1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

This makes for a very strong floor

Ja think?

Nice work!

 

[Bighoss]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Ja think?

Nice work!

Hoss does!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Thanks EZ, Bighoss.
Glen

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Nice work there Glen, that is going to be one rock solid floor buddy. Am going to see if I have the skill to do something like that if you don't mind me stealing your idea. Not that great of a wood worker but am going to try.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Nice work there Glen, that is going to be one rock solid floor buddy. Am going to see if I have the skill to do something like that if you don't mind me stealing your idea. Not that great of a wood worker but am going to try.

Thanks Kelly, and no problem on the idea, that's why I posted the info. It is not real hard to do, just cut a little bigger than needed and get yourself a cheap belt sander with 60 grit belts, they make sizing real easy. I tried to use the old floor as templates, but as someone stated in another Starcraft thread in the late 70's attention to detail and quality went down hill. The old floor was terrible the cut outs for the ribs were ou over half the diameter of the rib.

I'm tired of waiting for varnish to dry so started on the noodles, would be so much more fun if it was sunny and a little sand around lol.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Got the rest of the flotation in and the floor in and riveted down, sure is nice to walk on a level surface again. The rivets are 1x1/8" aluminum with the large head from Fastenal.
Will give the whole floor a light sanding and then one more coat of varnish to seal the rivets.
Glen

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Deck looks great Glen. Not a fan of the while foam but that should be sitting will off the bottom so it probably won't be an issue (in our lifetime)

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Deck looks great Glen. Not a fan of the while foam but that should be sitting will off the bottom so it probably won't be an issue (in our lifetime)

Thanks Ez, it is white foam but not the standard stuff, something new accorting to the lumber manager? It is only going down to the bottom of the stringers so there is lots of space under it for water to get out.

Our lifetime is right, when you consider Starcraft built these with white foam or even worse expanding foam sitting right on the bottom, plus they never sealed any of the wood at all and these boats sit outside uncoverd and are still useable after 30 plus years, so ours should last 60 years lol.
Glen
Glen

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Excellent work Glen, feels great walking on the legit deck huh? Keep on keeping on buddy

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Glen did you try any water on that white foam?

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Excellent work Glen, feels great walking on the legit deck huh? Keep on keeping on buddy

Thanks Jason,

WOG, actually the foam was in a warehouse with a leaky roof and two of the sheets had standing water on them,(it's been raining here for 2 months) I wiped the water off and the were perfectly dry on the inside when I cut them to size.
Glen

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Been real busy at work it finaly dried up enough for us to get back out in the oil feilds.11 weeks for break-up is real hard on the pocket book.

I have been looking at a design problem all the SS models seem to have. The consuls are mounted on the gunwale below the aluminum trim piece by about 3/8", as seen in the first two pics, indicated with the red line, of my 72. This acts like an evestrough and collects all the water off the consuls and winshields and funnels it straight into the boat down the side of the dash boards, causing rot.
What I did on the 79 was raise the gunwale edge to even with the top of the trim and make a 1/4" aluminum shim for under the consul where it screws to the floor, this 1/4 and the extra 1/8" form the 5/8" ply I used for the floor puts the counsuls back at the exact same angle as they were. as you can see in the last three photos this will allow all the water to flow out on to the gunwale and back over the stern.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Good thinking Glen, always great to improve on the designs of old, eh!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Nice work Dozer, that's something that would never have occured to me

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Thanks Jason and HA, I'm hoping it eliminates a lot of the water that comes in. On the 16SS I redid and put the top on, all the rain water from the front of the top and winshield ran straight in the boat.
Glen

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

I did the exact same thing to mine in order to get the windshield to align (thicker deck probably). Worked well. Actually I did it about 74 times till I got it right

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

I did the exact same thing to mine in order to get the windshield to align (thicker deck probably). Worked well. Actually I did it about 74 times till I got it right

I know what you mean EZ, I think it took 73 times for mine.

I need some feed back from all you Starcraft junkies.
I am doing the lay out for my seating and casting deck. I have the front deck all cut out and fit, my origional plan was to have a key peice that fit in the cut-out when a guy was fishing, and remove if you wanted two extra seats, but I have found that there is lots of room on the casting deck with out the key peice. I plan on making two cushions that will sit just in front of the consuls for two seats up front ( where the red marking is in the photo), the origional gunwale back rest are going in, so that seating is pretty comfy.
What are your thoughts?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

On an 18' rig I agree, you probably have enough room as is.

Mine would be nicer with a full platform for someone who only drifts or anchors to fish.

Since I like to troll as well, I prefer a more open layout that works for both.

Do you spend more time trolling or casting? That's kinda the determining factor for me.

How's the weather up there? Warming up by now I hope

 

[Bighoss]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Dozer, the casting deck with a bow mount troller is a great idea. I like the layout and like HA says there should be plenty of room. Looks much better than decking the entire bow.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft 18 SS Here we go again!!

Yah, looks like you have plenty of room up there so no real need for a removable piece in my opinion.

I always stand when I fish so if it were mine it would be just a bench/platform deal with no extra seat.

She is looking great Glen!