1963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

[stone4141]

I have so far sanded primed and painted. But now I have it on the trailer right side up again and I have to start the real work. I am starting at the transom and working my way forward. First off my question is if I take the splashwell out can I leave it out? I am going to replace the transom and if I have the splashwell out I would prefer to just put some decking in its place. It is a long shaft transom and the aft is 21". Also I included some pics of the bow that was converted from closed to open and its not to pretty any ideas for a remedy there would be great as well. And lastly its missing a corner transom bracket and some trim is pretty beat in that area as well. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

First off my question is if I take the splashwell out can I leave it out?

Ayuh,... Ya Could,...
But there'd be a 'ell of a chance she'll Sink, the first time ya pull back on the throttle....

It's called a Splashwell, for a reason....

 

[steelespike]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

I believe there is a Startcraft club.A major Starcraft dealer may have the transom corner trim.
I know our local large dealer had some.

 

[steelespike]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

I don't think there is any problem leaving it out. it the 50s and 60 we boated all over in boats with
25 to 40 hp motors 15" transoms and never had any problems .Oh you might get a splash over
once in a while backing up. You could add a splash apron ridged or fabric to the top of the transom.My 57 Crestliner 18 Bucaneer has an added fabric skirt on its 15" transom and its rated for 70 hp.

 

[MaddysDaddy]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

nice boat. good luck with the rest of your project.... i am also fixing up a 16' starcraft. i like the paint job. i want to paint mine a similar color. what kind of paint and method did you use?

 

[larlarsa]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

check out my starcraft project,i convert a close bow to open bow fishing machine,i also cut down the splashwell to add a deck on the back too,you may need the splashell to stiff the hull.

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

nice boat. good luck with the rest of your project.... i am also fixing up a 16' starcraft. i like the paint job. i want to paint mine a similar color. what kind of paint and method did you use?

Thanks. I used rustoleum (color is sand) and added a hardener. I rolled and brushed it on. Unfortunatly there are a few sags not seen in the pic that have to be fixed. I did it on a day that was too cold. But I really wanted to get the boat flipped back over to work. If I had to do it over again. I would have just painted the bottom in the cold weather and waited to paint any vertical surfaces on a warmer day. But the hardener made a nice thick hard bottom. I won't know how hard until I hit something though

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Thanks for the ideas. I am thinking the best way is to just test it out in the water before going with a final solution. The darn splashwell just takes up so much room. Maybe Ill just make a smaller one at some point. I'm thinking between a 21" transom and only having 33hp motor it should not be too bad even if there is some splashing.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Hey Stone, welcome!!!

Your splashwell will provide some all important structure to your rig. She'll be a floppy noodle without it. Danger! If you take it out you'll need to some how provide structure to keep your hull from collapsing.

If you take a gander at any 12/14/16 foot utility boat you'll see benches running from one side to the other. Kinda sorta like the backbone of the boat, holding things together. You'd pretty much have to do something like that to keep the rig from folding up on ya.

Head on over to the Starcraft section on your transom corner. There is a fella there that can give you a hand

Your rubrail trim will be a little more challenging. Looks to me like a bear chewed off about a 3 foot section there, bummer. I'd say you have two options on that. 1. Find a guy who is scrapping out his old Starcraft, grab a small section of his rubrail trim, and scab it in. 2. Pull it all off and start over with a new rubrail and insert from a place like Taco. The first option is a needle in a haystack and the second is just a bit pricey.

Welcome to iboats, glad you are here!!

Edit: Actually, I just posted to MD's 93' Starcraft project and his is a good example of a rig with no splashwell. BUT, you can see that big ol bench in the stern there. You'd pretty much need to go to something like that if you don't want the splashwell. If you don't like the big bench, I'd say keep what ya got, eh!

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Hey Stone, welcome!!!

Your splashwell will provide some all important structure to your rig. She'll be a floppy noodle without it. Danger! If you take it out you'll need to some how provide structure to keep your hull from collapsing.

If you take a gander at any 12/14/16 foot utility boat you'll see benches running from one side to the other. Kinda sorta like the backbone of the boat, holding things together. You'd pretty much have to do something like that to keep the rig from folding up on ya.

Head on over to the Starcraft section on your transom corner. There is a fella there that can give you a hand

Your rubrail trim will be a little more challenging. Looks to me like a bear chewed off about a 3 foot section there, bummer. I'd say you have two options on that. 1. Find a guy who is scrapping out his old Starcraft, grab a small section of his rubrail trim, and scab it in. 2. Pull it all off and start over with a new rubrail and insert from a place like Taco. The first option is a needle in a haystack and the second is just a bit pricey.

Welcome to iboats, glad you are here!!

Edit: Actually, I just posted to MD's 93' Starcraft project and his is a good example of a rig with no splashwell. BUT, you can see that big ol bench in the stern there. You'd pretty much need to go to something like that if you don't want the splashwell. If you don't like the big bench, I'd say keep what ya got, eh!

Thank you very helpful!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Welcome to iboats.

Despite the 3 knee braces...... you need the splashwell to maintain the structural integrity of the transom. Many of us have seen cracks at the inside corner's of the splashwell from stress. That is the testimony that the splashwell is needed.

That damaged rear corner shows evidence that the transom had been rebuilt since starcraft runs that gunnal rail all the way out flush with the stern......... it has been modified. No big thing and yes you will be able to locate a corner cap...... you are on a treasure hunt!! If you find a corner cap....see if you can get a set and replace both sides at once.

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

I was able to remove the splashwell. They put the rivets behind the gunnel trim which made some extra work and also made extra future work because I was not planning on doing anything with the inside rub rail. Anyways Its out. It seems like there are mixed opinions on leaving the splashwell out. Most think to put it back in. No matter what I do it is obvious at minimum I would have to create a deck or bench to return some structural integrity.I also was able to remove most of the bolts in the transom so hopefully in the next week I can get it replaced.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

You are near home free. While you are waiting ....you should be laminating your transom wood together. Once laminated all you will have to do is pull the old wood, trace the pattern, dry fit, seal the edges and all surfaces and install.

Are you intending to use gluvit on the interior seams and rivets?

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

You are near home free. While you are waiting ....you should be laminating your transom wood together. Once laminated all you will have to do is pull the old wood, trace the pattern, dry fit, seal the edges and all surfaces and install.

Are you intending to use gluvit on the interior seams and rivets?

Yes I'm going to Gluvit. Unfortunatly I have to order online because the West marine near my house wants $70 dollars for a 2lb container. But I have to wait for decent weather anyways. We were just teased with a day in the 50's then I woke up to fresh snow. Dang!! What are some options for laminating the pieces of plywood together?? I have some epoxy plus i am going to seal the transom with. I imagine I could just use that.

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Got the transom out. It was not to bad. Thought in my head it would have been worse.. Is there a reason why I see people and why on this boat the top two corners of the transom are not part of the main piece? Should I keep it with seperate corners or just make the transom out of one piece???

 

[ezmobee]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Remake the new one as one solid piece.

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Any tips on fiberglassing the transom? I have epoxy plus and am planning on using fiberglass cloth from homedepot. Then my plan is to put a clear spar varnish over the epoxied plywood as long as it looks good if not I'll paint it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

I think most of us have just epoxied ours. Adding glass to it would make it darn near bulletproof. However, I don't think cloth is the glass product you want, at least not by itself. I think you want some sort of mat. I think I've read that cloth doesn't have a lot of strength by itself and is best as a finishing layer over mat. Unfortunately I am no glass expert. Maybe if you throw up a new post in the resto and ask about glassing a transom, one of the glass guys will chime in.

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Well if most guys don't bother with the mat or cloth I don't think I will either. I only have a 33hp motor right now anyways. I have used cloth before and was not looking foward to attempting it again. So it sounds like I can just get started with the epoxy. Thanks

 

[stone4141]

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

Re: !963 Starcraft 16ft total remod

I got the transom boards cut. I used 3/4" ply for the outer transom board as well I hope that does not make it to thick for my outboard. Gonna have to check that when I visit my parents. I've been keeping it there to work on cause i'm out of room at my own house.Dang!! Should I pre-drill all of my holes and then epoxy or epoxy drill then fill with 3m 5200??