1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[zbadboy]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

never thought of that papa. But you are right the bow will take more of beating then the stern. You are always turning into the waves. There not bad in the back they just seem to be more open to the weather. The other thing is I would like to put a live well over the transom in the back. It is great to get feedback and ideas from everyone on the board.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

True dat fellas! Maybe a couple of nice battery brackets mounted to the transom would do the trick for me. We'll see...


So I moved about 8 truckloads of wood chips and stacked about a cord of wood yesterday. I still had daylight left but I was too wiped to work on anything else, so I went for a drive. I bought myself a sub called "The Manwich" at the local deli because I was starving (it was huge, you guys would love it) eventually found myself at the local Starcraft dealership.

I did some walking around and checked out the boats there in the showroom. I was paying close attention to structure, design, materials, fit, finish and the like. Getting ideas and inspiration sort of thing. I was also looking at price tags in the $10,000 range for the basic 16' fishing rig through $40,000 for the Superfisherman. Wow! To me, that is a LOT of money. Yah, a LOT, a LOT of money. Like unreachable, not possible sort of money.

Anyway, here is what kept going through my head the whole time I was there checking out those beautiful boats...

"We can do this."

Meaning, we collectively, here on this little forum, can rebuild these old worthless, junk boats that have been put out to pasture, into something usable. Maybe even great. Maybe even beautiful. And, save a ton of cash in the process making a super fun family boat outing possible where it was previously not!

Well, I suppose I just wanted to say we can do this.

Or maybe that was just the Manwich talking???

Cheers!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

This is absolutely true. I have occasionally gotten a little depressed at how much I have tied up in my rig (probably over $7k now including the purchase price. I stopped counting at 5 or 6). Then I realize that a new similar boat would be somewhere between $20k and $30k. I could have bought a very nice ready to go used boat also for that same money, however I kinda doubt anyone would have been interested in selling me one for sporadic payments of $200 or $300 The resto route really is the only way for many of us. I'd like to rebuild the bow deck on mine and add the fishing seats and platforms but at that point (minus the sh&t paint) I will be very happy with it. I already have the seats and most of the materials, I just need the pedestals, some gauges, and a depth finder and I'm good to go.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I have had several boats, fiberglass and aluminum. Restoring one is the way to go in my opinion.
1. You can go in phases, reducing the impact of costs.
2. You will know what you have (structural)
3. You can make the boat to fit your needs
4. You can build it to last forever
5. Maintanence is easier, after all, you built it, you know it.
6. You enjoy it more when complimented
7. When its finished, its paid for.
8. You can brag about it
9. Its FUN

 

[zbadboy]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Hey Jas, I enclosed a picture of the seating the previous owner did on my boat. The passenger side has a seat mounted on a "dog House" that fits a DC refrigerator. I am considering moving it to the other side. I would then put the captains chair on top of it. Regardless of the setup the Captains chair will more likely be a single seat. This would allow me to have options for the passenger side. Bench, cooler with seat, single seat etc... Just a thought.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Thanks for the shot zb, it's funny to see an Islander overlooking the AZ desert!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Well, I got something done that has been bugging for a long time.

With the new patch welded on the outside of my transom skin there would be a very small gap there between the skin and the transom board. Check it out...

I know we are only talking about a fraction of an inch but my tolerances are very tight with the Merc outdrive and I definately want to minimize any slop/flex as much as I can. For months now I kept thinking that I'd come across an old aluminum road sign for free (stubborn). Well, yesterday I finally gave in an went to my local sheet metal shop and bought a piece of scrap for $12. It killed me but I just want to get moving on that transom!

Laid out some cut lines and trimmed it up...

Spread a thin layer of PL and smushed it in place...

Then I held it there for hours waiting for TII to come and help. He never showed and my arms were getting tired so I went Red/Green style...

I wedged in a couple of sheets of ply, then took a long scrap of ply and wedged one end into a rib then the other end onto the ply. I bowed the strip, and ran a few nails in. That way it provides solid pressure to keep it in place until the PL cures. I loaded up a fuel can and some other junk on hand on the one end so it wouldn't pop out off of the rib.

Once the PL cures I'll come back and fill in the surrounding gaps there.

One step closer!

 

[zbadboy]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I can't imagine there are to many Starcraft Islanders in Arizona. When i was at the dock at Lake Mary (Flagstaff), Two kids in a Jon Boat said "Now thats a fishing boat". When I got back to the dock a guy said "Now that's a Lake Powell Boat". I plan to get her there soon.....hopefullly this year.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

The lady of the house said that I could take a chunk of the day to work on the boat, gosh I love her!

Having that kind of time I thought I'd tackle the axles, big honking job.

Up the the horses ready for the wire wheel on the grinder...

Cleaned up and ready for paint...

Primed...

Painted...

Then I did the whole process over again with the second axle.

I had a little time left to get the load levelers all cleaned up and painted too...

Probably doesn't seem like much but all that took the bulk of the day right there. I had rust/dust/grease/paint head to toe. Great progress though!!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

I couldn't resist throwing on my brand spanking new tires/wheels/lugs on...

Axles getting acquainted with the big tin girl...

Cheers Guys!!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Great work there...some of the less glamorous work that is necessary to ge the rig from point A to point B(Saginaw Bay)

I waited for TII once to help sand some plywood and never saw hide nor hair of him

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Nice work. Can I send my trailer over in boxes for the same treatment?

 

[timfives]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Looks like your making good progress!

Next Summer my trailer will get refinished.


T

 

[zbadboy]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Hey jas, check out this seat. Very similar to what you were thinking about doing. This does not look like it would be that hard to make.

http://www.amazon.com/Moeller-Perma...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1282796333&sr=8-5

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Great work there...some of the less glamorous work that is necessary to ge the rig from point A to point B(Saginaw Bay)

I waited for TII once to help sand some plywood and never saw hide nor hair of him

I know, Aussies right.

Nice work. Can I send my trailer over in boxes for the same treatment?

Ha! Yah, as I had rust dust stuck in the corners of my eyes I was thinking how happy I am that I wouldn't have to do this again for a long while!

But sprint, you are a good guy, why not. Ship em on over!

Looks like your making good progress!

Next Summer my trailer will get refinished.


T

Thanks Tim! Not very exciting or fun stuff but certainly necessary. Hey how are coming along on your rig, how about some action eh!

Hey jas, check out this seat. Very similar to what you were thinking about doing. This does not look like it would be that hard to make.

http://www.amazon.com/Moeller-Perma...e=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1282796333&sr=8-5

See, that right there is why I love doing the work myself (ourselves). Nearly $400, ouch!

Yah, I am still pretty torn between going with a nice big bench or helm seating.

Family beach day today!

Bummer I don't have a big metal boat to ride around in.

Ah, summer of 11!

 

[ben2go]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Now those are some sweet axles.The new wheels and tires set them off.4 wheel brakes are rare around here.Usually just the front axle has brakes.Gud work.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Thanks Ben!

Well, I got the axle assemblies together!

But putting them together was the easy part. Getting all the gear together was ridiculous. I have spent the last three days driving all over the place trying to put together the bolts, hangers, bushings, load levelers and lug nuts. I visited 4 different Tractor Supply stores and 6 different auto parts stores. I even went to a specialty trailer shop twice. You would think I was looking for some crazy rare parts or something. And I STILL couldn't get my hands a set of four dust covers for the hubs. I have one more place to check for those. I'll also need to go back and paint that stuff up.

Ah well, it's done. I really needed to get all new hardware. I went ahead with new load levelers as they were barely more than just the bushings that I'd need to get into the old ones. All of the old bolts were about ready to snap and all the old bushings were nearly worthless, yikes...

One step closer!

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Looking sooooweet! Nice work!!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

You're really doing yourself a favor by getting your trailer all set before the boat's ready to go. Looks good.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

Looking sooooweet! Nice work!!!

You're really doing yourself a favor by getting your trailer all set before the boat's ready to go. Looks good.

Thanks guys!

Yah, it will be great when the boat is done to just plunk her on the trailer and go rather than have to be on hold waiting for the trailer to be done. Less than fun work but it'll pay off!

This morning I hit the new hardware so everything looks purdy...

Working on the tongue right now actually, photos later...