1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

LOL Rick we had it in backwards last night(motor by the door) and the dang thing fit with 1/16" to spare

But tonight after taking the family out on the Grand river thru Lansing the boat's in the right way and is 1/4" too long to get the door closed.

We'll have to move some shelving units that I had screwed into the wall(d'oh) and it'll fit

LOL Mike I had gotten most of my garage cabinets in and placed before I stopped and woke up one day and decided maybe I should measure my 63 Ford F100 unibody truck . RUH ROH garage is almost 21' deep cabinets were right at 2' truck is 18' without the bumpers . Needless to say I ended up moving all the lower cabinets in the garage after that so I could work around the truck LOL.



Rick

 

[PaulyV]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Mike..Thats fantastic..those vids have my adrenaline rushing..It looks like the boat scoots along smoothly..Did ya get it any chop? How did it handle if ya did.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Mike..Thats fantastic..those vids have my adrenaline rushing..It looks like the boat scoots along smoothly..Did ya get it any chop? How did it handle if ya did.

Thanks Pauly, the SS does scoot along pretty nicely

I haven't had it in any chop yet since I was on a small inland lake and it was relatively calm. Also took it out on the Grand river so nothing but smooth water there either.

The closest I got to some chop as seen in the vids was peeling around in circles and running over my own wake, which the boat cut thru with ease at 25mph ballpark(no GPS yet)

Before too long I'll trailer her to one of the big lakes(Huron/Michigan) and post a vid of some REAL chop. I'm sure 3-5 footers would be fun with the high sides on her

 

[pmillar]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Pretty neat. I bet you didn't have to deal with much in the way of boat traffic! I grew up in Lansing but never took a boat ride on the GR. We did spend lots of time on grand traverse though.

I just snuck my new to me boat (I've had it almost a month now) into the garage last night for the first time (Sportfish 1750) with a few feet to spare in back. I'm going to need the room in back so I can tinker with the engine this winter.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Very good find. You got an awesome boat at a great price. Can't wait to see you you in a Great Lakes chop. That front bow area would make a pretty neat casting platform for Smallies or Musky. I See in the brochure the SS comes in an 18 and 21 footer also, hmm....

My buddy has an old Starcraft 16' fiberglass that he roams Lake St. Clair with and he loves that boat. It handles the waves pretty good on most days. He mostly trolls for musky and the boat does real good.

Can't wait to see another resto thread. The weather here in MI has been on the warm side it's 48 degrees out right now. Wishing I had a project or better yet to be fishing right now.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Pretty neat. I bet you didn't have to deal with much in the way of boat traffic! I grew up in Lansing but never took a boat ride on the GR. We did spend lots of time on grand traverse though.

I just snuck my new to me boat (I've had it almost a month now) into the garage last night for the first time (Sportfish 1750) with a few feet to spare in back. I'm going to need the room in back so I can tinker with the engine this winter.

There haven't been any other boats out that I've seen in a few weeks

Lots of folks are consumed by deer hunting this time of year and the boats get winterized in October.

I am looking forward to getting her in the big water up north near Traverse or or Petoskey and also at our cottage north of Alpena

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Very good find. You got an awesome boat at a great price. Can't wait to see you you in a Great Lakes chop. That front bow area would make a pretty neat casting platform for Smallies or Musky. I See in the brochure the SS comes in an 18 and 21 footer also, hmm....

Can't wait to see another resto thread. The weather here in MI has been on the warm side it's 48 degrees out right now. Wishing I had a project or better yet to be fishing right now.

Thanks Bwana, I am very happy with the rig and the price

The bow is perfect for fishing and pretty solid, I would love to get out and chase some St. Clair musky this spring/summer, never caught one or even seen one.

I'm sure you will find a nice 18'/22' SS...I've seen a few on the Detroit craigslist and Michigan probably has more aluminum Starcrafts than any state in the union

We've gotta keep the nice ones in this area so those out-of-state starcrafters don't get all the gems

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

http://www.lakestclair.net

Before you fish the Musky Pond, check out the website above. These guys have the pulse of the lake. It's a big lake with a lot of water to cover, but one of the top freshwater fishing spots in America.

You're boat would be perfect for the lake, as long as the weather was not too bad. That casting platform up front would come in very handy.

Us bass fisherman constantly pick up Musky on our small crankbaits and tubes. We can't keep em off our lines, lake is chock full of em. Fishing is smokin' hot right now, if you don't mind 40 degrees and 15 mile an hour winds. Theres still some ramps in the water and it's a balmy 39 out lol.

Good luck with your boat, she's a keeper. Your boys will love you for it, nothing beets father son/daughter outdoors bonding. Memories that last a lifetime for sure.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Hey Mike, boat looks awesome. I can?t wait to see it on Huron or Michigan, I am interested to see how the boat dose on big water. I have been thinking about a trip to Drummond in the future, have you ever fished up that way?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jeff.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Hey Mike, boat looks awesome. I can?t wait to see it on Huron or Michigan, I am interested to see how the boat dose on big water. I have been thinking about a trip to Drummond in the future, have you ever fished up that way?

Hey thanks Jeff, I can't wait to hit the big water with her too

We used to fish in Michigan and Huron with a 20' Sea Nymph aluminum and she handled the waves pretty well. We got into some 8-10 footers on a few occasions and while it's tough to land a salmon in those conditions(we sure tried LOL) that boat would get you back to port safely with the high sides.

That being said I would prefer to be on my Dad's 24' Seaawirl walk-around for those conditions and won't be taking the SS too far offshore.

I've never fished near Drummond but would love to. We have property north of Alpena that is a good base of operations for the North Channel and Drummond My dad's been up there fishing before and he dinged a prop pretty good, lots of boulders in northern Lake Huron.

Us bass fisherman constantly pick up Musky on our small crankbaits and tubes. We can't keep em off our lines, lake is chock full of em. Fishing is smokin' hot right now, if you don't mind 40 degrees and 15 mile an hour winds. Theres still some ramps in the water and it's a balmy 39 out lol.

Good luck with your boat, she's a keeper. Your boys will love you for it, nothing beets father son/daughter outdoors bonding. Memories that last a lifetime for sure.

Bwana thanks for that link...lots of good info on St. Clair. I will be fishing the musky pond before too long. I caught my first Pike a few months ago and Muskellenge is next on the list

I know some of my best memories happened to be from fishing trips with my grandpa and my dad so I have to agree with ya there too

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Update---Huron Sr. gave me a Garmin car GPS that he doesn't use anymore and time trials for the rig will commence weather permitting(we dipped into the mid-30s today so old man winter has arrived...our Indian summer has ended)

I actually saw a few cars with snow on them this morning so it snowed up north apparently none on the ground here in the middle of the state...yet

Good thing I have warm deer hunting gear to wear and a windshield

 

[pmillar]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

It was icy with only a few flakes outside Ann Arbor this morning. My dog spun out a few times on the deck on her way to pee first thing in the am which was good for some laughs. Anyhow, I have to comment since you mentioned the north channel. I grew up sailing (not fishing) with a few trips to the north channel as a teenager back in the late 70's early 80's. It's a beautiful area and lacking any major changes was great fishing even for an inexperienced hack like me. I even caught a nice pike up there (on accident) while goofing around. It wasn't so funny at the time since I had no net and was barefoot in a little dinghy For 5 minutes I thought I had a snag... good times...with plenty of perch and bass.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

I grew up sailing (not fishing) with a few trips to the north channel as a teenager back in the late 70's early 80's. It's a beautiful area and lacking any major changes was great fishing even for an inexperienced hack like me.

I've done tons of research on the islands and have absolutely scoured the area on google earth in anticipation of a trip thru the north channel...a boater's paradise is what I've heard it called time and time again

There's a website called continuouswave that is a Boston Whaler forum and it has an entire section dedicated to the North Channel. It's a great read

I'm also infatuated with Manitoulin Island...it's directly east of our lake huron property and is the largest island within a freshwater lake in the world AND also contains the largest lake on an island in the world, quite a place.

I'd like to get a sailboat or 30' scarab and run straight across, buy some duty-free Labatt's and head back LOL

Not a very safe trip in my 16' to say the least

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

I have the urge to start tearing this boat apart which would result in a full-blown resto(kinda want to do one...kinda can't afford to presently) but I will try to focus on a few key areas like these dash panels that are completely rotten.

I'm considering using sealed plywood covered with either aluminum diamond plate, vinyl like the factory or possibly just fake wood that never rots like Ezmobee's jupiter. Any thoughts?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Just a couple photos to show how nicely the SS fits in my single-car garage

This was an issue of some debate throughout the entire year-long search for the perfect 16' starcraft which I will keep the rest of my life. I am extremely glad that it does fit and I can open and close the door

I was recently telling Roslynn how I want to have a viking funeral (hopefully many, many moons from now of course) and she said "not in the Starcraft, that's for the boys to keep" LOL gotta love her

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Aghhhhhhhhhh A man after my own Viking blood!!!
First thing I thought too Huron..The SS is for the boys!!! lol


I dont know if I'd put vinyl back down on your dash & helm..
Maybe sealed wood matching that yellow ya have..I think starboard is paintable stuff..I never have worked with it. I tore off the nasty brown vinyl and ya know I painted the wood as was..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Have you looked into Star Board for the dash pieces? That's what I'm considering.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

http://www.lakestclair.net

Before you fish the Musky Pond, check out the website above. These guys have the pulse of the lake. It's a big lake with a lot of water to cover, but one of the top freshwater fishing spots in America.

I grew up on Lake St Clair, best fishing in the USA as far as Im concerned, NEVER EVER got skunked EVER! Jefferson and Martin Road was my stomping grounds, VFW pier, spearfishing in the winter, 12ft alum boat with 7hp sears outboard in the summer, smallmouth, largemouth, perch and the like were our prey!

my old nickname was WALLEYE!
lol

go Michigan!

 

[pmillar]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Be sure to add the Benjamin Islands to your N. Channel hit list. Just think of smooth sculpted pink granite islands polished smooth by the glaciers. The scrape marks from the glaciers are still there. It's awesome to climb around barefoot Beautiful water + the fact nobody lives there make sure it stays nice (I haven't been there since the early 80's but my parents continue to go.)

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 16' Starcraft SuperSport

Just a heads up for those who have followed this thread...thanks for all your comments and encouragement

I started a new thread in the restoration forum since I started tearing apart the SS over the weekend. The link is in my signature if you want to see what a mess of this boat I'm going to make prior to rebuilding her