Help!!! Cross Bracing & Deck Attachment Questions

[Mflo]

Hi, All!!

I'm back for some more great advice from the knowledgeable Iboats community. I'm slowly restoring a 1969 16ft Starcraft. Recently I sealed and painted the inside of the hull (i'm not sure if I used that term correctly).

My next step is to attach aluminum cross braces to the ribs and center stringer. I've searched Iboats and other forums for how some people have done this and got a few general ideas. This link http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...-fisher-marine shows what I'd like to do. However, I likely won't brace every rib. I was think maybe every 4th rib (unless someone provides a good reason to brace each one). After, I plan to fill the bottom cavity with foam for buoyancy and stability. Kind of like the picture below but, hopefully, a bit more form fitting.

Here's the thing, I can't find any C-channel aluminum at Lowes like the one from the link. I saw some 1/8 inch thick flat aluminum at Lowes http://www.lowes.com/pd/Steelworks-8...at-Bar/3049415 but it's bendable and I'm worried it won't provide the sturdiness I'd like. Oh, and I plan to attach the braces to the ribs with sheet metal screws and attach it to the stringer by way of pop rivits. So here are my questions:

1. Can anyone provide suggestions on what material I should use for my braces and does my plan seem viable?
2. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can attach a carpeted deck to the cross braces?
3. Have I not considered something with my plan or do you have any advice before I proceed?

Thanks everyone!! Hope to hear some great advice soon.

-Michael

 

[gm280]

Mflo, not sure what you are asking. I did see the link project you provided and that looks great. But I also looked at your setup and I see it looks level already. So what are you wanting to know? :noidea:

 

[Mflo]

I'm sorry GM280. I had my links and pictures on my computer which is prone to freezing so I posted the pictures and used another computer to edit my post. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Mflo]

No Title

Here are some larger pictures of what I'm working with.

 

[gm280]

Here are some larger pictures of what I'm working with.

Well first of all, let me congratulate you on a very nice prep work on the hull that you've already done. It does look really nice.

Why don't you see if you can mimic the other project boat you alluded too? You could buy some channel aluminum and cut each one for the specific length and use a few pieces to support in each cross brace like the other boater did. That would be both the easies and most light weight but solid way to arrive at a nice solid and level support for the flooring you select. That is what I would do if it were my decision. You could install them with either stainless steel self taping screws or use aluminum pop rivets. JMHO!

 

[GA_Boater]

Looking at a boat that isn't made like your Starcraft is leading you astray. The Fisher had a concave aluminum deck, while your SC already has a flat deck.

The deck is attached to the stringer and ribs, providing all the bracing needed.

Look at some of the projects in the Starcraft section to see what I mean. There are hundreds of Starcraft examples - http://forums.iboats.com/forum/owne...ft-rebuilds-and-restorations-they-re-all-here

 

[Mflo]

Well first of all, let me congratulate you on a very nice prep work on the hull that you've already done. It does look really nice.

Why don't you see if you can mimic the other project boat you alluded too? You could buy some channel aluminum and cut each one for the specific length and use a few pieces to support in each cross brace like the other boater did. That would be both the easies and most light weight but solid way to arrive at a nice solid and level support for the flooring you select. That is what I would do if it were my decision. You could install them with either stainless steel self taping screws or use aluminum pop rivets. JMHO!

Thank you gm280, I spent quite a bit of time reading many similar threads and followed others examples. Albeit, I followed to the best of my ability and current skill level, which is definitely a novice at best. I think I'll likely have to add some cross braces because this boat has had some major alterations. As another Iboat member pointed out, the PO (or POs) removed the console, cut down the transom, and, possibly, removed the splashwell (Don't really know if there was a splashwell).

In a previous thread someone posted a picture of what it likely looked like. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...t-replacing-the-transome-1960s-17ft-starcraft. Here are some pictures of what the inside looked like when I started. The PO likely removed the original deck and replaced it with unsealed plywood. Maybe, since this boat is from the late 60's, the deck was replaced several times because the rib ends look like swiss cheese. The wood was completely warped and rotted and I could feel soft spots when I stepped on certain parts. That's partly why I want to add cross braces and fill the cavity with foam. I think I'm going to take a look at the list of previous Starcraft projects that GA_Boater posted so I can see what my options are. I'm not in a hurry and want to do this once (fingers crossed).

 

[Mflo]

Looking at a boat that isn't made like your Starcraft is leading you astray. The Fisher had a concave aluminum deck, while your SC already has a flat deck.

The deck is attached to the stringer and ribs, providing all the bracing needed.

Look at some of the projects in the Starcraft section to see what I mean. There are hundreds of Starcraft examples - http://forums.iboats.com/forum/owner...ey-re-all-here

Thank you GA_Boater for the comprehensive list. I wasn't aware this existed. I've been taking the shotgun approach by searching keywords and scanning the results. The list you posted even has a boat older than mine, lol (certainly a rarity).

In regards to attaching the new deck to the ribs and stringer, that's the method the PO's used (I posted pics above) and one I considered but I'm a big guy (300+ lbs) and I didn't like that I could feel the weak spots in the previous deck. Albeit, the wood was rotted. Also, since I removed the bench seats I was kinda concerned about stabalizing the hull. In a previous thread I posted, someone mentioned that I might want to do that. I'm only running a 15hp for now but hope to upgrade to a 25hp in the future. I'm not an engineer so I don't know if bracing is truly needed or if it's just over kill. As a side note, I plan to put carpet on the new deck and don't want to see or feel any screws through the carpet where I connect to the stringer. For the life of me, I can't figure out how some people attached the deck and then glued down the carpet. For me, a novice, that seems a bit beyond my current skill level. I've seen threads where people glued the carpet down outside the boat and then attached the deck after. That seems like something I could do. I don't mind screws on the sides of the deck but really don't want them in the middle.

Please let me know if you have some advice or if I'm missing something in my line of thinking. I haven't been led astray yet by the folks in this community and I really do covet your experience and advice.

 

[gm280]

Mflo, bear in mine that when you do add the flooring, it will do two things. First it will give you a solid floor, DUH, but secondly it will also make the sides a lot stiffer as well. I suggest you look and read a ton of the suggest sights by GA_Boater. He certainly knows his stuff and can offer great ideas as well. While a few decades ago I did refurbish an Aluminum "V" bottom Feather Craft boat with a solid level floor and swivel seats, I am now working on a fiberglass tri-hull setup and they are not the same in how things are done.

Are you going to install swivel type front and rear pedestal seats or going back with bench seats? If you are shooting for the bass boat type setup and foregoing the bench cross seats, then make sure you make the seat areas very strong to support the weight on the floor areas. So post what you have in mind and we can offer additional ideas. But do read a lot of those GA_Boater suggested as well. I find that even reading other boat projects that may or may now even have anything to do with my project, I get ideas for what I want to do all the time. JMHO!

 

[GA_Boater]

I used 5/8" or 3/4" for the deck in the SC in my sig. It is solid as a rock. The original rotted deck was 1/2".

In the snip below, I marked where a missing bench seat would be. The bench and any other bench, give needed structure, especially with no splashwell.

Any idea what model you have? At the top of the Starcraft section is a thread with brochures. You might see what she used to look like.