stiff brush and some bar keepers friend worked pretty well to clean the oxidation/ mildew up

 

[Chuck93]

I sanded the inside of the transom and found some deep pits some going nearly through what can be done about this?

 

[Chuck93]

And in regards to the hin I did find this mark it’s hardly large enough to have contained a 12 digit hin the mark behind the Starcraft logo was a dealership sticker that I took off

 

[Watermann]

Those transom pits are really some of the best I've seen. Use some cleaning vinegar to help neutralize the corrosion in the pitting and a wire wheel to get into the pits.
Then what post of us do is either use Marine Tex or JB Weld to skin over and the pitting. Personally I use Marine Tex for how easy it sands but both will work just over do the application.
Next up prime and paint the inner skin to give it a barrier from future issues. You end up with a nice clean transom ready for the decades to come.

 

[SHSU]

1. Does care needed to be taken so that the center drain ways under the ribs along the keel remain open

Yes, need to keep that area clear so any water can drain to your bilge.

As for the HIN, traditionally its a rivet Aluminum plate on the back of the Transom. If you can't find it, then my guess is its gone.

SHSU

 

[Watermann]

Personally I use Marine Tex for how easy it sands but both will work just DON'T over do the application.

There I fixed it, you just need a light skin of the epoxy stuff to fill the pitting.