18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

[Watermann]

On my teak platform I got some hull cleaner from Walmart with some special acid that cleans the gray right off the teak and out of the grooves without having to take off all the material. Spray cleaner on, scrub and pressure wash if off.

 

[Gibbles]

I'll have to give it a shot, I sanded a bit already, I got into the groves where I could, but the main issue I see is the moss growing out of the plat form, I doubt it started growing that much after getting rained on one day... lots of slime noticed.

I wiped much of it off with a rag, getting it wet every time I took it outside to figure out where to install it, and kept getting more grey... :lol:

My method is from a thread I read here covering the basics of the teak refinishing, cleaning, sanding, oiling, ect.

I used 150 grit, and already noticed how rough the finish was before, but sanding is really bringing out the pretty.

While I know pretty much nothing about teak other than the little I have read, the platform is super thick...

Hopefully I'm not going about this all wrong.

I had wanted to separate the teak pieces for a proper cleaning, but that's not going to happen, it's pretty solid with what ever glue was used.:lol:

My guess is the seller bought the platform intending on using the teak for something else, I had noticed a few wood working tools in his garage and the lack of a boat on his property...

but then again he also had a windshield for sale as well, it's possibly one of the better looking windshields I have seen, complete with side vents that swing out...

(I bought that as well incase it's needed on the nova for $40 )

 

[GA_Boater]

Are you looking out for garage sales, Gibs? That's a good way to find stuff. I go and while I'm looking at the stuff for sale, I'm looking for other stuff in the back of the garage they might sell at the right price.

 

[Gibbles]

My wife does some garage sales once in a while with her mother, i mostly scan over them looking for fishing poles ect... Once we ran into one with tons of lures for cheap, and still sealed in packages. I bought a bunch, but looking back i wished i cleaned him out!

 

[Gibbles]

And here is the platform as it sits, i bought some nice ss wood screws hoping it would clamp down on the crack but it had more gap than i wanted. I shoved a wire into the crack to hold it open prior to screws and let the epoxy seep in, the removed the wire to confirm some epoxy squished out, then broke out the clamps

 

[Gibbles]

I also hit it with a little teak before applying the epoxy in hopes of preventing the epoxy from sticking to the surface.

 

[Gibbles]

I found my clamps were leaving an imprint in the teak so i hit it with a ton of teak oil, covered with wax paper and used some scrap plywood as a backing to prevent more damage, and hopefully the teak oil trapped in there will pull the dents out...

 

[Gibbles]

And since the platform will block the handle, i have to install new loops for the trailer straps, went down to the local marine parts store and picked these up after looking at how modern tin boats do it.

 

[Watermann]

Teak looks good Gibbs, I hit mine with 4 or 5 coats of the oil until it wouldn't soak in any longer. Figure I would do it every year for maintenance.

I hate putting those stern eyes on, I never ever can drill the holes straight enough and at the right angle to just push them right on through. Went to using the next size up drill bit to avoid doing the bit wobble dance with the drill but I usually end up a couple sizes over. Oh well it leaves more room for Pelican fifty poo hundred :lol:

 

[Gibbles]

Lol yeah, i just drilled a test hole in a piece of wood... I got kinda straight :lol: I,m thinking mount them high like a modern boat i looked at, like top corner like 5in below the corner cap... Whatcha think?

 

[Gibbles]

And looking at the swim platform, its going to be on the right side, and im thinking snug it as close to the engine as i can, leaving room for the strap, and try not to complicate maintenance...

 

[Gibbles]

Also that platform is hungry for oil! I let it sit on the surface with about a 50/50 mix of teak oil and mineral spirits, and kept it wet as it started to dry up. Not wanting to go to crazy, i think i,ll need one more sanding session once the epoxy cures

 

[Gibbles]

Whatcha think, to close? (Engine is fully turned to the right)

 

[Gibbles]

And my idea for the mounting of the eyelets

 

[dozerII]

Nice swim step Chris, you might what to move it a little further away in case you find a nice cheap CMC TnT for the Dorm Fridge and find it needs a little more clearance.

 

[Watermann]

Hey Gibbs is that pee pee hole going to spray right on the teak the whole time? Guess is doesn't matter since off plane the deck will be submerged. That's what I did for my Chief, cranked the outdrive all the way over and then put the platform on leaving plenty of clearance, if you do get a CMC, they are wider than the motor mounts. If you need me to, I will go out and measure my PT 130 TnT for you.

 

[Gibbles]

Thanks for the input, I usually try and spend more than one day deciding before drilling holes, but that's partly why this has taken so long. :lol:

The tale tail should miss the platform slightly, however I can always turn it so it shoots more straight back if needed.

Biggest issue I ran into was the knee braces, I have three of them.

The current position put's the lower left corner of the platform right on the bolt that goes through to the lower left side of the right knee brace, else I'm going further to the right to the other side.

Water, please do check the width of the CMC, I have a strong feeling one of those will be in my future.


And I got the eyelets installed, I tried to keep them inline with the bolt holes so I can tie them into the transom mounts for the strongest mount.

Worked out well enough, I think it will add some extra stiffness in the end.
when seating the eyelets I did get it pretty straight, however I had to push my drill down at an angle to oblong the holes to get them to mount flat.

Coated with several coats of epoxy as it thickened, then lots of 5200 as usual, not to worried since it's over the water line, but I still don't want any water intrusion.

I also confirmed my straps are long enough before committing to the position :lol:
I think it will be a good position for them, I figure hauling a tube ect will be in the boat's future.

 

[Watermann]

The CMC is 16.25" wide and has a 6.5" set back from the transom where the motor mounts to it. The set back may make it a mute point with the motor out further it may just clear the platform handle.

 

[64osby]

Awesome job Gibbles. I've been watching here and there. You should be very proud.

 

[Gibbles]

Eyelets mounted