'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[Huron Angler]

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?

I plan on wrapping each deck piece with 3-6" overlap prior to installation. This will prevent the epoxied plywood from rubbing any bare aluminum on the sides(squeaks) and also prevent the vinyl from peeling or curling up around he edges as it tends to do otherwise.

Very durable stuff...resistant to scuffs and nicks, UV, gas spills, not sure about sand Mine is going to look grey but actually has specks of black and white mixed in and it is non-skid.


From Cabela's site:
[Easy to clean, this heavyweight scuff-resistant flooring has been treated to resist staining and mildew. Just scrub it with a brush and hose it off. It's a great alternative to carpet for the maintenance-free fisherman, and it's also good for rod lockers and dry storage areas. UV inhibitors protect the flooring from the sun.]

Of the 32 reviews left on Cabela's...all of them are positive(4/5 stars) and one guy claims that his vinyl is still in great shape from 1987

Biggest advantage is that it will not hold moisture like carpet and is easy to clean.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks H.A. Trying to get my head around this...I like the idea of wrapping the edges under, but now I'm wondering won't the rivits or screws attaching the deck to the the stringers stand out?

How would one go about the actual laying of the vinyl...as to having a one piece covering that will wrap over and presumably under the deck? Just thinking if you have to put it down in pieces, the joints will need to be sealed somehow and would allow more areas that could 'lift'...Guess I'm missing something here {which is nothing new lol}

 

[bananaboater]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks H.A. Trying to get my head around this...I like the idea of wrapping the edges under, but now I'm wondering won't the rivits or screws attaching the deck to the the stringers stand out?

How would one go about the actual laying of the vinyl...as to having a one piece covering that will wrap over and presumably under the deck? Just thinking if you have to put it down in pieces, the joints will need to be sealed somehow and would allow more areas that could 'lift'...Guess I'm missing something here {which is nothing new lol}

I did my decking with Nautolex Deco Dot. Follow the manufacturers instructions and I used the Naut glue too. Wrapped mine over edge with staples. Then pop riveted to the ribs with exposed heads. Lots of pics at phtobkt. Left seam at keel open for drainage.

Albert

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I did my decking with Nautolex Deco Dot. Follow the manufacturers instructions and I used the Naut glue too. Wrapped mine over edge with staples. Then pop riveted to the ribs with exposed heads. Lots of pics at phtobkt. Left seam at keel open for drainage.

Albert

Thanks for that Albert!
Help me out here as I'm old and slow {lol}...
are you saying you have two pieces of vinyl, split down the centerline? If so, whats keeping the seam from lifting other than the adhesive?

Also how did you staple to the sides of the decking? What I mean is did you lift the complete deck up enough to reach, or are the deck pieces individual as in ie: no glass? Can't grasp in my minds eye how this is accomplished. I'm picturing the deck already glassed in prior to laying the vinyl...correct? or are you guys not glassing the deck sheets?

Edit: I just looked at your photo album and I see now what you did...did you glass the two deck sheets, and where does the gap between the two down the center lead to? do they just allow water to flow through to the hull and back to the bilge?

Hey I never said I was smart...lol

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Kenny...I still haven't decided if I will be using rivets or SS screws to attach the deck. Rivets would certainly give it a cleaner look as the heads would likely be pretty flush with the deck.

Never used a rivet gun so I'm a bit curious how that would go

I would like to be able to remove the deck in the future without drilling out rivets, so I'm leaning towards SS screws at the moment. I don't want the vinyl to have wrinkles from countersinking the screws though I'll have to do a bit of research and see how things shake out.

I was planning on using aluminum rivets since I would feel better knowing they will never rust or cause corrosion, but after seeing some folks have issues now I'm rethinking it.

The vinyl is one piece 6' wide and 5yds long so I could do the deck all one piece...but that would not allow me to wrap the edges obviously...so I will wrap each piece individually and then attach.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

My deck boards currently have 2 coats of epoxy on the bottoms and one on the top. Tonight I'm going to sand the tops down again to smooth out the bubbles. I am then going to install them in the boat using deck screws which I will tighten so they are just below the surface. Then I will apply my last coat of epoxy which should level everything out. My marine vinyl will be glued down in one large piece. I may add a couple staples here and there but for the most part the edges will be held down by my side panels, my bow seat structure, and rear seating/casting deck. Anywhere it would happen to curl up I wouldn't be able to see anyway. I may add some staples in the stern just cuz there'll be storage back there that I could see into and wouldn't want flappy vinyl there someday.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

EZ after my last post I was just thinking the same thing, as far as the consoles, bow structure and side panels eliminating the problem of curling/peeling.

I spoke to the guy doing my dad's deck earlier this week and that boat has all aluminum side panels that aren't removable, so he is opting to wrap the ply with the vinyl. Our boats are such that wrapping may not be as crucial as I had thought.

I will do one large piece as well and probably only wrap it under the bow and stern edges as I will still be able to access those areas easily after the deck is screwed down to staple.

Did you decide to forgo the layer of fiber to eliminate seams? I did.

Are you talking about aluminum staples?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Did you decide to forgo the layer of fiber to eliminate seams? I did.

Are you talking about aluminum staples?

I've about 80% decided to skip that step. I started thinking about it and the cost for this deck has just gotten ridiculous! I've used WAY more epoxy then I thought I would and adding the glass would eat a ton more. How much sense does it make to spend like $400 in glass and epoxy to protect $60 worth of plywood? Not much. Not to mention my boat is stored primarily indoors and very well taken care of. On the plus side, the epoxy finish is amazingly hard and strong so I have a lot of confidence in it's ability to seal and protect my deck by itself. Interesting thing.....I used regular exterior ply to save money. North Beach used marine ply. Well my exterior ply soaked up over double the amount of epoxy his marine ply did. So maybe it's worth it to go with the marine. Something to consider.

Stainless staples.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks guys for helping out...so in all actuality the vinyl is for appearances only...think I'll stay with the 2 part epoxy paint over glass...heck the more prettier I make the boat, the more my uglyness will stand out

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks guys for helping out...so in all actuality the vinyl is for appearances only...think I'll stay with the 2 part epoxy paint over glass...heck the more prettier I make the boat, the more my uglyness will stand out

I was considering using epoxy mixed with paint and non-skid but I've been told that exposure to UV will cause cracking and peeling, so I'm more comfortable going with the vinyl.

I would say that depending on the paint your method should be ok, just make sure it is UV resistant.

Roslynn made a request for the deck to be carpeted and I convinced her otherwise. I asked her if she liked walking on old fish blood, scales, and slime The vinyl will be easily rinsed off after fish are flopping around all over.

I also wouldn't want the deck to be too abrasive if I'm fishing barefoot

 

[fshngho]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I just want to point out one more thing, if you are installing the vinyl then I would guess you are going to glue it down. When you use a notched trowel to spread the glue you are 'sealing' the wood again. When the glue dries it is waterproof. Just make sure you cover the complete deck, as you would want to do anyway. Also use contact cement around the edges, that helps prevent the curling up of edges. I have carpeted many bass boats and I know this from experience. Dale

 

[bananaboater]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Edit: I just looked at your photo album and I see now what you did...did you glass the two deck sheets, and where does the gap between the two down the center lead to? do they just allow water to flow through to the hull and back to the bilge?

Hey I never said I was smart...lol

I did not glass the decking, just two coats of epoxy. I needed the ply to bend quite a bit to get it to conform to the ribs like the original install and I felt that that additional thickness would hamper that. Water will work its way to the hull through that slot in the center. There is a small plate of aluminum running fore to aft to pop rivet to under there. The one thing I should have done was take a bit of 3M caulk and shot a bit into the drilled raw wood hole then set the pop rivet. But it is marine ply so it is designed to get wet.

Albert

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I just want to point out one more thing, if you are installing the vinyl then I would guess you are going to glue it down. When you use a notched trowel to spread the glue you are 'sealing' the wood again. When the glue dries it is waterproof. Just make sure you cover the complete deck, as you would want to do anyway. Also use contact cement around the edges, that helps prevent the curling up of edges. I have carpeted many bass boats and I know this from experience. Dale

Thanks for the tips Dale

Would you say the vinyl adhesive bonds well to the deck after it's been sealed with epoxy resin? That's my gameplan. Should anything be done to the epoxied surface prior to applying the adhesive?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Ordered the 2lb kit of gluvit from iboats this morning. Should be here tuesday

I'd found it for $39 on another boating website but their shipping costs were a bit exorbitant and ended up being the same after iboats NEWYEAR promotion code kicked in

Now I just need some help from old man winter...if he could go away I'd be moving right along. It was 9 degrees on the drive to work at 8am, and my garage holds in the mid 20s when we are in single digits outdoors

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I located a good source on ebay motors to buy Starcraft logo stickers. They seem to be pretty good quality and the logo matches my '79 vintage logos. They are availabe in many different colors so I thought I'd share the source in case anyone is in the market for these

I'm thinking about ordering the yellow ones. Even if I don't want them on the side of the boat I may throw them on my trailer for the heck of it.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

for $8.95 plus $150 shipping, heck yeah those would look sweet on the trailer!

HI MIKE!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I just bought this on ebay for $30 Now I can buy some plywood and start getting it cut to size. Good thing my templates are in good shape from the previous restoration

Now if I can find a cheap, used kicker bracket for the '55 5.5hp Johnson and a used bow-mount Minn Kota I'll be all set

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Sweet!!!! Looks just like the one I got! Same price too.

 

[erikpn]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm going with rubber flooring. I found some lighter thinner stuff, it's waterproof and chemically resistant to just about everything, and I won't have to glue it down. I still remember the hours and hours I spent trying to get the carpet glue off my old deck pieces.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm going with rubber flooring. I found some lighter thinner stuff, it's waterproof and chemically resistant to just about everything, and I won't have to glue it down. I still remember the hours and hours I spent trying to get the carpet glue off my old deck pieces.

Lighter and Thinner..no glue...Gravity?