'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I spent the day removing old deck rivets, old vinyl and cleaning up the interior of the hull a bit.

One question...How do you remove a rivet that is on a rib without having the end fall down and stay inside the rib? In some cases I can use an extendable magnetic reacher tool, some have little access.

I've had great luck drilling the heads out while holding the ends with pliers, but in the ribs obviously no access the the end. Here's a photo of one I need to remove.

She's looking a little cleaner

Should I be removing these aluminum supports just to get this old vinyl out of there?

It seems like it would be ok to just leave the vinyl there...and if I did remove it could possibly loosen and wiggle a bit? The supports are what the bow bench seating platform is riveted to.

I've just been yanking it out with my trusty needlenose pliers, leaving the lovely vinyl adhesive residue underneath that I'll be taking a sanding disk to as Pualy recommended.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey HA..
Great progress bud..

Why dont ya use a propane torch to cook off that vinyl?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey HA..
Great progress bud..

Why dont ya use a propane torch to cook off that vinyl?

Thanks CBK I'm trying to catch up to everybody else...You're reading my mind...I've got the torch all ready to go, just haven't resorted to that yet

I imagine the ashes will vacuum up nicely too.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I took a peek under the bow cap and found some wood

Is this factory...or installed possibly when the previous owner added the bow-mount trolling motor?(a series of holes on the bow cap indicate this)

I believe it is factory since it looks like it was bolted on prior to the bow cap being installed by the good folks over at Starcraft (the bolt heads do not show on the top, they are sandwiched in place)

I will be removing it before replacing it since I've yet to fins ANY wood on this rig that was sealed with anything

Probably will be adding a 40-75lb thrust bow-mount Minn Kota at some point(ie when I can afford one or find one cheap) so I may leave the holes there...not sure yet.

 

[bananaboater]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Looks similar to mine but not as "structural." Mine has a single board running from dash board to bow with a couple smaller boards on each side.

Seems a bit wimpy to me but original.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

GOOD WORK HURON!!

I'm pumped all of you guys are about 102 steps ahead of me so I can see how it's done!

 

[bankfisher]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I took a peek under the bow cap and found some wood

Is this factory...or installed possibly when the previous owner added the bow-mount trolling motor?(a series of holes on the bow cap indicate this)

I believe it is factory since it looks like it was bolted on prior to the bow cap being installed by the good folks over at Starcraft (the bolt heads do not show on the top, they are sandwiched in place)

I will be removing it before replacing it since I've yet to fins ANY wood on this rig that was sealed with anything

Probably will be adding a 40-75lb thrust bow-mount Minn Kota at some point(ie when I can afford one or find one cheap) so I may leave the holes there...not sure yet.

HA, Mine was set up the same way. Seems a little flimsy. I replaced with oak 1X4 boards sealed with epoxy.

When you pull them out you will also find a piece of foam stapled to the top. I guess for noise suppression. I did not replace the foam, i just put some large piles of caulk on top of the boards and then re installed the skin over the top of this. It seems to have added a bit of stiffness as well as keeping it quiet.

Keep up the good work!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

The bow wood is factory.

Don't remove those aluminum deck supports. I just razor bladed the vinyl off as close as I could get to it. You won't see the remaining bit anyway due to the plywood thickness of your new deck. Looking good. Just about Gluvit time.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

GOOD WORK HURON!!

I'm pumped all of you guys are about 102 steps ahead of me so I can see how it's done!

Thanks ja...and I'm glad that many went down this road before me as well

Just about Gluvit time.

Yep...gotta order it this week, found it for $39 If iboats has it in stock I'll get it here though...5% off right now for everything on the site I believe

Maybe I should order everything I need this week Word is the IRS has some boat restoration $$ on the way for me to finish this project.

Doesn't hurt that I have two little tax credits running around the house

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I have those wood joists/stringers under my cuddy roof too, just a lot bigger. There is a gap between them and the aluminum above. When I walk on the bow deck there is quite a bit of movement. I don't think I have any foam on em but that would be a great way to tighten everything and minimize the flex.

Cool Man!

 

[jspano]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Word is the IRS has some boat restoration $$ on the way for me to finish this project.

maybe we all could get a federal bail out!

HA
looks good

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm thinking about getting this glove box from iboats.

Comes with two keys, box is 4"x11"x6", has stainless hinges, cupholders when open, and in my opinion looks like it could be from 1979

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Don't order that one yet, I'm trying to come up with something better.... That is too similar to the one that came out of my boat and it's a real POS.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Just got off the phone with the guy who ordered my marine vinyl for me. He's currently rebuilding the deck on my dad's 1989 17' Sea Nymph up north and we got a discount on our combined order since it was more than 10 yards

It's a grey vinyl and should be very durable for the rig for some time, easy to clean and won't hold moisture like carpet.

I had considered going with the deco-dot vinyl like you'd find at Cabela's...but found out that it has a weird padding under it that gets messy when hooks, etc. snag the material. Fibers pull out and stuff apparently

 

[PaulyV]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

HA
Ya have any pics of the vinyl?..I am toying with that idea here.

Was at Cabelas this weekend and looked at Alumacraft and Lowe vinyl floors. They feel good underfoot..Whats a Vinyl floor last? 10 years?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm going with vinyl as well. It's gotta hold up better than carpet and certainly easy to clean up. I saw it in some of the new fishing boats at the boat show I recently went to and it looks great.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

HA
Ya have any pics of the vinyl?..I am toying with that idea here.

Was at Cabelas this weekend and looked at Alumacraft and Lowe vinyl floors. They feel good underfoot..Whats a Vinyl floor last? 10 years?

I won't be keeping my boat at a dock uncovered at all, so it should last 10 years hopefully Spraying it with a hose and brushing a little will go a long way as far as keeping it for a while.

No pics yet...it's 4 hours north of here where my folks live on Lake Huron. I haven't even picked up my plywood for the deck yet, so I will not need the vinyl for a few weeks probably. This is a picture of a similar product/color.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Mike great idea on the vinyl!

I was at HD and took some samples of thier vinyl flooring (the wood look stuff) about 5 weeks ago...GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!

cept youres has that non slip surface

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey vegas....we're talking about marine vinyl. I don't think household vinyl would work well at all due to 2 things.....UV and moisture. The sun would kill it and they typicall have a paper backing which would not do well in a boat.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Got a question for you guys about the vinyl...what are your plans for attachment along the edging? Are you palnning on using something to cap it, or wrap it under the deck or ???

I'm still leaning towards painting, as touch ups are bound to be needed. I guess along those lines I gotta ask.. how well will it{vinyl} hold up to say tackle box's being slid around, or spilt gas/mixture from portable tanks, or beach sand being ground in...most vinyl doesn't have a solid color through-out does it?