jpstormcrow
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2022
- Messages
- 10
Hello! I have a 1958 StarCraft Jupiter. She is in really good shape, however, she leaks a bit - I am trying to get some insight before I go scorched earth and rip her down to the studs. Backstory - she sat in a barn from 1977 to 2020. I do not know its history before 2020 other than that it was used for skiing. She was a family boat but the owner passed away. No missing rivets I can see. Transom is in good shape - I stripped and sealed it this summer. I boat on the Detroit River / Lake Erie so she takes a beating sometimes.
1) Leaks more on rough water. Leak is barely noticeable in a no wake situation. Water could be sitting in bow though as boat sits relatively level when going slow.
2) On a 4 hour fishing trip (anchored) I have to pump it out twice with a hand pump. The water level is rarely high enough for the electric bilge to trip unless I am under way at an angle.
3) At the boat launch when pulled out a ton of water comes from the bow to the stern. Probably 5+ gallons.
4) The first few trips the water coming out of the bow was filthy, almost black. It is now clear.
5) Also, the first few trips some large chunks of what looked like dried caulk/epoxy/resin came out down to the bilge. I assume there is some sort of goop up under the floorboards. I will still sometimes seem small remnants in the bilge.
6) Occasionally I will come outside (in the driveway) to water drips from the keel strip weep hole towards the bow. I find this strange and alarming as if the keel strip is full of water it should be coming out of the stern weep hole? This seems to be on days when there is high humidity/condensation.
7) Bilge still has water instrusion when beached, so there is a stern leak somewhere. Watching the water has led me to what looks to be where an old fish finder transducer was mounted. I plan on removing the screws and riveting with 5200 backing.
My gut is telling me that the fishplate that attatches the bow to the hull is leaking and that dried crap was the goop from the factory or a past repair. I am thinking of cutting an access hole through the floorboards in the bow and seeing what I can discover. I also plan on using Total Boat Alumasteel epoxy on the bow seams.
Looking for ANY insights or ideas. Long term I plan on pulling the whole floor and sealing from the inside - I'd like to get a few more seasons out of this floor though before I dump more money into the boat. Ripping foam out doesnt sound fun or cheap.
1) Leaks more on rough water. Leak is barely noticeable in a no wake situation. Water could be sitting in bow though as boat sits relatively level when going slow.
2) On a 4 hour fishing trip (anchored) I have to pump it out twice with a hand pump. The water level is rarely high enough for the electric bilge to trip unless I am under way at an angle.
3) At the boat launch when pulled out a ton of water comes from the bow to the stern. Probably 5+ gallons.
4) The first few trips the water coming out of the bow was filthy, almost black. It is now clear.
5) Also, the first few trips some large chunks of what looked like dried caulk/epoxy/resin came out down to the bilge. I assume there is some sort of goop up under the floorboards. I will still sometimes seem small remnants in the bilge.
6) Occasionally I will come outside (in the driveway) to water drips from the keel strip weep hole towards the bow. I find this strange and alarming as if the keel strip is full of water it should be coming out of the stern weep hole? This seems to be on days when there is high humidity/condensation.
7) Bilge still has water instrusion when beached, so there is a stern leak somewhere. Watching the water has led me to what looks to be where an old fish finder transducer was mounted. I plan on removing the screws and riveting with 5200 backing.
My gut is telling me that the fishplate that attatches the bow to the hull is leaking and that dried crap was the goop from the factory or a past repair. I am thinking of cutting an access hole through the floorboards in the bow and seeing what I can discover. I also plan on using Total Boat Alumasteel epoxy on the bow seams.
Looking for ANY insights or ideas. Long term I plan on pulling the whole floor and sealing from the inside - I'd like to get a few more seasons out of this floor though before I dump more money into the boat. Ripping foam out doesnt sound fun or cheap.
