1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Has anyone seen any posts or know of the best way to reclaim a scratched and dulled windshield, you know those old curved ones that some of us adore?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Are you seeing scratches & dull or are there spider cracks that make the windshield hazy?

Andgott posted a make a windshield thread: A new windshield for an old boat...

Similar info on another site, but a good resource too: http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/weble...ndshield1.html

And someone posted a polish a windshield thread from another site too

All good resources.

Best of luck, many (me included) buy a 'good' windshield or possibly a whole boat for the windshield and attempt to make it fit....

 

[airshot]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Nice boat, had one very similiar to it a number of years back, I had a 40 hp jonny on it and she would do 28mph at wot with 2 adults.
A 40 lb electric will be plenty, the big deep cycle at wally world is a good battery, have had a couple of them. Boat is just the right size for a budget concious family, take you time and go over it well and you will get years of fun from her. Your daughters will retain a lot of good memories with that boat, I know how often my kids talk about there childhood boating days and that was a long time back...

Airshot

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Nice boat, had one very similiar to it a number of years back, I had a 40 hp jonny on it and she would do 28mph at wot with 2 adults.
A 40 lb electric will be plenty, the big deep cycle at wally world is a good battery, have had a couple of them. Boat is just the right size for a budget concious family, take you time and go over it well and you will get years of fun from her. Your daughters will retain a lot of good memories with that boat, I know how often my kids talk about there childhood boating days and that was a long time back...

Airshot

That's exactly what I'm shooting for!

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Are you seeing scratches & dull or are there spider cracks that make the windshield hazy?

Andgott posted a make a windshield thread: A new windshield for an old boat...

Similar info on another site, but a good resource too: http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/weble...ndshield1.html

And someone posted a polish a windshield thread from another site too

All good resources.

Best of luck, many (me included) buy a 'good' windshield or possibly a whole boat for the windshield and attempt to make it fit....

You may be able to see that the windshield on this one isn't too bad. It's got a few scratches, some mineral scaling and a lot of general haziness. I'm hoping I can polish and rub most of that out, and then put some kind of magic coating on it. I was in the Navy, an airdale, and we were taught to repair cockpit scratches. Hell. That was a long time ago. I guess the important part was not the how, but the can you part that I remember. Some of these kits though... They cost as much as a new windshield! I saw you could buy those in the $200 range for my boat. It's not really $200 important, but $35-$40... I might be able to stomach that.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

You may be able to see that the windshield on this one isn't too bad. It's got a few scratches, some mineral scaling and a lot of general haziness. I'm hoping I can polish and rub most of that out, and then put some kind of magic coating on it. I was in the Navy, an airdale, and we were taught to repair cockpit scratches. Hell. That was a long time ago. I guess the important part was not the how, but the can you part that I remember. Some of these kits though... They cost as much as a new windshield! I saw you could buy those in the $200 range for my boat. It's not really $200 important, but $35-$40... I might be able to stomach that.

How about less than $20 and a good or better job than the kits. I'll let you know when you're ready to polish. I'm about to hit the sack or I'd dig it up.

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

Are you seeing scratches & dull or are there spider cracks that make the windshield hazy?

Andgott posted a make a windshield thread: A new windshield for an old boat...

Similar info on another site, but a good resource too: http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/weble...ndshield1.html

And someone posted a polish a windshield thread from another site too

All good resources.

Best of luck, many (me included) buy a 'good' windshield or possibly a whole boat for the windshield and attempt to make it fit....

Lovin' John Gambill tips. Nice and cheap. Sweat equity is my kind of money well spent!

 

[barato2]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

try wet sanding with 1500 grit SiC paper, then with 2000 grit, then careful work with a buffer, lambswool or foam pad, and some
3M "Finesse-it" or similar polishing compound. this is how a pro will do the same to your faded plastic headlight lenses, and they come out great. it is a good idea to put some protectant on it once done, tho.

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

try wet sanding with 1500 grit SiC paper, then with 2000 grit, then careful work with a buffer, lambswool or foam pad, and some
3M "Finesse-it" or similar polishing compound. this is how a pro will do the same to your faded plastic headlight lenses, and they come out great. it is a good idea to put some protectant on it once done, tho.

Thanks for the advice! I used some plain old turtle wax on it yesterday. We polished a lot of the aluminum as well. She is looking so much better now. The windshield cam out great! There's still a couple of minor scratches and scuffs, but all the haziness is gone! It's so surprising and gratifying to see watch her get younger. I am definately smitten!

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

I ordered a trolling motor Friday. I'm going to pick up some batteries next week. I figured I'd start out slow and work the bugs out of her first. I ordered the Minn Kota Endura MAX 55 Transom Mounted Trolling Motor, 42-Inch Shaft:

Amazon.com: Minn Kota Endura MAX 55 Transom Mounted Trolling Motor, 42-Inch Shaft: Sports & Outdoors

It has some kind of digitized system of speed control that's not resistor based. They say you can get up to five times the battery life out of them.

I think I'm going to buy a Crown deep-cycle battery. Their corporate office is nearby.

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

I know it's been a while, but it's been a cold winter and my garage isn't heated. All last summer, other projects were taking priority. I've been looking for a OB motor. Maybe, if somebody reading this knows, please let me know your thoughts. I'm looking at a 1985 Mercury 75 hp with power trim and really low hours. The price is like $1,000, which seems reasonable. This boat requires a short shaft, like 20" I think. The longer shaft on this motor, I'm assuming 24" should be okay, right, especially with the power trim? The boat is rated for up to a 75 hp. This OB is a 2-cycle. It should be lighter too than the motors they had back in the early 60's, right?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

This should help you figure out what motor length to shop for:

Having T&T is great, but won't be able to lift the motor to compensate for the wrong length. Unless the T&T unit is also an adjustable bracket that has some adjustment up & down. T&T tilt the motor at an angle in & out from the bottom of the transom:

NOT up & down.

Tilt also only works when the motor's not in gear. Or at least shouldn't..

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

This should help you figure out what motor length to shop for:

Having T&T is great, but won't be able to lift the motor to compensate for the wrong length. Unless the T&T unit is also an adjustable bracket that has some adjustment up & down. T&T tilt the motor at an angle in & out from the bottom of the transom:

NOT up & down.

Tilt also only works when the motor's not in gear. Or at least shouldn't..

Fantastic information! Thanks!

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

My transom height is only 16", so I'm pretty limited on my selection. There doesn't seem to be a lot of short shafts out there.

 

[OldStardust]

Re: 1962 Starcraft Stardust - Should I go for it???

I ended up starting another thread in motors:

http://forums.iboats.com/non-repair...62-starcraft-stardust-638813.html#post4498955