1978 Starcraft 22' SuperSport Project

[SilverEagle115]

This is my second post and introduction to a photo journal. I have enjoyed everyone's Starcraft projects and want you return the favor.

 

[SilverEagle115]

#3 so that i can add photos.

 

[SilverEagle115]

I bought this boat from an iBoats Member wtbarrong in April 2020 with the idea of converting it to a big water fishing boat. I started modifying it not long after. lets' go back in time. First thing was to replace loose and warped structure. Lots of loose or missing hardware. Original Teak crossmember was twisted and cracked. I replaced it with a nice piece of oak and sealed it. Nice painted aluminium skin for the visible face. Began work of the front casting deck modification.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Some of you might recognize the original red, wtbarrong painted the hull. It was the ugly trailer that confirmed it was the same boat. 3rd photo is most recent.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Trolling Motor bracket done & leak-checking the livewell, which happens to be a 30Gal RV Freshwater Tank laying on it's side.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Casting Deck & Livewell progressing nicely, and a little help from my First Mate. Take note on the weather beaten Teak console panels. I replaced those summer 2021 so in order to keep it chronological I am leaving those photos a secret for now. Casting Deck carpeted. See the 1" grey web straps I used for the hinges & pull tabs on the lids? Summer sun made me want to stay away from metal hinges & handles, you know what i mean if you ever fish/drink beer barefooted in the summer.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Lazy dogs. Late October 2020 I tossed out the "Ski Seats" and installed flush mounted seat bases and pedestal seats. Captain gets the best chair...

 

[SilverEagle115]

As promised, the consoles redone, it's oak veneer plywood with a aluminium painted skin. That's a Helix 7 Mega DI/SI. A better look at the new seat arraignment too. Dash mounted livewell selector and custom switch panel with LED indicator lights.

 

[SilverEagle115]

May 2021 Lake Powell trip.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Scored another Starcraft. 1976 Holiday 22 with 4.1l Mercruiser for next to nothing. Needs an axle hub rebuilt & an exhaust log. It's going to sit until the 78 Super Sport is done.

 

[SilverEagle115]

I have big plans for the winter. I built a cradle for the boat so that i can get it in my garage. Anegado, spanish for "Water-Logged" in the garage. A view of the back half. I am pulling the inboard, building a casting deck and hanging a 200hp Black Max on a rebuilt and modified transom. And 50gal fuel tank. This post is finally getting us close to the current condition.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Been hanging onto this 50gal Fuel Tank for a while. Progress pictures of the Motor, Motor removed & mocking up the fuel tank & beer cooler, the casting deck floor will be about 16" above the lower floor. Later with the floor boards removed, stern deck skin and structure removed. Some disassembly of the transom. We are current now. I will be getting the outdrive off soon and some sheetmetal to be done. The Keel Beams on this boat are about 26" apart, the 50gal fuel tank is 29", so I will be cutting the beams about 72" forward of the transom, relocating the removed section outboard of center about 2" to 3" and shortening them to account for the rise in the hull. Once installed i plan to make "Z" brackets to tie them back to the forward section as well as to the transom which will be something like 2 modified knee fittings. I'll have to relocate by bilge float and the livewell valve.

 

[classiccat]

Welcome! I'm not a Starmada admin but I'm guessin' your mob dues are paid in full with that photo gallery! Quite a project converting to O/B. A few have started the process but it's rare they complete (&/or document the completion here) so I'm excited to see this soup-to-nuts.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Thank you classiccat for the welcome.
Mid December, Stringers Cut and Old Transom Wood removed.
3rd week of December, New Stringers & Cooler Floor Structure fabricated and test-fitted. Moving the Stringers outboard of center 2" per side required approx 1" shorter height to keep floor height the same. Old Stringer sections laying across Transom. Black Pipe is the Livewell Plumbing. Livewell Pump & Remote Livewell Valve installed, Cooler Floor Structure was an excellent location for the Livewell Components, simply lift out the cooler to gain access if needed...

 

[SilverEagle115]

Bilge Pump Tower, i have about 6" between the Main Fuel Tank and the Transom so stacking them was a great solution, lower pump is my primary pump, upper is the secondary pump, both on floats. Primary illuminates a LED light on the dash, secondary pump powers a low pitch horn, important because we spend multiple nights tent camping on the lake and as far i i know, nobody has ever heard a boat sinking...

I recycled the Nautolex Vinyl floor covering, recut it to fit and follow the new Stringers.

12gal Aux Tank serves 2 purposes, of course extra fuel but also ballast to counteract the Engine Battery & Vessel Mounted Trim/Tilt Pump. You will see the Tank on an angle. The angle was necessary to keep the casting deck floor height as low as possible. The fill neck was the highest point of all the underfloor components. The "pan" that the Aux Tank is resting in is recycled transom deck skin.

 

[SilverEagle115]

I wanted underfloor rod storage so i came up with this. 1.5" plastic pipe, cut into 5' lengths. I used a small sheet of 1/4" PVC and chopped PVC Pipe Couplings into 1/2" widths, Router'd the "rings" beforehand and then glued it all together with PVC Pipe Adhesive.
A wide angle view of the Rod Storage. Also you can see the "box" structure framing in the cooler area and the 1"x2" Oak Beam spanning the width, the 3 Seat Pedestal Bases will be screwed to this beam.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Early January, Transom cut. Blue tape is the normal-high waterline. Also the boat is lazer-leveled on Jackstands, the lazer-level is standing on a about a 1 foot tall 4x4 between the consoles. This was referenced many times during the casting deck build, which plotted all of the Floor Support Angles, sidewall and transom area both.

Mid January, Knee Brackets fabricated and installed, made from removed sections of the Transom Skin. The giant hole for the outdrive eventually gets filled with old Transom Skin as well as reinforcement with a .125" plate where the Outboard Motor Transom Bracket mates.

 

[SilverEagle115]

SplashWell Frame fabricated from the old Transom Wood and a Inner Skin from .062 5052 Sheet Aluminum, same material as the Stringers were made from.

Later painted & carpeted.

A close up of the "joint" that is loadcarrying. The edge of 3/4" AB Casting Deck Floor is reinforced with a 3/4 x 3/4 Angle Aluminum, the 3 1/4x20 Pan Head Screws are tying the Spashwell's Floor Support Angle to the Casting Deck Floor. This a critical joint for the strength of the Transom, spreading the load through the floor and into the Stringers below and to the Vertical Sidewalls. I was amazed at how solid this eventually became when all of the Fasteners were installed.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Rear Corner Trim Fabrication with a test piece of 5052 that will eventually be the Transom Cap. 2 Fuel Tank Fillers in the distance.

Rear Deck and Hatches carpeted and installed. Outboard Motor mounted. New Mercury Decals from OutboardDecals. A view of the Lifetime Cooler, nearly hidden from the sun.

 

[SilverEagle115]

Back on the Trailer. Lower Unit came with a Land and Sea Low Water Pick-up. I highjacked the Silver Paint, looks sporty.

launched!

Underway, Easily doing 42mph...

I have a few cosmetic things to do, like the Transom Cap, but otherwise ready for the summer...

Total Man-Hours, about 400, 50 8hr days and quite a bit of expense but well worth it. Next winter I intend to beautify the Trailer and possibly switch to Bunks.