1962 Starcraft Starchief restoration

[norflander]

hi folks - bought this boat few months ago, hope i don't regret it. I have been running a '62 Starcraft Jet for about 4 years and wanted to try something bigger to see if I could handle it. The boat seems to be solid but the guy i bought it from threw a crappy paint job on it and i am a little concerned about the condition of the lower hull. My primary concern at the moment is getting the rollers replaced on the trailer and getting the bunks and new rollers set up. For a boat of this design, should all the weight be on the bunks or the rollers? I have searched this forum and others but nothing conclusive. I need to be able to move this thing around the yard without damaging the hull (in a hurry as winter is setting in up here). The trailer it came with is scary, 2 of the rollers had split open and the keel was resting on the steel pins (yikes). I drove about 100 miles across the northern Adirondacks at 30mph - made some friends that day on the road. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, N. Ps - i tried to upload a pic but the site won't let me - how does that happen?

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome after more than 5 years.

Click on the Forum Help link in my sig and look at the pic attaching tutorial. You need more than 3 posts as a new (?) member to add pics. Don't use Photobucket to host your photos.

By rollers, I assume you mean the keel rollers up the center of the trailer. After you replace the bad rollers, adjust the bunks and rollers so weight is shared by both. If the keel was resting on the roller axles, it sounds like the bunks should be raised or the rollers lowered if they are adjustable.

 

[norflander]

Thank you very much - i actually joined the forum when i bought the 14.5' Starcraft 62(?) Jet(?) in the spring of 2012. i was having issues with an old 59 Lark 35 Golden Juiblee (which i am still am fooling with), but i just never got around to posting anything. Regarding the weight distribution on the trailer for this boat, i have read conflicting accounts in my searches on various forums for an aluminum boat, especially this size. Some have said the keel rollers take all the load, some have said the opposite. I have my Jet set up just as you describe above so i will try it on this one - thanks. I know the front bunks need to come up some more and jacking this thing up is a challenge. One more post and i can start getting some pics up - thanks again, N.

 

[GA_Boater]

Once the rollers and bunks are set right, then you can work on how the boat sits fore/aft for weight distribution.

After we see some pics, better thoughts on how to raise the boat will come.

 

[norflander]

hi - sorry for the gap in posts - my life is a blur these days - right after my last post came deer hunting, then the holidays, etc. etc, - i got the new keel rollers on the trailer and i adjusted the front bunks - they are probably not in their final position but at least i can safely move boat and trailer around my yard - that however must wait until after the snow is gone and mud season is over - ah yes another Adirondack winter.... Well this is my third post so maybe i can post some pictures of the old tub next - thanks very much for the help - take care, jer

 

[norflander]

hi folks - i am going to try to upload a test pic of my 62 jet (at least i think it is a jet) - if this works i will upload a pic of the Starchief.

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[norflander]

1962 Starchief

 

[chevymaher]

Very nice boat you got there,

 

[BWR1953]

Very pretty Starchief!

 

[oldrem]

Cool looking boat. Should be fun.

 

[Woodonglass]

IMHO the weight distribution ratio should be 75/25 Bunks carrying the biggest load. Rollers are just there for alignment and and some load bearing but not that much.