76 Starcraft SS 22ft

[SHSU]

You are moving right along.

I had a custom tank made for mine as well. You have any idea on how big you want to have yours made?

Something to think about is what kind of Fuel gauge sender you are going to have installed and make sure you account for its extra height. Also the additional height for the fuel fill neck and such. Shouldn't be as big an issue for you since your belly is bigger then mine was, but still something you don't want to forget.

SHSU

 

[Mkline85]

The depth I have to work with is surprisingly shallow, thats why I want them to have the boat on hand so they can make all the measurements. Ideally I want a 25 gallon tank. Based on a couple of websites and ballpark measurements the tank will need to be about 55 to 60 inches long with a max depth of 7 inches to clear the floor.

 

[Mkline85]

Looks like I have some corrosion on the stern all where the transom wood was making contact with the aluminum. Figure to clean them and job weld or marine tex them.

 

[Watermann]

Looks like I have some corrosion on the stern all where the transom wood was making contact with the aluminum. Figure to clean them and job weld or marine tex them.

Good plan and you may want to remove that Z channel the transom sits in to clean it up, it'll be bad between there too.

 

[Mkline85]

Switched it up a little bit and started working on the trailer. It's got some surface rust but cleans up nice with the angle grinder. I think I'll find a way to pull the boat off to mack it easier to work on the trailer.

 

[SHSU]

With the hull gutted, you will find it extremely light. You should be able to pull her off no issues. I left mine at my parents place for about a month while I worked on the trailer too. Truthfully, you could probably do it by yourself, but I had my dad and brother help anyways.

SHSU

 

[Watermann]

With the hull gutted, you will find it extremely light. You should be able to pull her off no issues. I left mine at my parents place for about a month while I worked on the trailer too. Truthfully, you could probably do it by yourself, but I had my dad and brother help anyways.

SHSU

Yeah his 22'r is going to be a unwieldy handful going from trailer to ground and to turtle position especially.

 

[Mkline85]

I'm thinking I can tie off to the transom area some how and have my wife drive the trailer forward. If I can get it on the ground that will make it much easier to work on the trailer.

 

[SHSU]

Good call Watermann

I forgot the extra 6 ft.... Man I wish I could have done a 22ft... LOL

Ya, that would make it difficult to turtle by yourself

SHSU

 

[Mkline85]

Got it off the trailer. The back was super light. The front not so much. She came down a little harder then I would have preferred for the last foot but I had wood down under the keel to protect it. The trailer had keel rollers so that helped

 

[Mkline85]

Keel rollers need to be replaced. Should I just scrap that idea and put another set of bunks closer to the keel? The current keel rollers have an inside diameter of like 1.5 inches all the new ones seem to be 5/8 so I would have to replace 5 sets of brackets and the rollers as well as new pins. That's easily $220 on the conservitave side. I think I can get another set of bunks in for cheaper then that. My biggest concern with bunks is cold weather. This boat will be used indo December so freezing to the bunks is possible.

 

[mattsteg]

Good call Watermann

I forgot the extra 6 ft.... Man I wish I could have done a 22ft... LOL

Ya, that would make it difficult to turtle by yourself

SHSU

Also over a foot wider.

 

[Watermann]

Keel rollers need to be replaced. Should I just scrap that idea and put another set of bunks closer to the keel? The current keel rollers have an inside diameter of like 1.5 inches all the new ones seem to be 5/8 so I would have to replace 5 sets of brackets and the rollers as well as new pins. That's easily $220 on the conservative side. I think I can get another set of bunks in for cheaper then that. My biggest concern with bunks is cold weather. This boat will be used into December so freezing to the bunks is possible.

Lets have a look at your trailer now that the hull is safely off of it.

With the 4 bunks set up a keel roller up front and in the back is all I use.

 

[Mkline85]

Getting all the hardware off and grinding off all the surface rust so I can prime and paint.

 

[SHSU]

Should take the time to pull your bearings and either get new ones or repack them. Nothing like doing all that work to have something as simple as a bearing fail on you.

Any ideas on what you are going to do for lighting? LED? Side lighting?

SHSU

 

[Mkline85]

Led lighting for sure. Planned on new bearings as well. I'll have side lights on it as well.

 

[Mkline85]

Finished up sanding and grinding got the first coat of self etching primer on. Should I do multiple coats of the primer is one good enough with multiple coats of pant. I took a few days off from work and that's really helped me dive into this trailer. Back to work tomorrow. Good news is with warmer weather I'm getting hits on the merc 115 I'm trying to get rid of. Hopefully someone will snag it and I'll have some more boat funds.

 

[Watermann]

Should take the time to pull your bearings and either get new ones or repack them. Nothing like doing all that work to have something as simple as a bearing fail on you.

Any ideas on what you are going to do for lighting? LED? Side lighting?

SHSU

Good advice and I'd replace the grease seals for sure if there's any grease on the inside of the wheels.

 

[SHSU]

Good advice and I'd replace the grease seals for sure if there's any grease on the inside of the wheels.

Watermann
If you do have grease, can it be because I fill my bearing buddies before every trip? I ask because I do have a lot of grease on interior of my tires, but always believed it was because I am a over filling my bearing buddies and it is being pushed through while on the road. Or should I pull mine off again and redo the seals?

SHSU

 

[Mkline85]

Got my second coat of primer on and first coat of gloss black enamel. Starting to look a lot better. Next up is getting the hardware back on get the bearings replaced and getting the boat back on the trailer.