1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

[Yeonik]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Piper, after reading all the threads around here I plan on using Spar Varnish on mine. Epoxy would be better, but spar is cheaper. The deck in my SS is 40+ years old, with no sealant, and it's still solid!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

but spar is cheaper.

Well maybe....

Yah, I thought that too, then I used some spar and oz./dollar, I dunno, it's pretty close.

No doubt the spar is more readily available but with a little planning you can have some shipped right to your door from US Composits in just a few days.

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Once again, I thank each of you for your helpful comments. I believe I'll go with a top grade of spar varnish on everything; minimum of four coats applied with a brush.

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

just thin your first coat or 2 down a lot so it soaks into the outer layers of the wood fibers....if you're doing it right, you should have very little on the surface after 1st coat.

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Thanks, barato2. That's an excellent tip. Two thinned coats first and then the full strength coats.

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Just got indoors from a short session on the SS. Have been ill these last two weeks and it really hit last Thursday. Starting to feel a bit better this afternoon so went outside to visit the boat. Pulled the two seat boxes and set them aside so I can use them as patterns this winter if we decide to go with the original seats that are in the garage. We are thinking original front/back seats and one bow pedestal seat and one rear deck pedestal seat. Took off the original mirror and stored it in a plastic bag for cleaning. Took out the old fire extinguisher and mounting bracket. Will replace with new items. Not much but it's a start. My pictures are downloading in a much too large format compared to those I posted earlier and I have not figured out why...will have to fix this problem.

Question: Anyone know where I can purchase an original type SC SS horn for this project? Or the back plastic housing?


Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

The sun was shining this afternoon so I went out to work on the SS. Decided to remove all the transom hardware and aluminum top cap in preparation to pulling the old wood transom. Was I ever glad that I made the decision to have the Johnson pulled and stored so I could replace that transom. That transom was in poor shape. Given that the wood is 40 years old I was sure surprised at the soft, rotted, areas and that I could actually push my finger into the soft plywood with little effort. The majority of nuts and bolts were very rusty and I'll be using stainless fittings for replacement items. Taking items off and putting the parts in plastic bags until I get to cleaning them this winter. And my ratchet broke....never realized before just how long it takes to remove a nut and bolt combination with a couple of wrenches. The Admiral said I need to visit the store and get a new ratchet...

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Get to the store and get a good one. She who must be obeyed said so.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Tool Trip!!!! We're in!

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Must obey...must obey the Admiral...

I just have this feeling that my 18V Milwaukee cordless drill is going to have a "break down" so I can get a, er, I mean, I probably will have to make a trip into town for a smaller 12V cordless. Darn...

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

1. fine tooth rachet
2. swivel head
3. long handle
go fer the gusto

sorry about those unreliable Milwaukee tools

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Darn...I told the Admiral I needed a 12' x24' permanent shed with a double door at one end, and a little porch where I could drink an adult beverage once in awhile while relaxing on a lounge chair, and air conditioning, and heat, and windows, and a music system with a place to plug in my guitar, and a refrigerator and plenty of storage racks and drawers and things...for working on the SS. The Admiral said, "what about tools?" and I said. "..oh, yea..those too."

The only thing the Admiral let me have was the stink eye...

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

I started the "tear down" this afternoon. Removed everything except the two chrome tie-downs (or whatever they are called) from the back of the transom and saved the outside motor mount piece of plywood for a pattern. Took off the two stern end caps and removed all the chrome pieces from the transom forward to the windows. Removed the two sliding doors and the bottom track from the deck. Removed the nails from the transom top trim piece and started to drill rivets for the rear splash pan removal. Also started on rivet removal for the inside top starboard aluminum trim piece the runs from the transom to the window. And yes, Joyce took six photos for you and they all downloaded as huge (2.8 Mb and like) shots. Way to big to download six photos on a landline. Still trying to figure out what's up with the photo issue as my first photos were fine. Sorry.

Question: what is the best way to remove the two drains that go thru the transom? I thought about using my Dremel with a grinder and remove the inside end, then pull them through the transom. Is that correct? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Just chop the ends off of the tubes on the inside if the transom and beat 'em out toward the AL skin with a Tinheads favorite tool - the BFH. Then grab the remnants with pliers and pull it out.

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Thanks, GA. The BFH method it is! LOL

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

A question: as stated above, the photos taken with my wife's Iphone result in a download to My Pictures which is way to large to post on this thread. We found the information instructions this morning and find we cannot change the resolution size at the phone/camera end. So, can anyone offer a suggestion for getting the photos from My Pictures (my preferred storage) to this thread in a suitable resolution sized for posting? If not, it looks like I'm going camera shopping. Thanks for your thoughts.

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Try using the photobucket app for iphone

It should be a free download & the photobucket acct is free

Then rather then as attachments that have to be opened, the pix are IN your post:

There is probably a setting in PB to auto-size pix for posting online or to forums. I don't use the app or have an iphone, but it works great from any of my computers. The 'original' PB had an area in user settings that allowed me to choose Auto-Sizing, it came up in another thread. But poking around the 'new & improved' PB (BTW: it isn't, IMHO) and couldn't find it. It's still auto-sizing mine, so IDK.....

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Thanks, jb. I'll check that out. I used photobucket along time ago (it seems) and can't remember why I don't use it anymore. Still, the real question is why did the photos post OK for awhile and then change? Simply boggles the mind, eh.....? LOL

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

No work on the boat today...had to cut grass. However, I came up with a name for the boat that the Admiral (Joyce) liked. We are going to put the name "Joy Ride" on our 1973 Starcraft SuperSport. Now the lady has a name!

Safe boating,

Joe

 

[piperjoe]

Re: 1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

Worked on our boat today and drilled out all the rivets for the aft inside aluminum trim strips. Removed the port inside lower side panel trim from the panel and decking. Removed the side panel and found it to be in poor condition along the entire lower edge. Looks like I will be replacing all of the wood on this boat and just use the original pieces that I remove as patterns when possible. Took a good look at the artificial wood helm trim and definately will be making two oak replacement panels for "Joy Ride". Hopefully, tomorrow I'll remove the starboard side panel and trim along with the controls and wiring from helm to stern. Then, over the holiday weekend, it's on to finish the splashpan removal and pull the wood out of the transom. How come this is taking a lot longer to complete than first contemplated....LOL.

Safe boating,

Joe