1966 Starcraft Holiday Engine Repower

[66Holiday924]

I've been thinking, when I get my boat back, I'm basically going to put it back together the way it was and that will be the end of this re-power project. I need to get it "street legal" as far as decals go. As far as I can tell, to be legal, I'm required to have a capacity decal, the blower decal, and a HIN plate (mine was damaged during work). Is that all that is required?

 

[chevymaher]

Capacity and hin. Blower sticker mine never had one and on the 4 other boats I am constantly around i never see one.

I got a link to a place that makes the capacity stickers if you need it. And they are cheap.

 

[Watermann]

Your Holly didn't have a capacity plate in 1965 and IO boats are only required to have persons, gear and weight capacity plates with HP being on OB boats. So you need to figure out the persons and weight for your Holly. Most 18'rs are 7 persons using their formula but 150Lb people are tough to find now days.

Number of people = vessel length (ft.) x vessel width (ft.) ÷ 15. for a vessel 18 feet long by 6 feet wide, the number of persons is 18 times 6 (or 108) divided by 15, which equals seven 150-lb. persons (or a total person weight of 7 x 150, or 1050 lbs.

Did your State assign a HIN? I had to make my own plate and attach it to the starboard side of the stern. WA State here requires a carbon monoxide warning decal because people die sitting on the swim platform while the motor is running.

Are you having the shop do the motor work they say is needed? Carbs are very expensive and with the parts mark up shops pass on, I can't imagine paying for a new one through them. If it's a Rochester carb, they last about forever and only get gummed up is someone lets fuel rot in them. So a cleaning would be all that's needed.

 

[66Holiday924]

Thank you, I have my new capacity decal, HIN and the blower decal. I believe the blower decal is required by the USCG unless of course you're running an outboard.

 

[66Holiday924]

Watermann My boat had a capacity decal it was pretty mutilated but still legible. It said 8 persons at 150lbs or 1700 lbs persons and gear. I did the calculations too.

I used the original information given in a Starcraft brochure to complete. I'm a little over 18 and a little over 7 at my widest point. 18.33x7.08 = 129.8 -----> 129.8/15 = 8

It had a HIN plate, but it was damaged. I had a new one made and they verified it somehow through the state to make sure it wasn't stolen or something. It's a place that does that specifically so it's all checked and made to the specifications of the law.

I would like to have the shop complete the work. It depends on what their price is though. I'm going to ask them about rebuilding parts and they already mentioned that they will try to find remanufactured parts to offer as an option. They've completed the work that I wussed out on and specifically brought it to them to do, so any shop can complete what's left, but I'm trying to get as much done as possible and stay within a budget. They seem very very competent, knowledgeable, and work fast, compared to a lot of other mechanics I've talked too. They know exactly what I'm talking about when I mention something and don't have to "look into it". I like them working on my boat.

 

[66Holiday924]

They called me with another update on the boat today. They got the engine running really good. The carburetor ended up being ok. They gave me a used distributor cap that's in really good shape and they cleaned the fuel pump. They know I'm working inside a budget and I think they've been very reasonable as far as my bill goes. Next they're going to install everything, the engine, throttle, steering and get it all ready to go.

 

[mickyryan]

last i checked capacity plates were only required by manufactures and on boats 20 ft or less private resto or old boats most stickers are gone...

 

[66Holiday924]

last i checked capacity plates were only required by manufactures and on boats 20 ft or less private resto or old boats most stickers are gone...

I just took a quick lap around the internet and I read that they are a Federal Requirement on boats less than 20 foot except kayaks, canoes, inflatable, and sail boats. I also read that boat manufacturers usually put them on anything under 26 foot. I didn't see anything about restores or anything.

My .02 about the capacity plate is that I would put one on my boat regardless. I'm clearly under 20' and one day when I'm fishing right in front of the Coast Guard Headquarters at Fairport Harbor, they're going to go down a list and ask where it is. I'd rather say "right here" and move on to the next thing, than have to explain that that doesn't apply to me.

They can be sticklers here. The ODNR will watch people fish the river with binoculars during the walleye run, stop and question you, and they'll give you a ticket if they find you're not using the right size hooks.

 

[mickyryan]

all im saying isd i was pulled over many a times and the capacity plate was just a piece of clean metal as in the writing was gone and they didint say anything but wow sun beat that up lol but i agree i guess if you have to worry its better safe then sorry , my thing is how will they know its correct or official if folks can buy and put whatever they want on them , and i think thats exactly what the last dnr officer said as he shrugged .

 

[66Holiday924]

I don't think they really care what that information on it is. It's not like they are going to run the calculations on spot and check it. However, if you find yourself in some kind of incident where that information is applicable, somebody's lawyers might be looking into them and their accuracy.

I think I'm good though. I have the capacity decal, blower decal, and a new HIN plate. I don't think I need anything else, right?

 

[mickyryan]

agreed i use boat labels.com and make sure i got all the factory labels required on the boat just for mitigation purposes

 

[66Holiday924]

Wow, I just googled the gentleman who runs the shop where my boat is, Mel Riggs. I feel like a dumbass. It turns out he was a champion offshore boat racer. Reading guys talk in forums, they want to visit his shop just to meet him, and they say his shop does legendary good work. I have to say, up to this point they've been awesome! They definitely know what they're talking about over there and the service has been phenomenal. I've been dealing with Mel directly. He talks to you like an old friend and seems to understand that your boat, whatever it is, is your baby. He had 30' to 40' high dollar yachts in his shop, some of them from Florida. I think the drive was worth it. I'll bring my boat(s) back if I need extensive stuff done. I think he's treating me as he would the owner's of the high dollar boats and that means a lot.

 

[oldrem]

That's awesome. Always great to work with down to earth people who really know their stuff. Had the opportunity to meet a few big names over the years that were like that.

 

[66Holiday924]

It is cool. He raced on the Mercury racing team for Carl Kiekhaefer (founder of Mercury). Between him and his partner they won almost every race during the 60's. It is very cool! I'm considering asking him to autograph my transom.

 

[oldrem]

It is cool. He raced on the Mercury racing team for Carl Kiekhaefer (founder of Mercury). Between him and his partner they won almost every race during the 60's. It is very cool! I'm considering asking him to autograph my transom.

That's cool. My father worked as an engineer on their racing team one year in the 50's, but my mother put the kibosh on it when he was gone every weekend.

 

[mickyryan]

i learned a long time ago in business that the 35k project was just as important to the owner as a 100k project truth is sometimes i prefer the 35k projects simplicity has its +

 

[66Holiday924]

I got another update on my boat yesterday. They're saying everything is installed. The gimbal is on, engine installed, throttle & steering hooked up and working. Now they're running a new harness (which will end up eliminating a couple of the sender wires I ran), hooking up my ignition switch, and they're going to open up my lower unit, and check what shape I'm in. Specifically they're going to make sure the impeller is good. I don't think it's going to be too much longer. They've been pretty spot on with estimated manhours and it seems to be going as planned, minus the engine work they had to do (which they couldn't have known about).

It was re-assuring yesterday. I sold a boat piece to a gentleman who retired as a Mercruiser certified mechanic. He knew of the shop that has my boat, and said they're the best in the business. He seemed pretty impressed that they had my boat.

 

[66Holiday924]

Final update on the boat! They're done with it! Everything is installed. Everything is working good. They're going to run it later in the spring to get the carburetor adjusted. Other than that, it should be turn-key at this point. I'm hoping to get a few pictures. I'll probably head back to Wisconsin to pick it up in late April. Then I'll have to put my boat back together. I'm glad to hear my boat has a functioning engine again though. Something about seeing all of them mechanics missing from your boat gives you a little doubt that it'll ever have them and function again. lol.

Other than that I wanted to share a part number. I found this a while back while I was considering this project. It's the jig to cut the transom hole if decide you want to do it yourself: 91-43693A2 The shop said they used a jig to cut my keyhole, I believe this is it.

 

[steve_h7]

Congratulations! Can't wait for the pics. :thumb:

 

[66Holiday924]

I'm excited to see the new engine and drive hanging on it. This experience has given me a new appreciation for that. For the most part the boat should look just like it did when I'm done putting it back together. On the outside, the kicker motor mount will be gone. I have a swim platform to install, trim tabs, I hope to get the name put on, and obviously my Alpha 1 Gen 2 Outdrive. Inside, the only difference will be the dash and throttle control.

It has brand new: gauge cluster, steering, throttle and wire harness. I updated it to have a cellphone charger and installed the foundation necessary to safely add a stereo or any other electronics I might want down the road. The drive and engine are 25 years old with 410 hours on them, have been gone through and are in good working order, and it'll have a like new trailer.

I plan to get it back together as soon as the weather permits, run it for a season or two to make sure it is completely mechanically sound, and then a major interior project will happen. The floor, panels, and any other plywood pieces will be replace with some sort of composite that won't rot, and reupholstered. I want it in great running order before I do that though, so I'll run it a season or two first.