1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

[Triton II]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Love the backyard bonfire description Jason... redneck burial!

TII

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Transom looks great, you made that look pretty easy.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Love the backyard bonfire description Jason... redneck burial!

TII

Yah, kinda like the mafia disposing of dead bodies, you know, get rid of all the evidence

Except, I don't live in Vegas. I'm in the farm fields and woodland of middle Michigan, so redneck style. All gone...

Transom looks great, you made that look pretty easy.

I'm not quite done with it but holy smokes Mike, that transom must have been about 1000x easier than the Islander transom. Seriously took me a fraction of the time to put together. And moving it is nothing, vs. an epic wrestling match with the other.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Well, I found my self strolling past the Jet Star today. I went ahead and flipped her over and decided to take a look at fuel tank placement. I grabbed the 20 gallon aluminum tank I rescued from the Four Winns and started scheming.

At the stern...

I'll have a bench back here that would house it nicely. Down side would be a bit of a stern heavy boat.

Or at the bow...

Here I'd build an upper casting deck deal, not very high. That tank is only like 4" tall plus fittings. I was already going to do that anyway. I was pretty pumped to see that fit up there like that, I didn't think it would. Battery, tackle and other gear would go in the stern box to put some weight back there.

Whaduya think guys, bow side or stern side? I'm kinda leaning towards the bow side.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

I also happened to have a Black Sharpie in my pocket so I drew some lines on the bow there...

Any thoughts, opinions, concerns, corrections, suggestions before she goes under the knife?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

I wouldn't put that big a tank in that boat. Your motor will use very little fuel and it will never need all that. Not even close. I know I know, bottom feeder, you already have it, etc etc so I guess if you can fit it without it being intrusive go ahead but if it becomes a real project, sell it and get something more reasonable.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Looks good to me...are you planning on a bow-mount trolling motor?

If so, maybe make sure you are leaving enough room to bolt it up.

I would vote for fuel tank in the bow, batteries in the stern.

Non-glass mat batteries should be in the stern, rather than let them get bounced around in the bow. Maybe not a big deal for you on this boat since you say it's for the river

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Your motor will use very little fuel and it will never need all that. Not even close. I know I know, bottom feeder, you already have it, etc etc so I guess if you can fit it without it being intrusive go ahead but if it becomes a real project, sell it and get something more reasonable.

Yah, completely agree with ya there. Check my thinking though...

1. My original plan was to have a pair of 6 gallon portables. I kinda figure by the time I buy the two tanks, hoses and fittings I'll be spending way more than what I could actually sell that alum one for. Did you guys notice we are paying way more for fuel tanks now, like double! I think since we are saving Polar Bears or something our tanks are more expensive

2. Going with a permanent tank I don't actually need to build a hatch, just cut a hole for an inspection plate. So, maybe this might even be less work?

3. Yah, unless I am actually motoring over to Canada I'll never need 20 gallons in there. I can just fill it to what I need though, eh.

Reasonable thinking?

Looks good to me...are you planning on a bow-mount trolling motor?

If so, maybe make sure you are leaving enough room to bolt it up.

Initially not so much, prolly just a budget friendly stern one for now. BUT, I definitely want to have that option open for down the road. Bow trollers are about 1000x better. I think I left enough room up there but I'll look up some specs just to be certain.

I would vote for fuel tank in the bow, batteries in the stern.

Non-glass mat batteries should be in the stern, rather than let them get bounced around in the bow. Maybe not a big deal for you on this boat since you say it's for the river

Yah, I may very well go that route.

I'm certain this Jet will find it's way into the Bay from time to time too

Kinda nice to have boat options, eh

Thanks for chippin in fellas!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

I like the bow position and your idea of just not fully filling that big tank. In my book, cheap or free is good. But I gotta tell you, those lines you drew on the front deck are making me cry!

I can't help you with the trolling motor thoughts, I don't fish. I know, I know, blasphemy!

 

[mark1961]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Go with the 20gal tank if you can, always good to have extra capacity if you need it and you really dont want portables cluttering up your deck space.....the smaller johnnyrudes dont exactly sip fuel either.

On the bow surgery, will you be storing the anchor somewhere in the casting deck over the tank?

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Jas, if she's going to be a river boat with a bow-mounted trolling motor, then maybe better to put the trolling batteries in the bow and the fuel in the stern with a starter battery. Shorter high amperage cabling all round = less cost. Just thinking out loud here...

TII

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

On the bow surgery, will you be storing the anchor somewhere in the casting deck over the tank?

Anchor, wasn't even thinking of that! I eyeballed it and I am pretty sure I can get a hatch just a head of the tank there to store an anchor if I go that route.

Jas, if she's going to be a river boat with a bow-mounted trolling motor, then maybe better to put the trolling batteries in the bow and the fuel in the stern with a starter battery. Shorter high amperage cabling all round = less cost. Just thinking out loud here...

TII

Ya know, I was just thinking...

Weight wise, it's pretty well a mute point. Two batteries (one starting, one deep cell) would weigh roughly 100#. My tank, with 16 gallons of fuel would weigh just about the same. So basically, like you are thinking there TII, really just a matter of the more straight forward install and cost. I'll need to stew on that a while.

Great blokes, the both of ya!

But I gotta tell you, those lines you drew on the front deck are making me cry!

Lake, when it comes time for the blood, guts and gore I'll warn ya, K? Just like when I hollar out to the kiddos...

"QUICK COVER YUR EYES!!"

When something scary comes on the TV


________________________________________

OK, 3 coats of epoxy on the transom...

I had my students weld up this inner piece for the trailer fenders a while ago. I live on a dirt road, just trying to help keep the boat clean if I can. Makes them stronger too...

Decals scraped off, sanded down, cleaned up ready for paint...

Have a great 4th of July Weekend guys!!

 

[chrisp929]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

man you better slow down there ...

I'm jealous that you have your jet star to work on .. i just finished my holiday and now im already itching to pull out my jetstar i bought last summer and start workin on that already ! That one will prolly go up for sale once finished. And i doubt i'll put as much love into that one as i did my holiday ..

You're progressing to fast. Although this isn't a union job, you better slow down cause you're makin everyone else look bad. : )

Question, what was the thickness of the factory transom. I ask because obviously three sheets of 1/2 inch equal 1.25 inches. Just wondering if you were staying the same in thickness or going down or up from factory.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

man you better slow down there ...

You're progressing to fast.

Ha! Yah right! I only get a few minutes a day on the Islander. Any time leftover goes to this Jet Star. I'll say this, it is such a joy to work on this boat, everything is so much easier/faster/smaller/lighter/simpler! Just a lot of fun to work on. She'll get there.

Question, what was the thickness of the factory transom. I ask because obviously three sheets of 1/2 inch equal 1.25 inches. Just wondering if you were staying the same in thickness or going down or up from factory.

Huh???

Is this a trick question?

 

[chrisp929]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Ha! Yah right! I only get a few minutes a day on the Islander. Any time leftover goes to this Jet Star. I'll say this, it is such a joy to work on this boat, everything is so much easier/faster/smaller/lighter/simpler! Just a lot of fun to work on. She'll get there.



Huh???

Is this a trick question?

Yea im gonna go ahead and edit that later.. Sorry i was at work earlier... I was only paying half attention.... Thats " .50 attention " im pretty sure.. Hehe....

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

LAKE! QUICK COVER YUR EYES!!

I hauled the Jet Star up to the house this morning. You'll see I made a parallel line to the inside that served as my cut line...

And started cutting! Switched from the grinder with cutting wheel over to the jigsaw for the radius cuts...

And in just a few minutes she went from a runabout to an open bow...

I feel like she can breath now. That would be four extra feet of cockpit room, sweet!

I went back and bent that edge down...

Later on I'll install an inner alum gunwale to match the existing and then run alum angle all around the topside to finish it off. I think it should come out pretty well.

Man, I am pumped! I have wanted to do that since the day I brought her home!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

May the Jet Star gods forgive you.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

But aside from that, nice job & looks like a well thought out plan. I'll keep peeking as you go along.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Nice work on the cut, looks like you got the lines you wanted.

The boat will be way more useful this way, since you plan on catching tons of fish

Does the hull have any wiggle now or is she still as solid as before?

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1968 15' Starcraft Jet Star Rebuild

Does the hull have any wiggle now or is she still as solid as before?

HA I reckon she'll be solid as once Jas does his usual "bomb-proofing"!

TII