'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[tallcanadian]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Okay, turn on Google earth. There must be a place handy to where you want to go. Good luck. Come on up to Newfoundland. I'll find you plenty of fish.

 

[fshngho]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Steady as she goes Mike. Be careful and have fun this weekend. I wanted to let you know, because of you and EZ I am selling my 63 Starchief, but I am buying a 18' SS. And yes, the new owner knows all about this forum
Regards, Dale

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

No progress on the rig to report...I've been fishing too much to pick up a wrench

We managed to haul in several dozen bluegill and perch last night...and used some for cut bait to lure in some big pike and bowfin. We ended up catching 4 bowfin between 20-25" in length.

Those things are some fighters and we had an absolute blast Pics will be posted and work on the boat will commence.

The Merc isn't starting on the key and I haven't sprayed any fuel mix in the carbs lately to get her going. I've been happy using the minn kota and 5.5hp Johnson to put around these little shallow lakes.

This weekend I will get some new sparkplugs and get the 80hp running. Water skiing is on the agenda now that the trim/tilt bracket is operable.

BTW, I didn't bring the rig up to Manistee, but I did admire several dozen Starcrafts and had fun fishing at Tippy Dam wading in the river

Dale I'm glad to hear you are looking at a Supersport, they are great versatile hulls and will meet your needs(fishing with the family.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

No progress on the rig to report...I've been fishing too much to pick up a wrench

Geeschh. Anyone would think this was a boating/fishing forum, not a restoration one.

Ahhh, sorry, it IS a boating/fishing forum!

Sounds great HA, where are the pix?

TII

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Sounds great HA, where are the pix?
TII

Well here are some photos of the 165 million year old living fossils. They love to eat cut bluegill and perch. Great fighters

These are all females since they don't have a black spot on the tail.

The teeth on these ancient fish are something else(use pliers/gloves)

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I have landed a few of those big nasty cusses in my day. Great fighters. It's my understanding that they have no natural predators and they pretty well wipe out everything in sight.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I have landed a few of those big nasty cusses in my day. Great fighters. It's my understanding that they have no natural predators and they pretty well wipe out everything in sight.

Yeah they are voracious eaters, great for keeping the panfish from stunting from overpopulation.

There are still plenty of other fish in this lake though, more than the bowfin can kill.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well I haven't posted any pics but I've been tinkering with the rig here and there. I've been working on getting some carpeted guide bunks on the trailer.

The hardware was pilfered from my little trailer for my 12' AeroCraft and they should work great. The little boat doesn't need the guides so this should work out well.

This was prompted by having the rig crooked on the trailer one too many times....and I haven't been dealing with current or wind much either.

Other than that I went ahead and modified my single ratchet strap I'd been using over the gunwales and now have one short strap on each corner of the stern. I feel much better about towing with more points of failure.(insert CBK reference here).

With two familiy reunions coming up soon that are boat-friendly, I will be buying new sparkplugs for the 80hp and finally get her going so we can drag some kids around on the tube.

She hasn't been starting on the key the last 5-10 trips out but I haven't sprayed any fuel mix into the carbs in a while either(keep forgetting the bottle). For cold starts she likes to be pampered.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Insert. lol

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

LOL Kev...ya know if ya didn't take the ribbing with such grace folks would let it die out

BTW I did see a box trailer pop off the ball and sway violently back and forth on the highway last week. It was a bit scary, probably more so for the cars directly behind the debacle

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Success! I took the family, a buddy and his girlfriend out on the rig last night for a cruise on the grand river and the 80hp fired up

She just wanted a little 50:1 sprayed into the carbs as suspected and she started right up on the key. We were only able to plane her out momentarily due to excessive boat traffic. Probably hit 30mph with a decent load in the boat.

There's a music festival in Lansing called Common Ground that you can check out for free if you pull up and anchor in between the two main stages, the cops were out on their pontoon and 20-30 boats anchored.

Great time had by all...and we'll probably head down the next few nights since it's going on all week.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played last night, Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Bret Michaels, Tesla and an orchestra covering Pink Floyd will be playing later this week. Not bad for free

I tore down all the wiring in the boat last night and we rewired it in a much more simple way. Everything works and I'm chomping at the bit to take the rig to Holloway Reservoir or St. Clair so I can really run the merc wide open for a while

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Kudos on the good times and great pix too. Glad to hear that Merc wants to play sooner or later we'll get you over here on lake St. Clair and we'll find out how these old gal's of ours $#!t and git

 

[djpeters]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Insert. lol

I'm new here. Where is the real story to the inside jokes and pics I see about this boat coming off the trailer? Linky Please? I need to be filled in......

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm new here. Where is the real story to the inside jokes and pics I see about this boat coming off the trailer? Linky Please? I need to be filled in......

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=382403

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm new here. Where is the real story to the inside jokes and pics I see about this boat coming off the trailer? Linky Please? I need to be filled in......

LOL...go back to CBK's post where that picture was posted...then click on the link for his restoration thread in his signature.

It may take some digging but he explains the debacle there in detail.

It's become an event that reminds us all the importance of making sure that our trailers have good safety chains and whatnot.

Lucky thing was that the B-ticket landed in a cow pasture and not in the oncoming lane of traffic

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here's the plan as far as adding guide bunks. Two pieces of steel slotted for bolts to slide through. Been debating on rollers or carpeted bunks, what do you guys think?

I'm leaning towards carpeted bunks myself.

I want them on there so the rig is always straight(and if you look real close you'll notice it's not sitting perfectly in the photo...:redface

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Are the rollers not working for ya?

Um, never mind. Ah, she is only off a smidge there...

Maybe bunks would suit you Mike

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Another great night on the Grand river last night. We managed to pull up and anchor in the middle of the classic Bret Michaels "Every rose has its thorn" and there were quite a few more vessels out and about.

Everything from kayaks w/ flashlights duct-taped to them and john boats to double decker party barge pontoons. The Merc needed fuel sprayed into the carb again to crank so I'll be focusing on that for a bit, new plugs at least.

Aside from that once she got running I was very happy with the acceleration and quick planing. If only I had more room to run(this area is in between two dams).

We had to replace both the bow light bulb and the stern for some reason

I am hoping to get the remaining bow structure/windshield assembled and bolted down this weekend so she's ready for our family reuinion on Sanford Lake next saturday

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Glad you're having fun. I am apparently not the only one simply tolerating a poorly running outboard. I really need to get it improved over the next month though before we go on vacation with it.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Glad you're having fun. I am apparently not the only one simply tolerating a poorly running outboard. I really need to get it improved over the next month though before we go on vacation with it.

My tolerance is growing thin...but at least it runs with minimal pampering.

I'm really starting to debate whether or not I should sell this Merc while it's running and get a Johnnyrude.

I will be checking out my Uncle's 75hp Evinrude next weekend that he is parting with after this summer(his 'glass rig is on it's last legs). It may take the place of the Merc this fall.

I have to say that the Merc sure sounds mean when she's growling compared to all the newer 4-strokes out there...we turned some heads when revving it up last night