1977 18' Star Craft SS Refurb.

[FJ_Russo]

so I obtained an 18' SS that has been somewhat restored/ turned into a fishing boat. I want to rehab and make it more of a fish and ski. Some of you may remember my 16' SS restore. The information I obtained here was invaluable. Soooo here I am to steal ideas again LOL the previous owner installed a new transom, and epoxy coated it before install. New floors and a casting deck in the front which I will leave in place. He put in new expanding closed cell foam in the floor. It had an 88hp johnson special on it, but I will be repowering with something in the 115-150 range. I paid 1700 for it, I know theres been some better deals had for sure. But I feel for what hes done, its not too bad. And of course I know better than to start a thread without pictures LOL I added some of the new boat and one of the 16' EZ had nicknamed it the eddie bauer boat for the color choices

 

[Decker83]

Very nice SS. Great score..

 

[M2HB]

Great looking boat. It looks like you are off to a good start.

 

[frazoo]

Very nice boat, looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[FJ_Russo]

So I went and looked at a motor yesterday. A 1978 140hp Johnson. I would really love to throw a newer motor on it, idealy a looper. But this is a friend of mines Dads motor. He said it runs great, compression is 131,130,133,128. its sitting on a roached out bass boat. He wants 1,000 for the boat motor and trailer. I figure its probably going to be the best deal I will find on this large of a motor. He does quite a bit of tinkering on motors. So he said he would make sure the carbs are good, replace the water pump. Check the lower unit seals and in a couple days I can take it out to the water and pick it up from him if I want it. I work with his son, and he retired from my place of employment as a batallion chief after 30 years so I feel pretty confident it is what he says it is. My question is, I know these are usually good motors in that they carry a good reputation if taken care of. I see on Iboats it lists this motor as a top rpm of 5,000 but I aslo see in some forums listing it at 5500 anyone know what the max RPM is for this motor for sure? I will start playing with props soon Im sure and I dont want to ruin the thing. Also Looper Vs crossflow I dont want to start a can of wroms LOL buuuut is it pretty accepted knowledge this cross flow is roughly a 115-120 looper in the terms of power?

 

[mbroughton02]

My 1981 Evinrude has the max RPM stamped right on the plate on the side with the model and serial #s. And according to the OMC service manual I have, that 1978 140 Johnson is max 5,000 RPM

 

[FJ_Russo]

My 1981 Evinrude has the max RPM stamped right on the plate on the side with the model and serial #s. And according to the OMC service manual I have, that 1978 140 Johnson is max 5,000 RPM

Well I will have to take a look and see if its stamped on mine as well, but thats what Iboats has listed also. Which is what I was gonna go with, if I didnt find any other info. And now with your isnight I'm set with that number. Thank you very much!!!

 

[FJ_Russo]

So my plan is this weekend to really get after it. But one of the items on the list is deal with a broken trailer bunk, and paint the bottom of the boat. This is a refurb not a complete tear down so I want to leave the interior mostly intact. So flipping wont be an option. Anyone ever suspend their boat from the bow and transom eyelets? I was gonna use my engine hoist on the rear and the front end loader on the tractor in the front then pull the trailer out from under heath. Think those spots can hold the boat? Mind you, no engine is attached, no batteries, and no fuel tank. Just boat interior.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah that's not a bad price at all for the boat after all the work that's been done, she's a nice looking SS. :thumb:

Is the trailer the 140 Johnny donor boat on any good? You can recoup some money there after or if it's a better fit maybe keep it for the SS. Not sure I care for the fit of the SS on the Shorelander, lots of stern hang over and the bow is crowded right up to tight to the tongue.

 

[FJ_Russo]

Yea I agree with you Watermann on the fit. Bummed about that too. It's a really nice modern trailer. I'm not sure if there's anything I can do about the fit once I get the boat off. My broken bunk is the last foot of bunk and I suspect its because so much weight is back there unsupported. Unfortunately the donor boat trailer wont work for it. But I do hope to sell and make a few bucks back. I do have another shorelander rollered trailer that may work better. It currently has this boat on it but would probably fit better.

 

[FJ_Russo]

So I kinda started some teardown tonight because I was able to get out of work early. My initial plan was to leave the front end alone...well you can see how that plan ended up lol. Still a little undecided on what to do up there. I want a box for a pedestal seat and two deep cycle batteries. But I also want to leave the front seats as much stock design as possible. I have a ski locker lid and swim platform on the way and tomorrow I should have seats here!!!

 

[Watermann]

You could always have a fab shop add some to each end of the trailer if you don't have the tools.

Those are some nice seats, cheap seats makes for long days on the water and can be a pain.

 

[M2HB]

I would extend the back of the Shorelander trailer to the back of the boat, while keeping the center, rear area open, like the Dilly trailer that came with many of these boats. I would also make the axle assembly adjustable so you can keep the proper weight distribution on the tongue. I would also put some side rails on it.

 

[FJ_Russo]

All great ideas m2hb. Once I have the boat off the trailer I'm gonna see what kind of fab work can be done. I have that rollered trailer, but I'm a fan of bunks. We shall see, I'm getting a little marina going here so I have a few options

 

[FJ_Russo]

You could always have a fab shop add some to each end of the trailer if you don't have the tools.

Those are some nice seats, cheap seats makes for long days on the water and can be a pain.

Yea I learned on my first restoration job, cheap seats ain't worth it lol I have a bench going in, in the back. Not necessarily my first choice. But the wife really likes a forward facing bench seat in the back. I'm not against using the rollered trailer, it definitely will be a better fit. I just really like that 2004 vs a 1989 trailer. Choices choices lol

 

[Doh]

I have logged a lot of hours in a 1976 18 SS, with a New (at the time) 1979 115 Johnson. Dad bought the package the same time he bought the Cabin, which had Bigger Water, to get to than the Cabin we had been using.

They worked very good together, the boat always got on plane regardless of load, pushed it in the mid 40's.

Trim Tabs, were the worst Blessing. Dad used them to burst the waves rather than ride over them. The SS famous "Rib Cracks" showed up by 1982, fixed it and traded it for a 1983 SS FG.

The 115, did lose a head gasket once, taking out #3 piston. Then #2 Ring Land let go the next year. The V4 Johnsons had a Tapered Top Ring, without enough of a lip to hold it in place.

It was replaced in 1984 with a 90 Yamaha 2 Stroke, which I am sure would still fire up today with a carb cleaning. It was so much lighter and better balanced on the 1983 SS FG. But the 1976 SS could handle the extra weight without a problem.

 

[FJ_Russo]

That is awesome to hear, I hope with the 140 I picked up I will be close to 50. I've never owned a boat that will do 50, and its kind of a goal. no real reason, Just cuz LOL Even if it doesn't most every boat I've owned would do just under 40 and I have always been able to do what I want with them. So if this is in the mid 40's its an improvement.

 

[FJ_Russo]

Got some work done, its been sloooooow going, on valentines day I broke my foot. Had to have a couple plates and 5 pins placed. So I'm on a light duty assignment until it fully heals which means Mon-Fri 8-4. I'm used to working 10 days a month 24 hour shift with 20 days off. One can do a lot of boat building with 20 days off LOL I'v got carpet down, installed a ski locker the boat didn't have one when I got it. Built up some front bow framing and made my platform. I had some trouble with wrinkles in the carpet, but oh well such is life I guess. My wife says they aren't too noticeable, to me they stand out like they've been highlighted safety yellow LOL Trolling motor is mounted, I'm kind of working front to back right now. I also finally made an engine purchase. a 1979 140HP Johnson. Runs great, replaced the water pump, lower unit grease and it has 125-130 on all 4 cylinders. It needs a trim and tilt motor. But for now its boat work and not engine work time.

Heres a video after the water pump replacement
https://youtu.be/o8QFClny7IQ

 

[Watermann]

That's a great motor and a lofty goal but these boats are not made for speed with a huge power robbing dead rise that rides great in rough water but not like a speed boat with a pad. I have a 79 Merc 140 on my 18' V5 SS and here is my top end speed.

You'll notice that most guys who brag about their 50 MPH tin boats don't show the GPS. :lol:

 

[FJ_Russo]

OH and I forgot to ask.. I have a pedestal mount I want to use in the front. It came with the boat, and since they charge you an arm and a leg for all the seating stuff I don't want to buy one. But its kind of dull and crappy looking. Anyone got any suggestions on what to use to polish this aluminum with, hopefully a power option would be preferred LOL