18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Is It in one area?, like where the battery might have sat, or is it througout? Bummer of a discovery, although the 5200 and clsed end rivets would work fine for a smaller area.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad Bret does have a spare hull . I know it needs alot of trim t this point but you already have most of the trim on the one you have . You might even be able to pull the cp off your sunchief and put it on the Holiday he has .


Rick

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

TRAGIC NEWS!!! Any Suggestions. I cleaned out the boat and made a horrific discovery. The bottom of the boat is pitted top and bottom. My inclination is to scrap the whole boat. It has holes all the way through in one spot and deep pits in others. I have some pics here. Let me know what you think.

I bet Gluv it would seal that up..Applied inside and out

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Thanks for your replies.

It's pretty wide spread across the back half of the boat. I took the 4" grinder with a brush on it and it pretty much goes up entire middle section of the boat. Its wide spread and is not as bad the further you go forward. I'm not sure what caused it. Most of the pitting seems to be from the inside;however, its bad on both sides near the stern. I talked to a guy who builds aluminum boats and he said he would trash it. He happens to have another boat like this one. i've not seen it yet, but i make be able to put the two together.

The pics are of the worst areas, but i feel like the whole bottom would need to be coated to keep it from leaking. Any further advice would be much appreciated.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

If it's that widespread...I hate to say it but I would trash it. I doubt you'd ever have enough confidence in whatever repair you made to be comfortable using it. Bummer for sure.

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

I really love the design of my old starcraft verses the newer one i have found for sale. I will probably buy the other one anyway, just because it appears to be in good shape. I may be able just to rivet my cabin onto the other boat, but the rounded glass is a real concern. Any suggestions there?

My main question has to do with repairing the older boats bottom. I have been to durafix.com and they appear to have a solution. It wouldn't be too bad. The worst spots are at the stern and exterior and the rest seems to be peppered through the interior. Any thoughts? Am i just trying to hard here to hold on to the boat?

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad I would almost bet you could take the cap off of both boats and put yours with the cabin on the other one if their lengths are similar . They didnt make differant hulls just differant caps. The Hulls are differant by length and width but otherwise a 21' Startcraft hull is pretty much a 21' Starcraft hull .


Rick

 

[JimbC]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Sorry to hear the ugly find in the hull brobrad. If I were you I would probably give that Durafix a try at least. It looks so easy to do. Thanks for the link I have many, many, many, many, holes in the stringers and the top rail on my boat that I will definitely be using this to repair. This will make it so much better before I fasten the floor back, so I will have all new holes in stringers and top rail won't look like a kid was having fun with his fathers drill. let us know what route you take.

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Sorry to hear the ugly find in the hull brobrad. If I were you I would probably give that Durafix a try at least. It looks so easy to do. Thanks for the link I have many, many, many, many, holes in the stringers and the top rail on my boat that I will definitely be using this to repair. This will make it so much better before I fasten the floor back, so I will have all new holes in stringers and top rail won't look like a kid was having fun with his fathers drill. let us know what route you take.

My boat is actually an 18'4" and i believe the other to be the same. I haven't gotten to see it yet. I did find an additional site which is a 2nd generation fix for aluminum. Its called HTS 2000. We might be able to get a save a few bucks if a few folks want in on the order. I wouldn't mind doing that if anyone esle is game.

 

[sschefer]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

You could patch it from the inside with Marine-Tex, a rubber gasket, a sheet of .125 aluminum and generous amounts of 5200 and closed end rivets but it would probably cost you just as much as another hull.

I hate seeing any boat laid to rest permanently but I think it may be time. Just from the pics, my bet is that the deck was re-done with old style PT ply and it leached into the bilge.

On the bright side, you've got all the hard to find stuff and it's still good!

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Well, i've gone out about a dozen times to re-evaluate the starcraft bottom. It just won't heal up. I guess i'm gonna have to let her go. I got some pics of the one i plan to look at monday. Can anyone get close on a year model guess. The guy that has it is too busy to look for a tag on the boat. he believes it to be an 18 footer, but it looks short in the pics. That may just be due to the transom build. What do ya'll think???

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad,

It is at least a 67, as that is when they changed the glass style. I would guess 1970. I like it! Bring her home and lets get started on the rebuild

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

I agree with Bret its at least 67 or newer and also at lest 18' as I am also sure they didnt make the cabin cruisers any smaller . I have a 16' and theres no way they would have tried to stick a cabin on my boat .


Rick

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Thanks Rick and Bret,

I'm a 72 model myself. It may be just what i'm looking for. It looks to be in far better shape than what i started with earlier. I hope to get it monday.

Brad

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Ooooops I double posted .


Rick

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Good deal Brad I agree it looks like it hasnt been molested near as bad as the one you have. I almost wonder if the damage you are seeing in the one you have isnt why they added the extension to the hull in the first place . I think the new one will be alot easier to resto from what I can see in the pics . Make sure you ssave every piece of trim off the old one as there are guys looking for parts that are no longer made . After you have all the trim off of it haul it down to the scrapper and get some money for the hull and then sell off the worst of the 2 trailers for more money .


Rick

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad,

You know there will be a feeding frenzy for lots of pics Monday Night

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Good deal Brad I agree it looks like it hasnt been molested near as bad as the one you have. I almost wonder if the damage you are seeing in the one you have isnt why they added the extension to the hull in the first place . I think the new one will be alot easier to resto from what I can see in the pics . Make sure you ssave every piece of trim off the old one as there are guys looking for parts that are no longer made . After you have all the trim off of it haul it down to the scrapper and get some money for the hull and then sell off the worst of the 2 trailers for more money .


Rick

Unfortunately, i'll have to stay with the trailer i have. The other one is temporarily sitting on a trailer this guy intends to keep. If the boat looks as good as i think it does, I'll be set.
As far as all of the trim etc, my current boat doesn't have much that is good. I will salvage all i can, and then to the scrapper.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad Bow cap, Transom caps all of the Rb rail aluminum and anything else that might work on another Starcraft should be pulled off the old hull before its scrapped even the windows if they are in half decent shape might help somebody else out . I have considered setting an aaluminum forge back up just to make the Bow and Transom caps as there has been a rush on them lately Bret I am pretty sure has pulled all of them off of his parts boat and sold them all plus a couple he didnt have . I could sandcast new ones off of some decent old ones if I set my forge back up .


Rick

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad Bow cap, Transom caps all of the Rb rail aluminum and anything else that might work on another Starcraft should be pulled off the old hull before its scrapped even the windows if they are in half decent shape might help somebody else out . I have considered setting an aaluminum forge back up just to make the Bow and Transom caps as there has been a rush on them lately Bret I am pretty sure has pulled all of them off of his parts boat and sold them all plus a couple he didnt have . I could sandcast new ones off of some decent old ones if I set my forge back up .


Rick

Yeah, i'm in no hurry to scrap it. Most of those pieces you mentioned have one part or another broken, but any part saved would be great. Someone refurbed the boat many years ago so i'm not sure what is original and what is not. I did see some discussion on the transom knees. Mine has three, i'm not sure about the new one. The forge sounds like a lot fun!!! I might need you before its over. Since you know a littel about working with aluminum, what's your thoughts on HTS2000 and the likes?