1972 Starcraft Nova

[captainnate]

I'm working on the floor right now. I'm using 5/8 marine plywood with the pink sheet foam underneath. I'm debating on covering it with vinyl. Does anyone have a recommendation for vinyl?

 

[captainnate]

The boat has a Mercruiser 120. It's mostly reliable. I have had a few situtations where the motor would quit, only too start up again after waiting 15 or 30 minutes. I have had it look at. The marina replaced some wires and put on a new alternator a couple years ago. I still have yet to pinpoint the issue. From what I read it is either electrical or fuel. I have an old Honda kicker that I use now as a backup.

Also I replace the transom a few years ago for those who are wondering.

I used a recipe of 1/3 linseed oil, mineral spirits and varnish on the transom. I gave a few coats of that mixture before using some oil bases rustoleum as the final coat. I was thinking a using the same recipe for the floor. What do you guys think?

 

[captainnate]

I made a mistake and cute the hole in the floor by the motor slightly too big. I made a collar that you can see in the pictures to fit underneath the motor doghouse. I was stressing over this, but I think the collar will work. Otherwise I have to spend $80 and wait until May for a new piece of marine plywood from Menards.

 

[classiccat]

That's a big Nova! Beautiful hulls...and yours has the spray rail bracing.

For Vinyl, you can't go wrong with Nautolex. Most of us have been getting it for years from Defender.

Your cutout recovery looks "factree"!

 

[captainnate]

That's a big Nova! Beautiful hulls...and yours has the spray rail bracing.

For Vinyl, you can't go wrong with Nautolex. Most of us have been getting it for years from Defender.

Your cutout recovery looks "factree"!

Thanks for the reply. What do you recommend for treating the plywood before I glue the vinyl down? I know some people use resin, or epoxy. I was going to use a combination of varnish, linseed oil and mineral spirits. I might put a coat o rust-oleum cover that. I just don't want to do something to the wood that makes the glue ineffective.

 

[Michigan Lakes]

Thanks for the reply. What do you recommend for treating the plywood before I glue the vinyl down? I know some people use resin, or epoxy. I was going to use a combination of varnish, linseed oil and mineral spirits. I might put a coat o rust-oleum cover that. I just don't want to do something to the wood that makes the glue ineffective.

Myself, and many others, have used Old Timer's Formula on our decks, transoms, etc. Pretty much what you're already doing except with a coat of straight varnish to finish it off. The image below is all over iboats.

 

[classiccat]

Thanks for the reply. What do you recommend for treating the plywood before I glue the vinyl down? I know some people use resin, or epoxy. I was going to use a combination of varnish, linseed oil and mineral spirits. I might put a coat o rust-oleum cover that. I just don't want to do something to the wood that makes the glue ineffective.

If you're going the epoxy route, you should incorporate fiberglass cloth to prevent grain checking; checking will crack that candy epoxy coating with ease. If you want to get really nuts, preplan every fastener (before and after the deck goes down) and install epoxy/filler plugs.

Otherwise, I'd recommend the OTF formula that @Michigan Lakes describes above since it seems to penetrate and seal.

How I sealed my SS18 deck...go to around the 9:45 mark (and mute to avoid the stock YT tunes!):

 

[Watermann]

Now this is very interesting, a 72 Nova smooth hull that doesn't have lap sides and has the spray rail braces with a different rivet pattern on the outside for the braces. That's a first for me to see after seeing at least a 1000 SC boats of all years, models and sizes, the braces were added on under the ribs it looks like too. Can you tell us more about these amazing anomalies?

 

[DLNorth]

Sharp eyes Waterman,
When have you 1st seen the braces (which year)?
How sure are we that this is a '72? Do we know the S/N?
This is interesting.

 

[Watermann]

Sharp eyes Waterman,
When have you 1st seen the braces (which year)?
How sure are we that this is a '72? Do we know the S/N?
This is interesting.

I'm pretty sure the braces were factory installed starting in 1978. The first smooth sided SC boats were the V5s starting the same year although the HIN on my 22' islander says it was manufactured in 1977 but most likely sold as a 1978 model year.

 

[DLNorth]

Ironically, a 1972 Nova showed up on the local FB page, also with smooth sides, but being a 15 ft'er, it doesn't have the braces.
I wonder if the owner is a member here.

 

[mattsteg]

The first smooth sided SC boats were the V5s starting the same year although the HIN on my 22' islander says it was manufactured in 1977 but most likely sold as a 1978 model year.

Nah the Novas were earlier and smooth-sided.

 

[Moserkr]

I like the classic lines and windshield on the novas! Cant wait to see how this big one turns out. Didnt know they made em that long.

 

[captainnate]

My father in law gave me the Nova. Him and his Dad bought it new in northern Minnesota. The Nova has spent most of its life on Lake of the Woods. I can post a pic of the manufacturer plate (is that what it's called) when I get home. BTW I noticed the brace plates are much bigger on the port side than the starboard side of the boat. It seemed odd, but I don't know. I also have a crack on the port side. I'll post pictures.

 

[DLNorth]

Nate, you should get the 15 ft'er to go with your longer one.

 

[mattsteg]

I like the classic lines and windshield on the novas! Cant wait to see how this big one turns out. Didnt know they made em that long.

I don't think they made them for very long. Best I can tell they were launched in 1972 and made through 1973.

 

[captainnate]

What can I do about this crack? I'm sure it is leaking. It's on the bottom port side.

6 port side braces are extra wide.

Starboard side braces are all this size. Is this normal?

 

[captainnate]

I did the gluvit treatment on the inside, but it still leaks a little.

 

[mattsteg]

Is that some white sealant between the ribs and the hull? Maybe the braces were added as a repair. The port ones are bigger because the hull had cracked already.

 

[captainnate]

There's lots of white sealant. I guess I assumed all this was done at the factory. Maybe they had trouble when they were building it, and had to add the bigger braces.