Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

[richardlee]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

I purchased a 1979 18 ft Supersport last summer. It had been gutted and everything was laying inside. My net cost was $50 for the boat, motor, and ezhaul trailer. I bought an extra motor the guy wanted to get rid of and sold it. It also has a 115 Merc. I worked on it most of the summer and then stored it for the winter. I have worked on it some the later part of this summer. I just finished replacing the transom. I used doubled 3/4 ply, and epoxied the ends and spar urathane on the whole transom. My original transom was a 3 piece, but I made the new one as a one piece. I had to take off the end caps, and lift the side pieces up to get it in. It is a tight fit and looks good. I used 1/2 inch ply for my deck. I made the front end a fishing deck instead of replacing the seats. I have a few pics somewhere in the thread. When I get finished, I will post new pics. I still need to do some wiring and install the windshield. I only got one side, so a boat mechanic gave me a full windshield from one of his junkers. It is not Starcraft, but I can make it work.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Sounds great richardlee,

Since I bought this boat, work has taken control & slowed my time with it, but I have been parts & piece shopping & did recieve my rivets today. Gonna pick up some 5200 & sandpaper tomaro to dive in, starting tomaro night & see what i can get done this weekend. I picked up a bunch of scrap wood from a new housing addition on monday, those folks chunk some pretty good stuff right in the scrape pile. I just asked for some & they said take all you want, so i did!!! Got a good bit of 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 even several 2x12's that were 6 & 8 ft long! I'll use this wood to build some saw horses & maybe another outboard stand.
As it stands right now, I have the inside pretty well cleaned up, I'll be sanding the inside of the transom so Ima wait to do the final clean up, But I also have the gluvit ready to be painted on too. I'll get a couple pics & post by monday.

thanks for stopping by!

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Well, I got some cleaning done and got the cap clear of rivets and hardware, here's a few pics & a couple questions...
Here's a pic of my Temporary boat stand.
here's some of the clean hull, before I clean it with some Aluminum cleaner britener.Can you see the corrosion on the transom backing, its also on the inside and on each end more so... How concerned should I be?

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

I have power washed the inside of the hull twice to get all the glue off. The PO had a custom fitted cover & enclosure that he couldn't find so off came ALLLL the double riveted twisties!!! Now all I gotta do is patch them up. I was thinking of trying to buy the material and do what Dozer did on his buddy's 16ft'r(dam nice boat too) and attempt to make new gunnels.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

When I get to the front of the hull to sand, What is the product that is cracking at the seems(a form of 5200?) Can I sand it smooth & go over it with more 5200? I plan on removing the rub rail because when I was cleaning the inside under the gunnels i wacked some rivet heads off and have to replace about 15 or so, will double check them all because the are a number of rivets that the head just popped off... Also, It appears that this hull has had all the rivets re-bucked, both inside & out. Well I some supplies in hand & will be spot sanding the rivets I've drilled out & replacing them & cleaning the hull this weekend. Hopefully I can get the gluvit on and purchase some ply & order some epoxy.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Here's a pic of the hull after I acid washed it! cleaned up real good!

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

I got a phone call from the PO of this boat today, he found the original full enclosure for the boat & offered it up N/C!!! looks a little dirty but in great shape. Not real sure I'll use it but is great to have!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

You're getting on it, shade. That stuff in the front cap is some kind of sealant, don't know if it's a 5200 equivalent but sanding and filling with 5200 has been done. The sun gets to the original stuff after a dew decades.

The hull sure is nice and shiny now. You might not need the enclosure (if you still have the holes for all the snap swivels) but some of the Northern guys might like it. Do you have a bimini? You know how hot that Texas sun is.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Excellent work on the clean out. Looks amazingly clean.....

When I get to the front of the hull to sand, What is the product that is cracking at the seems(a form of 5200?) Can I sand it smooth & go over it with more 5200? I plan on removing the rub rail because when I was cleaning the inside under the gunnels i wacked some rivet heads off and have to replace about 15 or so, will double check them all because the are a number of rivets that the head just popped off... Also, It appears that this hull has had all the rivets re-bucked, both inside & out. Well I some supplies in hand & will be spot sanding the rivets I've drilled out & replacing them & cleaning the hull this weekend. Hopefully I can get the gluvit on and purchase some ply & order some epoxy.

I can't remember what that seam sealer is, but it's a sealer for the seams. If it's a visual thing that you want to resolve, if it's sandable, I quess you could cover it w/ 5200 & paint over it on the outside. Unless it's exposed on the inside after you put back the interior, cover the seams & rivets w/ GluVit & your done. If you think there has been some rivet work previously, give all the rivets a good look & assess if any more then the 15 need to be replaced. Loosing 15 rivet heads during pressure washing, doesn't sound normal. Even if they are all in & around the rubrail, and even if the rubrail took hundreds of hard shots at the dock. But that's just IMHO, and in no way based on experience or special knowledge of metal fatigue, particularly to rivets, rivet heads & re-bucking....

I got a phone call from the PO of this boat today, he found the original full enclosure for the boat & offered it up N/C!!! looks a little dirty but in great shape. Not real sure I'll use it but is great to have!

If only to use as a pattern, it is GREAT to have the original enclosure... Unless you plan to make any windshield & splashwell changes..

 

[dozerII]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Great job on the clean up Shade, that acid wash is awsome. It is not real difficult to rolace the top of the gunwalls, just make sure the boat is supported well because it gets real floppy when you remove the old ones.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

You're getting on it, shade. That stuff in the front cap is some kind of sealant, don't know if it's a 5200 equivalent but sanding and filling with 5200 has been done. The sun gets to the original stuff after a dew decades.

The hull sure is nice and shiny now. You might not need the enclosure (if you still have the holes for all the snap swivels) but some of the Northern guys might like it. Do you have a bimini? You know how hot that Texas sun is.

Thanks GA, I was little concerned as to what to do about that cap, 5200 it is!
Yes I do have all the snaps and all the little twisty attachments that were installed, I took care in drilling them out incase i could use them in the future. The bimini was so far gone I trashed it, but kept the 2bow frame. The whole set up has the front cover, 2 clear zippered on side windows, the back cover that would attach to the bimini to make a full enclosure, also theres the piece that attaches to the wulk thru from the windshield down to block wind. Honestly, I prolly never use it? So may look into posting it on CL up north.
I beleive that style bimini is called a convertible(down here anyway) AH yes, I do know how hot This TX sun is. Yes I have a bimini, and I use one!!!

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Excellent work on the clean out. Looks amazingly clean.....

I can't remember what that seam sealer is, but it's a sealer for the seams. If it's a visual thing that you want to resolve, if it's sandable, I quess you could cover it w/ 5200 & paint over it on the outside. Unless it's exposed on the inside after you put back the interior, cover the seams & rivets w/ GluVit & your done. If you think there has been some rivet work previously, give all the rivets a good look & assess if any more then the 15 need to be replaced. Loosing 15 rivet heads during pressure washing, doesn't sound normal. Even if they are all in & around the rubrail, and even if the rubrail took hundreds of hard shots at the dock. But that's just IMHO, and in no way based on experience or special knowledge of metal fatigue, particularly to rivets, rivet heads & re-bucking....

If only to use as a pattern, it is GREAT to have the original enclosure... Unless you plan to make any windshield & splashwell changes..

jbcurt,
Yes it did clean up very well, I was very pleased with the product used! As for the rivets, I may have mis explained, In the glue cleaning process. I wanted all of it off, so I was using a putty scraper to get up under the gunnels & as I was using elbogrease to push upward I hit some of the rivet heads & knocked them off, THEN I went to 1st pressure washing & thats when i knocked a few more off, I was using a 0 degree nozel also? I think mostly i was at fault but the rivets did show signs of corossion. Yes sir, I will be double triple checking all the rivets & have received my rivet order from Jay-cee, 100 each to start 1/4, 3/16, 5/32 & I have a quart of gluvit!

No windshield/splashwell changes intended, But I do have a custom cover that I got off local CL for $100.00 that was on a 18ft vhull OB for that price I just bought it... I didnt even have the SC then either!!!

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Great job on the clean up Shade, that acid wash is awsome. It is not real difficult to rolace the top of the gunwalls, just make sure the boat is supported well because it gets real floppy when you remove the old ones.

Thanks DII,
Yes, I don't care how dirty aluminum is, that stuff will clean it!
Thanks for the confirmation on the walls, i was gonna ask u bout that after reading the "naked lady" thread, but was waiting till I got there. I saw what djpeter did with 2x4's on his 22ft'r and think I can do the same.

BTW, did you cut the AL gunwall tops yourself on NL? what did you cut with? I plan on doing the same, but the bow piece will be new for sure as the TM holes have pretty bad cracks around them!

 

[dozerII]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Thanks DII,
Yes, I don't care how dirty aluminum is, that stuff will clean it!
Thanks for the confirmation on the walls, i was gonna ask u bout that after reading the "naked lady" thread, but was waiting till I got there. I saw what djpeter did with 2x4's on his 22ft'r and think I can do the same.

BTW, did you cut the AL gunwall tops yourself on NL? what did you cut with? I plan on doing the same, but the bow piece will be new for sure as the TM holes have pretty bad cracks around them!

Hey Shade no problem, real easy to cut. Use a medium-fine jigsaw blade and a little bit of dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle for lubricant and they cut real nice just take your time. Do one side at a time and the boat will stay much straighter. Clamp the old piece to the top of the new sheet and cut around it. I cleaned the edge up with a belt sander. After you do the two sides and rivet them in place with a few rivets, take the bow piece off and do it.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Hey Shade no problem, real easy to cut. Use a medium-fine jigsaw blade and a little bit of dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle for lubricant and they cut real nice just take your time. Do one side at a time and the boat will stay much straighter. Clamp the old piece to the top of the new sheet and cut around it. I cleaned the edge up with a belt sander. After you do the two sides and rivet them in place with a few rivets, take the bow piece off and do it.

DII,
I printed this so i wont have to look for it later! LOL
Thanks for the detailed instructions, I would have taken everything off and proceeded.... after seeing what you've done, well need I say more

 

[dozerII]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Thanks Shade, your to kind. The reason I said take it off one side at a time is from experince (albiet bad), the NL really went floppy and we had a real hard time getting the shape back.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

DII, I'm certain everyone here agree's!!!

I've never done anything like this.... So you & everyone else's tip's & suggestions are read with great ATTENTION & appreciation!
I'm not a complete idoit though, LOL. I've rebuilt Baja bugs from a shell & they were not cut the fenders & put big tires on it either. Heres a couple pics hope I dont get grilled for posting non-tin stuff:redface:
This car was a very capable off road but street legal ride. Longest jump was 40ft. with modified stock suspension!

But as for my SC, I'm going the cautious route BC i'll be putting family & friends in it and unlike the lake, if the bug has issues I just tow it, THE BOAT CAN SINK!!!

 

[dozerII]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

Cool looking Bugs Shade, I dabbled in them 35 years ago, but not to the degree you have. Rebuilding old Starcrafts is pretty easy compared to that kind of project.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

They were fun, but this Starcraft thing is crazy, I honestly feel like a "Starcraft junkie" got this boat 7-14-12 and its like I freaking fantasize about what I can do to it !!! LOL. I'm gonna try & get it in my garage today, there's a cold front & rain coming in tonite & of course allday tomaro SATURDAY!!! I'm gonna replace some rivets & clean up the transom & fill those pits! Will post pics of what I did.

 

[shadetree_fish]

Re: Finally found my 1st Starcraft! 1979 SS 180 w/ 115 merc O/B

HA... "Starcraft Junky" sounds like a name for my boat!!!