a bunch of Starcraft questions

[newmaac]

My son just bought a 69 StarCraft Trident.
I am trying to do some research for him, but am not finding much.


It has a MerCruiser 120HP I/O
The prop is pretty dinged-up. I assume that there are ID numbers on the old one, but I have no way of knowing if it was original. Anyone with a similar boat want to let me know what they are running?

The original fuel pump is not working. PO suggested installing an electric fuel pump, (cheap and easy).
Is there any reason NOT to do this?

I have worked on several old fiberglass and wood boats in the past, but am not familiar with StarCraft. I was surprised to find a bilge plug in the bulkhead, between the bilge and the engine compartment. When we pulled it, we found that there was A LOT of water trapped in the bilge. If I were to do some "exploratory" and look under the floor, what can I expect to find in the way of construction?
The engine area has no stringers visible. I would assume that there are two stringers under the floor. Is that correct?

I'm sure that there will be more questions as we get into this.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[pckeen]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Hi,

Welcome to iboats. Post some photos of the boat.

With respect to the prop, you can simply replace it with an aftermarket prop, fairly inexpensively. If the boat runs with it - test it to make sure you have the right prop for the boat. Any marina should be able to tell you what prop you need. If you don't want to go there, look on the outside and inside of the prop, and see if you can find markings on it. You can also start a thread on the propellors section of of iboats, and you'll get some (better) advice there.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Unless the electric fuel pump is MARINE approved I would not do it.

Yes explore that hull very carefully!!! The older starcrafts were light duty construction!

 

[JoLin]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Unless the electric fuel pump is MARINE approved I would not do it.

There's more to it than just making sure it's inherently safe for marine use (spark protected). Factory installs in cars and boats are tied into engine sensors (like oil pressure) that'll shut off the pump if the engine dies. Last thing you need is a situation where the engine stalls (because of a broken fuel line, say) but the pump continues to dump fuel into the bilge just because the ignition is 'on'.

My .02

 

[Texasmark]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

I had a 65 18' Holiday I/O with the earlier MC 110 hp. Had tilt on the outdrive, no trim....needed that.

Floor was plywood under a vinyl cover, transom was wood faced (1 1/2") obviously outside was alum. 2 sheets of 3/4 5 ply glued together took care of that. Storage bins on the side of the hull (basically a flat sheet of plywood, 18" high and 7' long) were vinyl coated wood. Didn't need replacing. Rest of the boat was all alum including all structural parts. Deck (floor) was pop riveted in and came out easily, transom wasn't that big if a deal as I pulled the engine to redo it....the boat had been sitting semi-submerged for quite a few years. Floatation was white styrofoam sheets (coffee cup/cold drink cup material) tossed in before the deck was installed but were not water logged like the sprayed in, open cell foam gets. I reused them in the restoration.

I liked the boat very much and for an open fishing boat that you could take out on open water it was excellent. I kept it on a trailer and the sides were high and made boarding a bit of an inconvenience. Having a slip to keep it in would have been nice, with a boat lift to keep the hull and OD dry.

Yes they were light as they were made of alum. However, at cruising speed, 25ish mph, it was a comfortable riding boat.

Don't know a thing about their glass boats.

It was one of my more enjoyable boats.

Preferences, the 140 engine, power trim, and an outdrive position indicator, all of which came out later on in the series over the years.

HTH,
Mark

 

[Watermann]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

First off GASP! You are not familiar with Starcraft? In the boat world that is like saying in the car world "I'm not familiar with a Chevy."

For the correct prop you could always use the Mercury prop selector here: Prop Selector | Mercury Marine

That MC 120 uses a mechanical fuel pump mounted on the side of the block. I would just replace it, they made millions of those old 2.5 L motors and the parts cheap and easy to come by. If you went electric in order to do it right then you would have to remove the mechanical pump and purchase a kit to block off the hole left behind. You would also need to buy new fuel lines as well. The cost would be greater to go electric and more room for troubles.

Rule #1 anytime a PO tells you "all it needs is" he telling you a lie, otherwise why wouldn't he just do the fix himself.

You don't show where it is that you live, if you live in a northern freezing climate then I sure hope the guys story about the fuel pump being bad didn't keep you from seeing if the motor ran.

Yeah some pictures of the Starcraft would be great!

 

[Texasmark]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Well I guess the effort I put into this was just a waste of time!

 

[Watermann]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

I read it LOL... He might come around again and read up.

 

[newmaac]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Well I guess the effort I put into this was just a waste of time!

Nope! Never a waste of time to reply in the forum! I greatly appreciate any info that I can get.
Sometimes work gets in the way of life!!

I have ordered a manual for the Mercruiser I/O, and will be going to buy the new mechanical fuel pump.

We will hopefully do a little trial run this weekend to try everything out.
I will post some pictures soon.

Thanks for the replies

Mike

 

[Watermann]

Re: a bunch of Starcraft questions

Good choice on the pump. Have fun and I hope all goes well so your not back here after next weekend...