'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Some progress on the motor stand...if it seems slow that's intentional. I don't want to get ahead of myself and make mistakes

I like a slow pace so you guys can tell me what I'm doing wrong before it's too late to correct any errors. I will be overbuilding this stand in case I ever need to use it for a 6-cylinder outboard.

I'm debating on whether or not to use 4x4 posts, or if a couple 2x4 bolted together will be sufficient?

These metal wheels are really heavy duty. I do wish I got ones that lock. I will need to be careful if I park this thing on an incline

Quality control officer on site

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I can't believe your lady is going to let you keep that OB in your living room

At least it will be warm for the winter!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Some more progress, keep in mind that the vertical piece is not attached yet. I will be assembling the final stages in the garage so it doesn't get stuck in the basement.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I can't believe Mike is actually gonna take that motor off

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well I have some killer news to report

I have arranged a deal with my fishing buddy to use a nearly vacant 3-bay garage over the winter as a boat storage/restoration facility.

He's got a two-car attached garage and his grandpa used to use this separate building as a small engine repair shop back in the day.

It was rigged up with 2 55 gallon drums as a wood stove but it has been dismantled. It is well insulated though so it won't take much to keep it warm enough to work all winter long.

Plenty of room for the SS in there and we will even be able to move it around to pull the Merc, work on the trailer and get the transom rebuilt.

The rest of my entire extended family is still in Florida enjoying themselves so I am hoping to surprise them with an empty garage when they return.

On a side note I had a nice little vacation and even met up with CBK one night while we were down south.

Assuming this works out I will be able to get some work done on the rig very soon. Ice fishing is coming up soon but I promise not to let it interfere with the boat project.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

That is great news buddy!

Ice fishing is coming up soon but I promise not to let it interfere with the boat project.

This is just horse puckey and everybody knows it.

 

[tomynoks]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

That's AWESOME!!!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

That is great news buddy!

This is just horse puckey and everybody knows it.

That's AWESOME!!!

LOL Thanks guys, I spent some time last night getting the place cleaned up, organized and ready for the Starcraft. We are going to move the rig tonight after work.

It's a great little shop, fully stocked with all sorts of wood-working tools, small engine repair tools, a grill and a smoker. No mini-fridge, but I can just put my six pack right in the snow banks outside.

I will be bringing venison over to grill and spending lots of time there this winter. My friend will almost always be around when I'm working too in case I need a hand with something(like lifting the Merc off the transom).

He is still working off that Blue Gill incident

I will post some photos of my new work space and some progress soon enough, thanks for hanging in there!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Sounds like you have a pretty sweet set up man. You are less than an hour away from my place so if I smell venison on the grill I might just appear from nowhere to "help".

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Sounds like you have a pretty sweet set up man. You are less than an hour away from my place so if I smell venison on the grill I might just appear from nowhere to "help".

Anytime you are headed SW give me a shout...I keep hoping you will find a nice rig(free or dirt cheap) over my way so I can help you kick the tires and whatnot and help talk him down to free

Huron Sr. dropped off what seems like a whole deer's worth(he bagged two already this fall) of venison last week before we left for Orlando and it was like Christmas morning when I got back and opened the freezer.

Plenty left and I might get a deer myself this year yet so more than enough to share

 

[86 century]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

About that transom rebuild if you end up down my way I have access to 3/4 furniture grade 11ply no voids at all. It's what I used in mine. Has held up great to the abuse of that big 200merc.

 

[v8mgbal]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Great deal on the garage HA, and who knows you may become a pro SC restorer with that setup. hey show us some pictures of the place you know the rules.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Good news, the boat is in its new home for the next few months and we also finished the outboard motor stand today.

I have some photos but left the camera over there tonight. Very relieved to have gotten this move done quickly and painlessly.

Time to start stripping the boat down again and get the Merc lifted. I am bidding on a lifting eye on ebay so hopefully once I get that we can get going.

 

[tomynoks]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Man HA...That's going to be great.. I know how long and cold those winters can be (I;m from WA state) and I'm sure you'll have plenty of down time to work on it over the winter.. In sharp contrast, here in AZ...the winter is the time to be out on the water... The wakeboarders are long gone and I've had days when I was the boat on the lake... talk about peaceful!!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

About that transom rebuild if you end up down my way I have access to 3/4 furniture grade 11ply no voids at all. It's what I used in mine. Has held up great to the abuse of that big 200merc.

Hey 86 haven't seen you on here in a while, you must have been out enjoying the fastest Starcraft on the planet

I get down to Grass Lake pretty regularly but not much farther south than that. I really appreciate the offer. I checked the map and that would be a bit of a drive.

I'm thinking about using 2 sheets of 3/4" aruuco ply from Lowe's, that 11 layer stuff sounds like a good way to go.

Great deal on the garage HA, and who knows you may become a pro SC restorer with that setup. hey show us some pictures of the place you know the rules.

Photos will be on the way I promise. She fits in there with room to spare. Once I get the Merc and the bracket off it will be much easier to maneuver the hull around.

Man HA...That's going to be great.. I know how long and cold those winters can be (I;m from WA state) and I'm sure you'll have plenty of down time to work on it over the winter.. In sharp contrast, here in AZ...the winter is the time to be out on the water... The wakeboarders are long gone and I've had days when I was the boat on the lake... talk about peaceful!!

Yeah we are in for a doozy of a winter this year. More snow than we've had in recent years for sure. The temps have been in the mid 20s consistently and keeping the shop warm will be a challenge.

Being the only boat on the lake is great. That's why I like to fish in the rain.

 

[86 century]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Yea I have been a lot on the busy side. You may be able to find some 11 layer 3/4 ply. The stuff I get comes from a counter top builder. Ask at Lowe's if they have any damaged tops the mid grade are usually good ply.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well here are the photos of the new winter home for the rig. She seems to like it and I have tons more room to operate in there too She is all clean and dry in there which makes me happy.

It's great to have such a nice little garage to go tinker in. I can't wait to get going on it this weekend. Still need to get a lift ring to pull the motor.

Here is the stand for the 80hp Merc right before we put in the last 20 screws on the angled braces.

It seems to be very solid and we tried to get it to flex to no avail. Hopefully it will be able to hold a 115 or 150 if needed someday

 

[sprintst]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Nice stand and setup in the garage. Looks like you are ready to roll over the winter.

It's snowing like crazy here and mine will soon be under a pile of snow I should have bought a house with a bigger garage.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Nice storage/shop space for her HA. Sorry to hear the weather's so bad... it's only 29 degrees (C) here today...

TII

 

[tomynoks]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

WOW HA!! That's a great work-space!! Mine is shoved in a 2-car garage without much room to move, but it works..