Furst boat and first restoration project, have some questions.

[Dylan Beaudry]

I believe ---SEASTAR ----Has a kit that mounts on the transom and also one that mounts in the splashwell side if there is room.

Oh I just saw those last night. They we're pretty expensive, just as expensive as getting the right sized cable. So I was messing around on fusion 360 before work making a printable transom mount standoff. Not too sure of the loads involved so I made it super beefy and added room for a bearing shaft insert to allow the cable rod to move freely. 12 bucks in ABS plastic is better than 120 as long as it works.
I have yet to print it though.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

You don’t need hydraulic steering for 35hp. I hooked up my Suzuki to the cable/drum steering system that it came with. It has been re cabled in the past and is in good condition. It actually turns too sharp. Have to be careful

But you can put your steering cable through the tilt tube and neaten it up

Also keep in mind weight with all your upgrades. The boat only has a 900 lbs capacity. That’s fuel, people and gear

By upgrades I really mean putting the stuff it would've come with when it was new, back in it. The person I bought it from threw out the back to back seats and the rear jump seats in favor of 4 mismatched swivel seats whose pedestals were 8" too tall.

the cable is a foot short, but I have to work with it for now because of the budget inset myself to get it out by ice-out.

And I contacted the person who originally bought it and I found out just how much is missing from original. It has side panels and stowage, a speedometer, kick panels, the works. So I want to add it back.

The hydraulic steering may not be a requirement for such a small motor, true, but it feels the best. And it's is the most maintenance free as it's an enclosed and self lubricating system. That's why I want it, I want the boat to look and feel new by the end of this. Along with a few upgrades that would bring it partly into the modern age.

as far as weight goes. 900 lbs is a lot. And the boat likely weighs over 100lbs less than original. Adding the accessories it lost and a few minor upgrades probably isn't going to hurt that limit.

thanks for the insight though.

 

[racerone]

Hydraulic steering on a boat that size is overkill and expensive.

 

[matt167]

By upgrades I really mean putting the stuff it would've come with when it was new, back in it. The person I bought it from threw out the back to back seats and the rear jump seats in favor of 4 mismatched swivel seats whose pedestals were 8" too tall.

the cable is a foot short, but I have to work with it for now because of the budget inset myself to get it out by ice-out.

And I contacted the person who originally bought it and I found out just how much is missing from original. It has side panels and stowage, a speedometer, kick panels, the works. So I want to add it back.

The hydraulic steering may not be a requirement for such a small motor, true, but it feels the best. And it's is the most maintenance free as it's an enclosed and self lubricating system. That's why I want it, I want the boat to look and feel new by the end of this. Along with a few upgrades that would bring it partly into the modern age.

as far as weight goes. 900 lbs is a lot. And the boat likely weighs over 100lbs less than original. Adding the accessories it lost and a few minor upgrades probably isn't going to hurt that limit.

thanks for the insight though.

They didn’t have rear jump seats in the boat and they don’t have side panels, or under the bow storage racks. The boat is rated for 4 persons at 150 lbs each or 900 lbs total. It is a very limited capacity boat

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

They didn’t have rear jump seats in the boat and they don’t have side panels, or under the bow storage racks. The boat is rated for 4 persons at 150 lbs each or 900 lbs total. It is a very limited capacity boat

A good number of the 70s StarCraft runabouts I've been seeing online have rear jump seats, and the original owner corroborated that as well as the interior paneling on the sides. I'm apt to believe him as well at the catalogue images. But it's neither here nor there. Eventually, I am going to add seating capacity to the rear. It doesn't mean I'll have 6 people on the boat, I dont even have that many people interested in hanging out on a boat. It just means there's more seating options. Not everyone wants to face backwards as you cruise around and being able to sit face to face is quite nice too.

Also, the weight capacity calculation is just a rule of thumb. Not a rule or a labeled capacity. And i can go over that weight capacity, not that I can or will, 900lbs is a lot. But if I do, I'll pull back once it feels unstable. It also doesn't specify aluminum hulls vs fiberglass hulls. Fiberglass hulls are heavier, oddly enough. So there's also a possibility that the weight cap is higher for mine. Without an occupancy tag, there's no actual legal limit or repercussion if I overload the hull anyway. Your concern is appreciated though.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

Hydraulic steering on a boat that size is overkill and expensive.

I mentioned already that I know. A 35 horse motor doesn't NEED it.

"But it's the best feeling steering solution. The and most maintenance free as it's a closed and self lubricating system."

For 400 bucks, it's not within the budget I set for myself to get it on the water by ice-out. But it is well within the range of acceptable expenses for upgrades over time. And overkill or not, it's only 100 bucks more than a zero feedback cable unit and has the advantage of a longer service period. So weighing the benefits, it's the choice I'm going for.

 

[matt167]

A good number of the 70s StarCraft runabouts I've been seeing online have rear jump seats, and the original owner corroborated that as well as the interior paneling on the sides. I'm apt to believe him as well at the catalogue images. But it's neither here nor there. Eventually, I am going to add seating capacity to the rear. It doesn't mean I'll have 6 people on the boat, I dont even have that many people interested in hanging out on a boat. It just means there's more seating options. Not everyone wants to face backwards as you cruise around and being able to sit face to face is quite nice too.

Also, the weight capacity calculation is just a rule of thumb. Not a rule or a labeled capacity. And i can go over that weight capacity, not that I can or will, 900lbs is a lot. But if I do, I'll pull back once it feels unstable. It also doesn't specify aluminum hulls vs fiberglass hulls. Fiberglass hulls are heavier, oddly enough. So there's also a possibility that the weight cap is higher for mine. Without an occupancy tag, there's no actual legal limit or repercussion if I overload the hull anyway. Your concern is appreciated though.

I can snap a picture of my capacity plate when I pull it out of storage if yours is missing. For safety reasons I’d suggest going by what I’ve stated as that is directly from StarCraft.. I can tell you that the boat is very sensitive to weight and weight differences with gear and people dramatically effect’s performance and how it sits in the water. Going anywhere near the listed max would not be a good time…. It’s a great boat to get out on the water but it is very limited in its capability at the Same time.

Fwiw, i think the shortest boat that StarCraft put jump seats in might have been a 16’ Jet. The holiday 14s slightly bigger brother.. the holiday 18 would have jump seats, side panels and bow storage cubbies… I’ve looked at factory holiday 14’s. That’s how I knew how to set mine up. I can not verify if any holiday 14s got side panels. Mine has no signs of them and the holiday 14s I’ve looked at all don’t have them. But I know that Jets did get them and they are just a longer version

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

I can snap a picture of my capacity plate when I pull it out of storage if yours is missing. For safety reasons I’d suggest going by what I’ve stated as that is directly from StarCraft.. I can tell you that the boat is very sensitive to weight and weight differences with gear and people dramatically effect’s performance and how it sits in the water. Going anywhere near the listed max would not be a good time…. It’s a great boat to get out on the water but it is very limited in its capability at the Same time.

Fwiw, i think the shortest boat that StarCraft put jump seats in might have been a 16’ Jet. The holiday 14s slightly bigger brother.. the holiday 18 would have jump seats, side panels and bow storage cubbies… I’ve looked at factory holiday 14’s. That’s how I knew how to set mine up. I can not verify if any holiday 14s got side panels. Mine has no signs of them and the holiday 14s I’ve looked at all don’t have them. But I know that Jets did get them and they are just a longer version

Good to hear from someone whose owned these.
Either way, I do want to add them in for additional seating options. Not to fit more people. I only have 3 friends who would even be willing to chill on the lake and it's not likely they're all gonna be on it at the same time. But so you can face forward while we're moving if you want. and the backside of the back to back seats face the jump seats which makes conversation and hanging out easier.

It's something I'm going to do for sure, if not anything else. But I'll keep a keen watch on the handling characteristics as I add on over the summer. If any sketchy behavior starts to be displayed, I'll throw a friend overboard to lose the extra poundage.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

Since the first post, I designed and fabricated a proper solid mount for the steering cable that is a foot short. I know transom mounts and splash mounts exist now since the first post. but they're way more expensive than 3$ of sheet metal and some self-tappers (don't worry they're for aluminum and won't corrode the metal)

I was planning on 3d printing a transom mount but the print kept failing from axis shifts due to the weight of the part.

Feel free to zoom in on the images if it's hard to see anything, they're pretty high resolution so they won't become to blurry if there's something you want to nitpick


Also, I received my seats (sand colored Wise lounge seats) which I loosely installed. Whoever it was in my first post said that they'd be too big folded out and I can't fit jump seats in the back, you're right. BUT I don't want them to fold out. And I will be adding in jump seats or a bench in the back anyway.

the seats are a tad tall so I sourced out a smaller and cooler looking steering wheel from my favorite pawn shop, Another Man's Treasure, which is always loaded with power sports and marine gear. I can always rely on them to give me a beat-to-hell piece of equipment for an almost-to-high price. The wheel was $11, and it shows. My plan for the seats sre to make my own standoff box for them and mount them permanently in the upright position about 2-3" from the floor. I'm not a huge fan of driving a boat hunched over like some sort of goblin.

In the brown box, there is a proper length 14 ft steering cable but I just don't know what linkage is the right one for my Johnson 35 horse outboard so I'll be riding with the diy one as is while I design and 3d print a prototype steering link.

But until then, the boat is ready-ish to hit the lakes by ice-out and well within the $1000 budget I set to get it running without getting carried away. Spent a total of $778 on everything.

Next on the list:

Remove the old, damaged floor. Clean and paint the bilge, add foam to the bilge. Cut a new floor and add artificial plank flooring to it.

Get new windshield cut. Already have someone willing.

Strip and repaint the boat. After removing the Stern light, I found out the original color of the boat was more of a bright, almost muscle car, orange. In contrast to the personally more appealing burnt Orange. I'm thinking either deep green or sunfaded for 50 years muscle car orange.

Lastly is to do the fun and unnecessary stuff like trim plates, paneling in the interior, fun boat horn, radio, storage, etc.

Slowly it goes though, get 6 hours a week to do what I want with it. So planning is my friend, the better part of may week days is planning my next steps ahead to make the most of the time I have.

 

[jbcurt00]

Retitle topic if you want to, but no need for a new Continuing topic, merged

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

Retitle topic if you want to, but no need for a new Continuing topic, merged

Thanks? Does it at least update to the top of the list? Or will people have to scroll? now it's just a comment in my dead thread? Why did you do this? Is it a rule somewhere? Could you link me the rule? Now instead of a new thread with higher traffic you put it in an old thread with none. I dont get it. I don't see any disadvantages to just keeping it as a new post. Nobody is going to sift through 50 comments to find the thread continuation that they don't even know about. And I can't change the title, there no text bubble for editing it when I go into edit mode.

 

[aspeck]

Thanks? Does it at least update to the top of the list? Or will people have to scroll? now it's just a comment in my dead thread? Why did you do this? Is it a rule somewhere? Could you link me the rule? Now instead of a new thread with higher traffic you put it in an old thread with none. I dont get it. I don't see any disadvantages to just keeping it as a new post. Nobody is going to sift through 50 comments to find the thread continuation that they don't even know about. And I can't change the title, there no text bubble for editing it when I go into edit mode.

It bumps to the top of the list and everyone who was following will get notified that there is a new post. Adding to keeps the story flowing and together. A bunch of segmented threads make it much harder for a person to follow the story as it happens. The Mod that merged your threads did you a favor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

3D printed parts wont survive the forces or the UV

 

[todhunter]

Thanks? Does it at least update to the top of the list? Or will people have to scroll? now it's just a comment in my dead thread? Why did you do this? Is it a rule somewhere? Could you link me the rule? Now instead of a new thread with higher traffic you put it in an old thread with none. I dont get it. I don't see any disadvantages to just keeping it as a new post. Nobody is going to sift through 50 comments to find the thread continuation that they don't even know about. And I can't change the title, there no text bubble for editing it when I go into edit mode.

See Rule #11

You can message a moderator and ask them to change the title.

Anny comment (like the one I'm making, or the one you would make) bump the thread back up to the top of the list.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

See Rule #11

You can message a moderator and ask them to change the title.

Anny comment (like the one I'm making, or the one you would make) bump the thread back up to the top of the list.

It doesn't say anything about having to be one thread, as long as I don't spread it across multiple categories it's just a suggestion in case I need immediate help. Which my first post was about, but not the most recent. So they're entirely different aside from chronology. Thanks for linking the rule though

 

[todhunter]

No problem. Either way you slice it, this forum is run by moderators, and it's their way or the highway. I was rubbed wrong early on by some of their policies (either explicitly stated or not), but you learn to live within what they expect. To me, having access to the knowledge on this forum was worth the conformance.

 

[buxmj]

Hey Dylan, I have the same Wise boat seats but it blue. I was able to cut about 2 inches off the base of each one. I used my table saw and cut the bottom grid off the side pieces and the top grid off the end pieces which are exactly the same size. It worked for mine and hope it is the same for yours, it really helped with how they sit in the boat. I still need to cut the "U" support, I know you aren't going to extend yours out so you don't need to worry about that. The pic below shows one cut base and the other with the factory base.

Buck.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

I have a few filaments that won't degrade in uv light for a long time. Painting them with uv resistant varnish would also work. I plan on making myself a few fishing rod mounts and an oar storage rack from PET or ABS specifically contoured to the hull to keep things neat in places I can't use self-tappers and sheet metal.

Hey Dylan, I have the same Wise boat seats but it blue. I was able to cut about 2 inches off the base of each one. I used my table saw and cut the bottom grid off the side pieces and the top grid off the end pieces which are exactly the same size. It worked for mine and hope it is the same for yours, it really helped with how they sit in the boat. I still need to cut the "U" support, I know you aren't going to extend yours out so you don't need to worry about that. The pic below shows one cut base and the other with the factory base.

Buck.

Thanks mate, yeah I was wondering about that extra support bracket hole. I expected as much but I'm glad someone has the same experience ahead of me. I might take 2-3 squares off the grid at most and print the u support mount. I'll probably go one level at a time and drive it around a bit in between to see if it's good. As it stands, my knees hit the wheel and shifting lever and my neck is level with the windshield, the latter of which I'm uncomfortable most uncomfortable with, heh.

Nice shade of blue on those seats by the way, looks way deeper than the pictures. Even this sand colored set I got seems a bit more saturated than the pics, it's a welcome surprise.

 

[Dylan Beaudry]

No problem. Either way you slice it, this forum is run by moderators, and it's their way or the highway. I was rubbed wrong early on by some of their policies (either explicitly stated or not), but you learn to live within what they expect. To me, having access to the knowledge on this forum was worth the conformance.

Yeah, I suppose it was so abrupt that it's kinda a bitter first experience with the higher powers of this site. I'll keep in mind that they're apt to over interpreting things and play it careful. Like you said, the access to this community is worth it. I know I'm going to be hitting some dead ends when I eventually start getting into the intricacies of my rebuild and having the ability to call on Joetheoutboarguy777 for details on specific niche Johnson parts will come in handy.

 

[redneck joe]

Not sure what thread was what that got merged but in my experience if a mod does something for you without you asking it for the best. Ive only been 'modded' once and it was because he didnt like my joke. Life rolls forward....



On the floor, do i understand you want to put down wood with fake wood planks over it? Moisture and added weight.