'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I was feeling under the weather early last week so unfortunately not much progress lately. It's been cold and windy here and not conducive to painting outdoors. That will be changing soon I hope.

I decided to tackle the bilge pump and outlet installation today. First bent a piece of aluminum and screwed the lower pump housing to it upwards. Short fat screw are best for this so they don't get in the way of the floating switch.

As you can see in the photo, I globbed some 5200 under the aluminum and set the hammers and wrench on it to set it in place. The location is about as low as it could be which is good.

I used two stainless screws to attach the piece to the knee brace. Sadly, I stripped the s&%* out of both of them and you can see them protruding out ridiculously. Tough angle to get at there.

Apparently I do not have a good bit attachment for these. This will be fixed at some point.

Here's the outlet location, well above the water line of course.

It always feels weird drilling a hole directly in the boat's hull...even if it's above the water line.

I still need to pick up some hosing for this prior to testing.

It's a 500gph and I have another for the other side of the knee brace that might be a manual/backup pump.

I did not use 5200 on the fitting, figured it will be ok without, can always add later if deemed necessary.

I've heard that you can put rubber bands on the threads to keep nuts from loosening over time, may be an old wives' tale.

Hard to miss the perfect symmetry of the rivets on the hull in these shots. Those guys did a pretty darn good job back in the day. For this I am thankful.

A lost art almost with all the welded aluminum hulls being produced. I wonder if they used a template, must have to be so accurate.

Inside view. I have one more to install if I decide to put the other 500gph pump in.

I will not be crossing any of the Great Lakes with this rig so maybe one is enough? {famous last words}

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I got out the JB weld and patched up a few holes on the consoles and gunwales.

There are no photos of the gunwale work, I filled in some holes from the old downrigger attachments.

I'm going to install some Bert's Tracks later on, so these needed to be patched up.

This JB Weld is great, will need to sand some down later on the topsides, but that's ok.

This is the extra deck piece that will be attached underneath the splashwell.

Just a coat of paint on the underside and it's ready to be installed.

Front console pieces got a coat of light machine grey.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Keep on it Mike, she is getting there buddy

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Looks like great progress in spite of feeling under the weather. Glad you're feeling better now. That's a nice looking fitting for your bilge pump outlet, but I was very surprised to see the back of it (hose attachment side) after you had to drill a 2" hole. Maybe you can put a dab of loctite on the threads if you're concerned about the nut loosening?

If you've not sanded JB Weld before, I think you're going to be surprised how much sanding it will take to get it leveled down. That stuff cures rock hard. When I applied mine for patches, I spread it on with a putty knife and smoothed it out, removing as much off the surface as possible, so I'd have as little sanding to do as possible.

And yeah, it is tight quarters trying to drill on the side of a knee brace. If the screws are loose, maybe a dab of 5200 on the threads? You should still be able to get them out if you need to but they won't move around & loosen so much I wouldn't think.

Nice progress, keep those pictures coming!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Gotta ya on putting holes in the side or anywhere in the hull. It just don't seem natural, but A bilge pump or two is a good thing. Those knee braces are a bugger to drill into. I did about the same for two pumps. A right angle drill would have been helpful, but I made it work. In mine with three braces and mounting pumps on either side of the center brace, the outside braces got in the way.

You're getting there, HA. And looking good as always.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Nice work man. Looks perfect. I like the bracket...looks solid as a rock.

The shelf for the batteries is a good idea as well...the nautolex should help keep everything in place.

Thanks sprint, things are looking ok when viewed from the proper distance.

The bracket/transom is as strong as I hoped. No flexing at all, she could handle 115hp and not worry.

Nice progress, it sure helps to have an extra pair of hands. Everything looks "built to last".

Thanks LL, I've been telling Roslynn and our two boys that if the time comes it might be easier to buy a different boat to restore with all the 5200 in this thing

Having extra hands to help sure makes things go fast

You aren't kidding, nice to have somebody bolt the bracket while I held it in place.

Keep on it Mike, she is getting there buddy

Progress is progress...but I need to get back to "at least one item off the list per day" philosophy for another week or two.:redface:

Looks like great progress in spite of feeling under the weather. Glad you're feeling better now. That's a nice looking fitting for your bilge pump outlet, but I was very surprised to see the back of it (hose attachment side) after you had to drill a 2" hole. Maybe you can put a dab of loctite on the threads if you're concerned about the nut loosening?

If you've not sanded JB Weld before, I think you're going to be surprised how much sanding it will take to get it leveled down. That stuff cures rock hard. When I applied mine for patches, I spread it on with a putty knife and smoothed it out, removing as much off the surface as possible, so I'd have as little sanding to do as possible.

And yeah, it is tight quarters trying to drill on the side of a knee brace. If the screws are loose, maybe a dab of 5200 on the threads? You should still be able to get them out if you need to but they won't move around & loosen so much I wouldn't think.

Nice progress, keep those pictures coming!

Thanks LL, the fitting is tiny on the inside. Like 1/2", I wondered about that myself.

Well it sounds like I created some work for myself with the JB, my experience is very limited and I was telling my buddy, "oh yeah the JB is sandable, no problem":facepalm:

Gotta ya on putting holes in the side or anywhere in the hull. It just don't seem natural, but A bilge pump or two is a good thing. Those knee braces are a bugger to drill into. I did about the same for two pumps. A right angle drill would have been helpful, but I made it work. In mine with three braces and mounting pumps on either side of the center brace, the outside braces got in the way.

You're getting there, HA. And looking good as always.

Thanks GA.

I was wondering how the dealers sold these boats without pumps in the first place. The PO had a manual pump but the hose ran into the splashwell. Like that will help if you boat is taking water over the stern.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Great to see your progress HA. Your idea for more than one pump is spot on, I remember a friend of mine saying - "Ladies and gentlemen, this boat is fitted with three bilge pumps, the only reason for that is I couldn't fit in four!"

TII

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I have a question about bolting the motor on the bracket.

You can see in the photo below that there are 3/8" holes on the bracket. This is what the Mercury had on the bottom, clamps on the top.

The 70hp Johnson is set up for 1/2" bolts on the mounting bracket, so I think I need to drill out all 4 holes to 1/2" to properly hang this motor.

Would you guys agree?

I will check the manual, but I'm sure it calls for 1/2" bolts. The 3/8 don't seem like they'd be up to the task.

Here's some photos of the JB weld cured up on the console. Another coat of paint and it will look much better.

I picked up a dual bus bar to run the electronics on the console. The trim/tilt do not run off this, since it has separate relays.

Here's 12' of insulated 10# dual marine wiring. This will run from the battery to the bus bar to keep things simple.

The switch panel has built in fuses and I will just use an in-line fuse fish finder.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Great to see your progress HA. Your idea for more than one pump is spot on, I remember a friend of mine saying - "Ladies and gentlemen, this boat is fitted with three bilge pumps, the only reason for that is I couldn't fit in four!"

TII

Thanks Triton, I think your friend is a safe boater

I'm thinking about adding a 800gph for the second pump. I have an extra 500 but it's old and I might as well get a bigger one.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I also picked up this splashwell cable boot. I need another small one for the fuel lines, this is for the motor/steering cables.

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I would definitely redrill to 1/2", and as far as length, I read that you should have a minimum of 3 threads showing after the nuts are tightened.

Looks like you have a good wiring plan.

The JB looks good!

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I also picked up this splashwell cable boot.

Can I ask where you found that? I have plastic rings, but I don't think they'll last forever.

 

[Stephenatx]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Ha you're making great progress. Have a question for you, but first want to say that yours was the first thread I read on iboats, and has been a great inspiration. The question I have is about the Nautolex vinyl. I know you put yours down about two years ago and that you used the Nautolex cement. How has it held up and are you happy with how the cement has held? I have read some mixed reviews about the different cements available but they are mostly by people who haven't had it down long.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I would definitely redrill to 1/2", and as far as length, I read that you should have a minimum of 3 threads showing after the nuts are tightened.

Looks like you have a good wiring plan.

The JB looks good!

Thanks LL. The gunwales have the JB that needs to be sanded, it's gonna require some elbow grease

Can I ask where you found that? I have plastic rings, but I don't think they'll last forever.

I bought it at West Marine, they call it a motor well boot. 4.5" and 3" are the sizes and I'm using one of each.

When I walked in and asked for a steering cable grommet I drew blank stares.

Ha you're making great progress. Have a question for you, but first want to say that yours was the first thread I read on iboats, and has been a great inspiration. The question I have is about the Nautolex vinyl. I know you put yours down about two years ago and that you used the Nautolex cement. How has it held up and are you happy with how the cement has held? I have read some mixed reviews about the different cements available but they are mostly by people who haven't had it down long.

Thanks Stephenatx, I'm honored to have inspired you. I feel the same about those who preceded us like North Beach, Bob_VT, CheapBoatKev and ezmobee. The forefathers of tin boats around here.

The vinyl has stayed put and I'm happy with it. Getting it flat with no bubbles is the key I think.

Either starting in the middle or on one end, flatten it out evenly. We applied some of the adhesive to the deck and the material itself, worked pretty well.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Iboats has the motor well boots on sale

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks LL. The gunwales have the JB that needs to be sanded, it's gonna require some elbow grease



I bought it at West Marine, they call it a motor well boot. 4.5" and 3" are the sizes and I'm using one of each.

When I walked in and asked for a steering cable grommet I drew blank stares.

(And remember to use the nylock nuts on the bolts)....Funny, I would have called the "boot" the same thing you called it!

 

[Stephenatx]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I know what you mean about those who have come before. I have read every SS thread on here and even some of the other Starcraft model threads and learn something in just about everyone. I wish I was half as accomplished (and witty) as most of them. Thanks for the info on the vinyl, will help a lot. Hopefully it will be here Friday or Saturday.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey HA. Your CMC question - If the Merc and Johnson have the same bolt placement, just drill it out if the Jonny calls for 1/2" bolts. Do you know it the Johnson uses the BIA standard bolt pattern? The CMC is supposed to have pre-drilled BIA pattern holes.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I set the extra deck piece in place and it fits well.

This may or may not be permanently attached, we'll see.

The bilge pump hose in place, hose looped to prevent water from entering the boat(I believe this is standard procedure?).

It looks like there should be enough room for the 18 gal. tank on the starboard side somewhere.

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

It's looking better all the time, you're really moving along now. Nice tank too.