1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I'll tell you one thing sir, you've got nothing to apologize for on that paint job, looks great! I love the windshield too, I don't know, I guess I'm just from "that era". You've done an outstanding job all the way through, lots of new ideas too.

Looking forward to splash pics/videos!

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Rusty / LL - thanks a bunch guys! Really in the home stretch now!

Today will have the last of the bits attached with the boat essentially ready for the motor next weekend. I am really wishin' that I have this weekend available too... but alas I need to go golfing and "other stuff" for a good buddy who's finally decided to stop sowing is oats! Officially there is lots more planned then "nap time"!!!

Anyway, once I recover next week there will be plenty to do to try and get this thing to float. As my 4 year old son asked the other day "does it float"?... I thought to myself, this kid is asking the right question... everything is really quite irrelevant! So fathers day will be splash day / does she float day!!!

Jim

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Major rebuild bits are completed!!!!

T-4 days until motor pickup!!!!

Major items left to complete before splash day:

This weekend:
- pickup motor
- paint motor
- transfer boat from dollies to trailer
- install motor
- install controls
- screw down seats
- final electrical test

Next week:
- put on reg numbers/star craft logo/boat name stickers
- take photos
- cover up

Have a great one gents!

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Sounds like your in the home stretch, Jim and glad to hear it too... or rather in this case glad to read it

Rusty

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

The peanut gallery is rooting for you. IM. Go, go, go.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Alright guys, just so you don't think I'm slackin' off... just heading up north now to pickup the motor and the trailer. Plan is to load up and turn around and come home. Then pull the motor, light sand, etch and paint. While the paint is drying, pull the controls, unload the glasser that is on the trailer and load the proper boat onto the trailer --- its new home!

Tomorrow, will be load the motor day to be ready for splash father's day 2012!!!!!!!!!

Jim

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Safe travel Jim, don't forget the photos!!!
Glen

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

You're on the home stretch now!

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Well this is going to be broken into two back to back posts... I gotta admit I am spent. After 17hrs of slugging... this is where I am at... Splash next weekend is looking not so good. Lemme explain...

I made it to the cottage at 6:40am --- which is pretty good. Got the boat out from storage... tarp etc off and ready to roll by 7:25am.

Got back home just after 9:00am. Not bad really... the rest of the family was up and getting ready to head up for the day to the cottage!!

Dragged the boat out of the garage for it'd first "outing" as a new boat!

So then I dragged the Starcraft about 3/4 of the way down the driveway (it's heavier now that it's not a shell anymore!!!)... and manually pushed the little boat up towards the garage.

I then looked in the garage and had a moment of insanity... I decided to rip out the rock crawling track!!! I don't know what possed me to do this... but I gotta tell ya, I should have done this 9 months ago!!! I left one little part --- which is actually the shelving at the back. What a difference --- especially in the little garage!

Keep reading... more in the next post here... the saga continues...

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I'm waiting

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

The suspense is killing me.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Also that boat is gorgeous. You did some great work.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I don't know if you picked up on it... but there is a missing piece to the motor... ya... not good, but fixable. Basically the seal is gone at the prop end... oil is getting out and water is getting in. I kinda thought there might be a problem at the end of last year and I just confirmed it. So, basically it is going to take a week or so to get done. The guy i bought it from is going to fix it for next to nothing. I just need to drop the bottom end off to him tomorrow aft. That's just part 1 of the issues...

Got the crane re-assembled after transporting to my house from my buddies...

Bolted in Glen's ring tool... which worked brilliantly I should add!!!!

And off she came... well actually it was a bit of a challange as there is so little room in the little boat that the steering cable could not be removed until I pushed the engine about 8" to the left so and pulled the cable out!! Some grunting... but really not all that bad!

I spent some time sanding and preping the motor, bottom end and cover for etching and painting. Ok truth be told here... I etched and tried to spray balm paint the motor and bottom end... the etching went well... but the painting went poorly. Soooo I am going to get some paint tomorrow that is not Johnson white --- close but not bang on, in a quart and use the hvlp. I just don't like spray balms.

Here is the final shot of where things are left:

Other issue is that the trailer is going to need to be modified to hold the Starcraft. There is no way I can put the boat on the rollers --- the Starcraft will be way up in the air. So, once I get the little boat off (which by the way I think weights pretty close to the Starcraft!!!), I am going to convert it to bunks and then set it up correctly. Why rush it now and ruin things when I have spent this time trying to do a decent job!

Have a great night fellas!

Jim

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Sorry to hear about the issues Jim, it seems to part of the process when one sets a splash date, at least to me and you. I think you will likes bunks better than rollers anyway.
Glen

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I was going to say you're missing the lower unit on that outboard but I figured you knew that already.

I see where you meant that it needed some paint on the outboard. Under the cowl? The rest of the cover looks great.
I am debating on whether to repaint mine it's flaking off pretty bad in the same area.

I really like your boats style. It gives the classic looks with those colors and the wood grain really adds a nice touch.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Sorry to hear about the issues Jim, it seems to part of the process when one sets a splash date, at least to me and you. I think you will likes bunks better than rollers anyway.
Glen

Ya.. it's not dead in the water... there is a possibility I can hit it... but without the bottom end... it'll be a lot of paddling!!

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

I was going to say you're missing the lower unit on that outboard but I figured you knew that already.

I see where you meant that it needed some paint on the outboard. Under the cowl? The rest of the cover looks great.
I am debating on whether to repaint mine it's flaking off pretty bad in the same area.

I really like your boats style. It gives the classic looks with those colors and the wood grain really adds a nice touch.

Thanks DH --- yah it really needed a paint job! Someone had tried re-painting --- but it really didn't go that well!!

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

A word of advice......don't knock yourself out so bad that if you do make your splash date, you don't enjoy it when it does come! Like you said, you've come this far doing it right, you'll appreciate it a lot more even if you miss your traget by a week or two. I missed mine by two months! But glad I did things right.

Sounds like a crazy day, a lotta work, but you'll sleep tonight! Sometimes it makes you crazy when you're so close you can taste it! Good work.

 

[InMotion]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

A word of advice......don't knock yourself out so bad that if you do make your splash date, you don't enjoy it when it does come! Like you said, you've come this far doing it right, you'll appreciate it a lot more even if you miss your traget by a week or two. I missed mine by two months! But glad I did things right.

Sounds like a crazy day, a lotta work, but you'll sleep tonight! Sometimes it makes you crazy when you're so close you can taste it! Good work.

Great advice man! That's exactly where I am at!!! Just chewing on where I am at with things!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Jupiter - Rebuild

Why rush it now and ruin things when I have spent this time trying to do a decent job!

Too right ^^^^!

Hey, that boat looks so neat sitting out the the sun! Something about the alum, muted blue, and light wood combo is very nice

Have a good one man, you'll get it all figured, no doubt