'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[jcupo6]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Gotcha...she's a big girl all right. Drafts 32' and my fishing hole doesn't even get that deep in the middle

I do like the fact that her big diesels can get her going 39mph

It amazes me how something that big can go that fast! I could only imagine that thing blowing by me in my Holiday going WOT 31mph. I wonder how big its wake would be?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

While I am waiting for my epoxy resin to arrive, I am curious about one thing. How do I make sure that the transom isn't going to be too thick to fit in after it's been sealed with epoxy?

It seems like I might have to keep it thin in order to make it fit, but I need to get it sealed well at the same time. Any ideas?

I'm in the process of ordering gauges for the rig, but I am having a hard time because if I end up selling the boat I don't want to spend too much on stuff like that. I could very well decide we need a bigger one and see this one go at some point ya know?

Hope everyone likes snow out there, I know we've been enjoying it.

 

[tomynoks]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

On the epoxy... I would mix the first 2 coats thin so that it soaks into the wood to actually seal it, rather than coat it. Can't you measure the thickness where the bottom of your transom rests to know what you limit is? I'm just thinking out loud here... lol..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well all I can say is I didn't have a problem with two coats of epoxy. Your old transom was probably a little swelled anyway.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I could very well decide we need a bigger one and see this one go at some point ya know?

Oh, that day will come. Today? Tomorrow? If not, surely by the weekend.

I wouldn't sweat the thickness issue. If you were adding a few layers of glass and a dozen coats of epoxy, then you'd have to think it through.

Hope everyone likes snow out there, I know we've been enjoying it.

Beautiful out there eh! I bet your boys were loving it too huh?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

OK I will stop worrying about the transom being too thick. I guess since it was such a pain to remove I thought it might be a problem.

The reason it was so tough to get out is that it had absorbed water a bit and then when it froze it swelled even more.

Jason, my boys and I are really lucky because Roslynn loves to shovel snow and build snow forts. Yesterday they cleared the entire driveway, today is for major work on the fort. Two snow days in a row allows for lots of time to work.

When I get home from work tonight they will give me the grand tour.

 

[LaramieAngler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Was reading some of the messages you posted. I'm new to the forum. I bought a 79 Starcraft SS last year. First boat I've owned. Has the original 80 hp Merc on it, runs good. I plan on pulling the motor off, replacing the ply transom piece, adding a few rivets and repainting the bottom. Was it easy to pull the cabling and wires off of the motor/and put back on? No tricks?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Was reading some of the messages you posted. I'm new to the forum. I bought a 79 Starcraft SS last year. First boat I've owned. Has the original 80 hp Merc on it, runs good. I plan on pulling the motor off, replacing the ply transom piece, adding a few rivets and repainting the bottom. Was it easy to pull the cabling and wires off of the motor/and put back on? No tricks?

Welcome to the site Laramie, lots of good info here for ya.

As far as removing the cables, pulling the motor up off the transom with a hoist will make it easier to get the steering cable out.

The throttle and shift cables are pretty easy, not sure if your Merc is the same as mine, but mine were threaded and came right out.

I have not hooked up the motor again yet, so I will see about that down the road after the carbs get worked on.

The transom rebuild is not too bad either, make sure you seal the wood with epoxy resin.

I would look at the rivets along the keel for damage, that area takes lots of stress.

Get a thread started in the restoration forum here and lets have a look at the boat

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Heading out to Holloway Reservoir today to buy a teak swim step from a guy. Jason, it's the same one you sent me the link for a while back, and he's lowered the price over the past few months.

He says that he has other stuff for sale as well, so I might try to grab up a few other items. Too bad I just ordered a tach, an automatic bilge pump and stainless thru-hull fittings for the bilge outlets, cause this guy parts out boats and probably has all of the above for a good price.

Looking forward to seeing the lake...I mean ice We will be heading back up there this spring to fish for walleye in all likelihood.

I went ahead and bought a compression tester, we are gonna be working on the Merc later tonight and tomorrow.

My outboard mechanic is going to stop over so we can take apart the carbs and have a look. I want to do this so I know if I need to order the full rebuild kits or just the gaskets, etc.

After describing the performance, he agrees that the high-speed jets are probably gunked up from old gas or whatever. Should be a great chance for me to learn a bit about the old Merc.

 

[djpeters]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

That's funny..I am getting a piece of teak today in the mail that I won off ebay. I'm going to cut it into strips to replace the pieces on my bow cover. A couple of the original ones have 1" holes in them from a bow mounted trolling motor. You fishin' guys like to drill a lot of holes. LOL

Are you hoping that the Merc is in good shape, or hoping it gives you a reason to look for a Johnnyrude? Good luck with your stuff today..

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Safe travels buddy!

Hey, be sure to have an extra 100 bux in your pocket and throw in the 2" ball hitch. You never know, there just might be a big Islander/Chieftain laying in the woods behind his shed.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

That's funny..I am getting a piece of teak today in the mail that I won off ebay. I'm going to cut it into strips to replace the pieces on my bow cover. A couple of the original ones have 1" holes in them from a bow mounted trolling motor. You fishin' guys like to drill a lot of holes. LOL

Are you hoping that the Merc is in good shape, or hoping it gives you a reason to look for a Johnnyrude? Good luck with your stuff today..

Thanks DJ, I did drill and cut areas of my gunwales for flush-mount SS rod holders so I am guilty as charged. More on the way for a kicker bracket and the swim ladder too.:facepalm:

I am definitely hoping that the compression is good on all four cylinders, even if I switch over to a 70hp Evinrude at least I can sell the Merc with a clean conscience.

Safe travels buddy!

Hey, be sure to have an extra 100 bux in your pocket and throw in the 2" ball hitch. You never know, there just might be a big Islander/Chieftain laying in the woods behind his shed.

Actually he had a 29' cruiser with twin 454 I/Os It had a radar arch, A/C, fridge and the whole nine yards. I ended up just getting the teak swim step.

I can't wait to get the boat done so I can start bolting stuff on.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here is the teak swim step. I will let it dry out completely, then sand it a bit and get some teak oil rubbed on it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Cool swim step. Same one I have except yours is an I/O model. You should just be able to flip the one support upside down to make it work.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2250.jpg

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Cool swim step. Same one I have except yours is an I/O model. You should just be able to flip the one support upside down to make it work.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2250.jpg

That's what the guy told me when he sold it to me as well. Not sure it will be perfect though. It might need some "adjusting".

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Well I'm happy to report that we learned a few things about the old Merc.

The outboard mechanic took a good long gander at the motor and came to the conclusion that the carbs are probably not the problem.

Based on what he saw, and what I described(idling great and planing the boat, but no full throttle) he explained that the wiring is the most likely culprit.

My simple translation is that if the wires are old and corroded, the motor will be limited to whatever RPM the weak flow allows.

We did a full compression test, actually three. Two tests to make sure the new tool was reading consistently, and one after getting some oil into the cylinders.

The results are as follows...

Cylinder#4-----3-----2----1
Test 1: 105--120--124--125
Test 2 110--122--125--125
(Oiled added to cylinders)
Test 3 124--130--131--130

I was very happy to see cylinder #4 improve so much on the third test. The mechanic said that since it's on the end of the loop for cooling it is often the one that ends up with lower compression.

The close range is a very good sign, and is better than I expected to say the least.

I am convinced that it's worth it to spend some cash on a new wiring harness and see what the motor does...if it improves I will spend money on a 3-blade prop.

Here's the method we used, jumper cables straight to the starter. You can see the old compression data written in sharpie on the engine block there too. Also in view is the extremely crappy wiring job done by a previous owner.

Here's the compression tester, the extra length of hose came in real handy for cylinder # 4 on the bottom.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here's the wiring harness from iboats. A bit more than the carb rebuild kit.:facepalm:

 

[McGR]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I really don't see where a wiring harness is going to prevent top speed on your motor. I'd be looking for fuel/carburetion and/or ignition issues. While replacing the harness will certainly be beneficial to your motor, I don't believe it will cure a performance issue. Posting on the Merc forum could be helpful at this point.

 

[Teamster]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here's the wiring harness from iboats. A bit more than the carb rebuild kit.:facepalm:

I would try to fix the wiring myself first to verifiy it is the problem,.....And the buy a new harness,...

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I really don't see where a wiring harness is going to prevent top speed on your motor. I'd be looking for fuel/carburetion and/or ignition issues. While replacing the harness will certainly be beneficial to your motor, I don't believe it will cure a performance issue. Posting on the Merc forum could be helpful at this point.

Yeah I agree, it could have bad wiring and need a carb rebuild. We will find out eventually. I will get a thread going to get some more opinions before I spend any money.

I would try to fix the wiring myself first to verifiy it is the problem,.....And the buy a new harness,...

We could just redo the wiring and use the harness that I have and we talked about it last night. The plugs are fine on it, it's just the wiring and connections that need to be all torn out and redone. That would certainly be cheaper than the brand-new kit.