'79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

[dozerII]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Hey HA,lLooks like my trailer was set up the same as yours. I really didn't like the roller set up they tend to flip flop around and if you come in a little crooked, you end up with dings in the hull. I took the rear rollers right off and put 8 foot bunks on with 4 center rollers for loading, this also lowered the boat 4 inches at the back for easier unloading.
Glen

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

After returning home from a nice father's day dinner(shrimp and veggie kabobs) I was pleasantly surprised by a gift from a fellow brother in tin, jasoutside.

What a guy, he delivered(for free mind you) a 17 gallon permanent fuel tank in perfect condition.

Great size tank for this boat, and will make my life a ton easier once it's installed.

Thanks a bunch Jason, despite what fiberglass boaters might say...you are a gentleman and a scholar.

I will return the favor someday, hopefully by filling up the tanks in the Islander for a run in Saginaw Bay.

I checked it out in a few different locations, to plant some seeds of thought.

I'm leaning towards placing it amidships so the weight won't push the stern too low at rest.

More stuff to ponder while stripping paint off.

It says here I can switch over to diesel and I won't even have to change the tank.

Good to know since I like to have all options on the table.

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Nice tank!! Jas...what a guy. I think I would tend to try to center it side-to-side but I guess that depends on your normal load balance. Only if you're alone a lot would I locate it port side. IMO almost any location other than the stern would be best. 17 gallons of gas weighs 103.343 lb. according to answers.com.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Nice tank. That size is perfect. You won't need to worry about auxiliary tanks with that capacity. I wish I had some ideas for you on where to put it. I went with a 12 gallon in order to fit it where I wanted it but I do wish I had more capacity.

 

[yooperangler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Great progress Ha . I found the pressure washer worked really well around the edges for some reason (not nearly as productive on the bigger areas) Stripper on a scotch brite pad or rag should do it though. Gas tank is great I think its definitely a good idea to get it out of the stern. I think the trailer rollers are mostly a trial and error kind of thing (at least for me) If you often use shallow launches go as low as you can if not probably won't matter. I've found with most of my boats and trailers it's hard to find that happy medium My old flat bottomed bass boat was great at shallow launches (low with bunks) but a pita at deeper steep launches,so set it up for what you plan to use the most and fight with the othersTrailer guides definitely help when your trailer is under water if there tall enough

 

[jasoutside]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

After returning home from a nice father's day dinner(shrimp and veggie kabobs) I was pleasantly surprised by a gift from a fellow brother in tin, jasoutside.

No sweat my friend! It was cool seeing the SS in person, I felt like I already knew the boat so well no intro was needed. We instantly hit it off and were hanging out like ol buds.

Sorry I missed you and your family though

Thanks a bunch Jason, despite what fiberglass boaters might say...you are a gentleman and a scholar.

Most everything the glasser guys say about me is very true

Nah, not so much! I love our glasser compadres! I love them so much and only want to help them

I checked it out in a few different locations, to plant some seeds of thought.

I kinda like this spot. But I'd think you'd need push it back all the way and then you could build a jump seat box around it. Same on the other side for batts to even out the weight maybe?? Course then you are kinda transom heavy.

This would be a pretty good spot but then you are monkeying with your pedestal you have set there. Building a set box may be a little awkward unless you went to back to back seats or something, eh.

You could always drop it dead center up in the bow and build a casting platform. Course, that takes away your walkway for the bench seats up front in the bow there. On the other hand it would give ya some bow weight.

How about this (this is what I am kinda thinking for my Jet Star, maybe)...

Pull it out from under the splashwell and mount it here...

Build a bench sort of a deal. Maybe just a plain bench. Or, one with a flip up back to it sorta?? You know, flip down for a casting platform and flip up to sit down for the ride kinda deal.

Ah, just thinking out loud

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

To centre the weight of the tank and its contents could you stick it under the floor where the ski locker is? I know you'd lose the locker storage, but you'd have the weight low and in the right place, plus easy access to the tank and its various connections. Just a thought!

TII

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

After work today I managed to get a coat of citristrip on the stern.

It worked pretty well, even though it's best at killing grass.

After that I used the orbital sander to clean up the stern and splashwell too.

I ran out of stripper so returned to mechanical sanding just to keep things moving along.

I had to take a break for a t-ball game too, so that's about it for today.

We are planning on getting some more resin on the transom, if the kids ever go to sleep!

There are exactly 8 too many holes here, from the exterior wood piece that Starcraft bolted on in the factory.

Extra splashwell drains? I will probably use JB weld on these, not sure if they are big enough to need a bolt or backing plate.

I also finished removing paint from the starboard gunwale.

I worked on the edges a bit, will still need to go back with a small brush and some stripper.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

She's looking good. I can't wait to see it done. You will have her in the water before you know it. That tank is sweet too. Keep up the good work.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Here's a "before" shot of the stern of the boat.

Call me crazy but I sincerely think that was too much yellow.:facepalm:

The bare metal is a ton easier on the eyes as far as I'm concerned.

I am considering painting all of this grey though, for protection and a cleaner look.

 

[Triton II]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I really like yellow:

TII

 

[sschefer]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

H.A. if your skeptical about where to put that tank, you can always do a builders float test. You can use sand bags to simulate the location. A 18 gal tank will probably fill to around 15 gals. I know that sounds weird but I had a 18 that I mounted under the deck in the bilge and I could only get 15 in it and that was on a cold day.

The Jetcraft has a 35 gal tank and it's center mounted below deck all the way aft. It will take a full 35 gals. My helm is what's known as a forward helm because it's located further forward than a normal boat. My MonArk legend was nearly the same as yours and the front of it's 18 gal was even with the front of the consoles, below deck and dead center, if that helps.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Thanks for all the advice folks, I agree that the tank should be as forward as possible.

It's about a hair too wide to fit between the stringers, so that is not an option.

That would be the best spot for it, in between the consoles to act as a ballast.

I will need to test out different weight distribution and see how she floats.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I am hoping to get the transom painted tonight, and test-fitted for the final time.

I'm not sure which type of fastener will be best for the interior lowest row.

The previous owner used cheap steel screws which corroded badly.

I'm leaning towards either SS screws, brass, or aluminum rivets. 5200 will be part of the equation as well.

Any comments about this? I do not remember what other folks have used.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I really like yellow:

TII

That's a fine looking machine there, what a paint scheme

Looks like a fun way to see Oz

 

[sschefer]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I recommend 18-8 Stainless Truss Head bolts with Nyloc nuts. You can also use 18-8 Truss Head Screws where appropriate. These can be ordered through Fastenal. Do not use the so called stainless they sell at Home Depot and Lowes, it won't last.

The truss heads will give you the surface area you want to pull things together and they will match the original rivets or screws that were once there. I used them throughout the MonArk restoration.

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I'm leaning towards either SS screws, brass, or aluminum rivets. 5200 will be part of the equation as well.

I don't know how much of a hurry you are in, but I ordered all my SS fasteners here http://www.nutsandbolts.com/. Their selection is amazing, service was good (pretty quick and accurate counts).

I'm going to use SS nuts/bolts to fasten in my transom board.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

I already have all the thru bolts, SS from Fastenal with locking one time use only nuts.

What I'm asking about(and I was not very clear) are the ones that do not go thru the transom, on the shelf.

You can see the holes in this photo. I'm starting to wonder if these were done by the previous restorer and not the factory. I will check out some of the other threads to see if they also have these.

Thanks for the replies

 

[lakelover]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

If you mean row where the splashwell attaches to the transom wood (?), my splashwell was fastened on with a gazillion deck screws by PO and I'm thinking I might do the same thing. Not very nautical, but my budget is getting pinched. I'll check on the cost of SS, first...

Am I getting your meaning now?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '79 Starcraft SS 16 restoration

Not the splashwell, the shelf the the transom sits on. I have a hole on the left side here and no corresponding thru hole.

Sorry for the confusion, I've been about as clear as mud with my descriptions.

There were rusty screws in there, but I'm considering rivets. The screws might tighten things up better though.

Also got to work before this rain shows up tonight.

The transom is being painted grey. Rustoleum rattle cans do the job.