1978 Sterncraft Tri-Hull where to begin?

[TriHullNoob]

First, hello all! I am brand new to this forum, as well as the boating world in general! So of course I want to jump in with a boat restoration, that's how its supposed to happen right??

Okay so the boat is a 20 ft 1978 Sterncraft tri-hull with a 188hp Mercruiser, I'm guessing all this means more to y'all than it does to me at this point in the game. The boat was my grandpas and my dads, what I know about the boat is that probably 20-25 years ago they had the floors and wood all replaced, apparently the person who did this did not use marine grade stuff and it shortly after started falling apart. the boat ended up being parked in a backyard for the past 15-20 years and hasn't been touched besides putting a new tarp on it every few years as the old ones tear. The insides need completely replaced I can tell new floors, seat covers, etc all need replace/repaired. I first thought oh okay we can get that done no biggie, then as i started reading more on here i found out all the other fun things that could need replaced and all this new terminology. I am eager to quickly learn and tear into this project as I would like to have the boat up and running by mid August as I will be entering a pretty time consuming graduate program.

I can already tell there is a ton of information already out there, so with no real specifics on where to start I wanted my first post to be an introduction to my new project and somewhat of a can you point me in the right direction on how exactly to start the project, I would like to start getting into it this week/weekend. I should be able to handle most of the restore work with the help of the internet and any help i find here as well. Also I am fairly good with electronics, the only part that I may have to surrender to a professional is the engine, but I will take a stab at is as well, I have played with smaller engines with success!


Thanks so much! .

 

[Scott Danforth]

Welcome aboard.

Here is a sticky at the top of the forum. Read links 1, 3, 4a, 4b, 9, and 14 as they pertain to you. specifically read 4a, 4b and 14 in its entirety.

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

This boat must have deep sentimental value to you to continue. Boat restoration is not for the faint of heart or the faint of wallet. it will cost you about $3k for the hull, about $2k for the interior, and about the same amount for the motor and drive. The trailer will probably need attention too, not to mention at least a year of weekends. however when you are done, you will have a boat that you know every inch of.

Should you decide to continue with the restoration, we will help you every inch of the way.... except the work itself, your on your own there, because we have our own stuff we are working on....

first - read the links in the sticky above
second - get approval from the significant other
third - have a place to work
4th - obtain the PPE
5th - enmass the tools of desctruction
6th - get a good shop vac with a dust bag
7th - get itchy with demo
8th - build up the wood structure
9th - estimate the fiberglass supplies and foam supplies you need - then multiply by 2. then order supplies

 

[TriHullNoob]

Welcome aboard.

First thank you so much for the very informative response! I have already begun looking through the posts and will continue to do so and familiarize myself with everything.

Next I must say I dont know my boats, I could of sworn it was a Starcraft, on second review it is a Sterncraft if this changes anything at all.

Took the old tarp off and got some pictures (and killed some wasps) its pretty bad it absolutely is a full tear out. My advantage is I have weekends for the next month or so and then I will have around 3 weeks off that I can devote some serious time to it! I am going to get those pics uploaded a bit later, just wanted to say thanks, and is there any way i can edit the title and original thread to say Sterncraft instead? Or if a mod has that ability you have my full permission!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Just flag your post and sent the mods a note

 

[TriHullNoob]

Now for some pics!












I guess my main question is at this point, where do I start? Do I just start tearing things out to see how bad the damage is? Whats the easiest way to get that motor out of there without an engine lift? I really would like to start working on this thing, but I don't want to start having money thrown into it until I can tell that it is do able and I'm not looking at anything major major wrong besides of course re doing everything I guess hahaha

 

[Scott Danforth]

where to start - with yourself. you have to ask yourself is this a project that you want to undertake. do you want to spend the money and time on this project.

take my estimates from above, add 4 weeks and $800 for the trailer to it.

the floor is gone
the stringers and transome are gone (they rotted before the floor)
the interior is gone
the motor will need some work (assuming it doenst need replacing at this point)
the trailer needs work.

However this was your fathers/grand fathers boat as well, so the sentimental side of me says do it. Then again for the $7-8k + your going to sink into it, you can be on the water this weekend

you have to start withourself and the support of your significant other.

 

[TriHullNoob]

the stringers and transome are gone (they rotted before the floor)
the interior is gone
the motor will need some work (assuming it doenst need replacing at this point)
the trailer needs work.

However this was your fathers/grand fathers boat as well, so the sentimental side of me says do it. Then again for the $7-8k + your going to sink into it, you can be on the water this weekend

you have to start withourself and the support of your significant other.

I hear ya, I have support from the SO and my dad I know would love to see this boat running again.

My thing is I'm not looking to get on the water this weekend, I would love to just basically build the boat custom to how I would want it, and know things are done right. So the time I am willing to put in, I will have some busy months where it'll be impossible to touch it but others where I can work for a couple weeks straight.

I think and tell me if this sounds bad or wrong, I think I'll start this weekend just by cleaning up. Getting some of the rotten would laying around picked up, move things around knock off the dust pull some flooring up (falling apart) and also work on the motor. If I can get the motor running that would nearly be the go ahead in my mind.

Not completely familiar with the hook ups but I kno I will need some sort of garden hose hookup to the engine but first It needs cleaned up and fresh gas/oil.

Lots of reading yet to do, thank you for the help so far! Hopefully in a week or two I will know for sure if this is going to be a full out restoration project for myself!

 

[Woodonglass]

I'd HIGHLY recommend you start with the Motor to ensure it's a runner. If not, then this will be the biggest expense. If it's going to require extensive work then I agree your cost to rebuild could go over the 5K mark. If not, then 2-3 K is where I'd think you'd end up. But even if you invest 10K it'll still be a Whole lot cheaper than a NEW 20 foot boat AND with time and Patience she'll be BETTER than she was when new.

 

[52FordF2]

To start with the motor don't assume hooking a battery up that it will turn.

1. Check oil in engine if it looks good, drain and replace. If the engine can crank, don't want to suck anything up into engine. Also disconnect fuel line from fuel tank don't want to pump any remaining fuel/water mix into engine or carburetor. Try to run a long fuel line through the drain hole to drain fuel.

"Don't assume it's good fuel and put it in car or mower either."

2. You will need to remove all spark plugs and squirt some mystery oil into each cyl. Let it sit awhile to soak. If you can before you put oil in each cyl, use an air wand to blow into each cyl., if rusty water blows back out you probably may need a tear down.
:facepalm: Don't ask how I know, keep mouth closed and cover your eyes, don't ask :facepalm: it will taste OK :barbershop_quartet_

3. Loosen alternator, water pump belt.

4. Use a strong-arm on crank shaft check rotation for engine. A Mercruiser 188HP is a 302 ford engine with a 351 firing order.

5. It may turn, if not it could also be the outdrive (should be an 888) binding it up. Is it in neutral or in drive? Remove outdrive.

6. Pull starter motor. Check if it can crank. If motor turns with strong-arm, reinstall starter motor ( do compression check on engine).

If you don't want to repower with newer engine and outdrive and you need to replace the engine. Check out Ford Explorers from 1985 on up 5.0 liter engines, they are 302's with 351 firing order Cams You will need to maritime the engine thou. Brass (freeze out) plugs, Head gaskets (can use [car] on fresh water) Use anything else off old 188 engine.

Good luck

 

[TriHullNoob]

To start with the motor don't assume hooking a battery up that it will turn.

1. Check oil in engine if it looks good, drain and replace. If the engine can crank, don't want to suck anything up into engine. Also disconnect fuel line from fuel tank don't want to pump any remaining fuel/water mix into engine or carburetor. Try to run a long fuel line through the drain hole to drain fuel.

"Don't assume it's good fuel and put it in car or mower either."

2. You will need to remove all spark plugs and squirt some mystery oil into each cyl. Let it sit awhile to soak. If you can before you put oil in each cyl, use an air wand to blow into each cyl., if rusty water blows back out you probably may need a tear down.
:facepalm: Don't ask how I know, keep mouth closed and cover your eyes, don't ask :facepalm: it will taste OK :barbershop_quartet_

3. Loosen alternator, water pump belt.

4. Use a strong-arm on crank shaft check rotation for engine. A Mercruiser 188HP is a 302 ford engine with a 351 firing order.

5. It may turn, if not it could also be the outdrive (should be an 888) binding it up. Is it in neutral or in drive? Remove outdrive.

6. Pull starter motor. Check if it can crank. If motor turns with strong-arm, reinstall starter motor ( do compression check on engine).

If you don't want to repower with newer engine and outdrive and you need to replace the engine. Check out Ford Explorers from 1985 on up 5.0 liter engines, they are 302's with 351 firing order Cams You will need to maritime the engine thou. Brass (freeze out) plugs, Head gaskets (can use [car] on fresh water) Use anything else off old 188 engine.

Good luck

Many thanks for all this good info! Going to work on getting started at least cleaning up a bit this weekend, word is the motor was winterized prior to its long sit hoping that means good things!! One odd thing, the serial number on this thing contains no letters, something their website claims it must...

Anyways I am excited to at least begin working on the motor, if it will turn and I can get it to run then the boat is a go!

 

[TriHullNoob]

Okay little update and a few questions as I continue to look more into this boat and learn more and more about all the parts!
First I saw these on the back, i'm assuming this is not good, and what exactly does it entail to fix? is this a grind and re paint or is this structure damage and the whole back of the boat needs repaired? Only a few of these! Also the bottom section feels almost like just wood while the top section is very smooth, I know I am a complete noob, is this how it should be?






Also, some I think good news on the motor and such, i pulled the dipstick and the oil looked nearly brand new, dad said it was serviced not too long before being put away so everything was fresh, also all the hydraulic lines had been replaced with what looks like a braided metal of some sort and all seem to be in excellent shape. Also turned the wheel a bit and everything moved perfect no sticks, guess maybe its in better shape than I thought!

I see there is a section on here for engines, I will move my engine talk to a new thread there!

 

[TriHullNoob]

Alright got some time to do a little work on the engine this afternoon after work, but I have another boat question on top of the question in the previous post!

What is this stuff???? Seems like some sort of old foam?

 

[sphelps]

Yep looks like old foam ... The wood feel is probably just some roughly brushed paint ...Bottom paint i guess ..
Are those cracks on the transom ? That may be a sign of rotten structure on the other side or may have been some kind of impact ... You should be able to V- groove those with a dremmel tool then fill with a filler or pb ...If real deep a layer or two of glass would be recommended ..