My 16 Foot Super Sport

[Otte]

Okay here it goes. I have been stalking this group for about a year. I lurked, learned and now purchased a Starcraft boat in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. This group and the support given was THEE factor in my looking for and buying this Starcraft Super Sport. I found the boat on Craigslist in August and purchased it for $1500.00. It has an Evinrude 50 outboard pushing it that runs very/pretty well. It has electric trim that works and four rod holders in the back on the splashwell. The roller trailer is solid with tires that roll but will need to be replaced before next summer. I had the boat out in August and September so it is sea worthy enough to float and move. Now for the bad. The floor needs to be replaced as does the transom. The seats are usable but not very pretty so those will be re-done too. Other than those fairly large but fixable issues it is a solid craft with a motor that runs.

Here is the kicker. While I love to learn and have learned much now it is my turn to give this a go. Like Huron Angler with his restoration project - Every time I take something off or apart I do so with some fear and trembling and the nagging thought "will I be able to put humpty back together again?".

I will try to upload some photos with this opening of the thread.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

I knew I felt someone watching me!

You can do it, we can help. Welcome oh fellow Michigander. This group was THEE reason I got a Starcraft also. Good people here and that is an understatement.

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Not sure why the pictures are not loading. I will try again.

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

A few more.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Welcome Otto!
The deck & transom has been done before by people less experienced than you trust me!
You will be fine, ask questions and you will NEVER have to wait more than an hour typically before somebdy from the Starmada chimes in to help you out.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Welcome to the tin crowd, Otte. That looks like a newer 'Rude on the back. These guys have got me convinced that I can do the deck and transom on my tinny. And I don't even think I need it - Yet. Your a little ahead of me. I ran mine a few times to see what she needed and I planning right now.

Are you just planning on transom/deck/seats or go the whole nine yards and a full resto? Ask away and bear in mind we have a strange sense of humor. Again welcome to the SC drydock.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Gee compared to the 16 ss i bought in Oregon that boat is a beauty. looks like most of it is there just in strange places LOL you will have fun and don't hesitate to seek advise .

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

That is a 1989 outboard. Runs well but just needs a tweak. It will sputter after about 45 min. of running it open then it is good to go again. When I figure out how to disconnect everything it will come off and I will deliver it to Van's Sports for the tune-up and the go over then just do a winterization while they are at it.

Full resto? Depends on the definition of full restoration. I plan to seal all rivets, replace the floor and transom, get new vinyl on the seats, scratch it and paint it inside and out. I do not plan on getting it show room perfect as it has to much personality to get it there and I don't have the money or time. If it looks good from 20 yards away I will be happy. This will be a working boat. Lot's of fishing, skiing and general carousing is in the boat's future.

Here is what I did tonight and as a bonus I found out why my seats would not stand in the upright position. I guess rotted wood is a flawed base for seats.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Welcome to the Starcraft Klan Otte!

Here is some great news for ya...

Lots of fellas have rebuilt the SuperSport so you have tons of help around here.

Congrats and welcome

 

[Starman8]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

wow, you were able to maintain the old floor for a template

welcome

many of us were left with 500,000 pieces of floor, basically disintegrated............lol

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Thanks Jas. I love your rebuilds. I have a question for the group.

I pulled much of the floor out yesterday and it is pretty flimsy/thin plywood. I am going to poly resin the bottom of the new floor with this type of paint topside

Questions
1. If I go from .5 inch to a thicker board am I asking for trouble with fitting all else back in to the boat?
2. Do any of you know of some discount Gluvit and Poly Resin retailers?
3. When I pull out the transom and put in a new one do I use 3M 5200 or something like Butyl gutter seal so that transom can be pulled by the next re-build sucker 40-50 years from now?
4. Same question as #3 but when I re-install the Evinrude do I seal the mounting bolts with 3M 5200 or will that make getting it off again a huge hassle?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Thanks Jas. I love your rebuilds. I have a question for the group.

Thanks man! Just trying to stay out of arms reach from the mob

I pulled much of the floor out yesterday and it is pretty flimsy/thin plywood. I am going to poly resin the bottom of the new floor with this type of paint topside

Questions
1. If I go from .5 inch to a thicker board am I asking for trouble with fitting all else back in to the boat?

I think some guys have had trouble while others have been able to pull it off no problem. Hopefully a couple of those fellas will chime in on this point. Going to a 5/8" or 3/4" is a good move though.

2. Do any of you know of some discount Gluvit and Poly Resin retailers?

I got my Gluvit from JMS and my EPOXY resin came from US Composites (have you thought through the whole poly v. epoxy thing)

3. When I pull out the transom and put in a new one do I use 3M 5200 or something like Butyl gutter seal so that transom can be pulled by the next re-build sucker 40-50 years from now?

Well, 5200 is great for fastener holes and such (I think that's what you are talking about there). You level of concern for the "next guy" is certainly an individual choice

4. Same question as #3 but when I re-install the Evinrude do I seal the mounting bolts with 3M 5200 or will that make getting it off again a huge hassle?

On my OB I installed the bolts with 5200, all sealed up. THEN slid the OB in place and used nylon lock nuts to secure the engine. I shouldn't have any trouble removing it if/when the time comes as the bolts will stay right where they are.

Have fun!

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

I thought I had thought through the Poly v. Epoxy but may I switched them in my brain at one point. Can you give me a primer on why Epoxy is better?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

I thought I had thought through the Poly v. Epoxy but may I switched them in my brain at one point. Can you give me a primer on why Epoxy is better?

Weeeelllllll, it's not necessarily better. It's just a little more streamlined process.

With poly resin you must use glass, which, if done correctly, IS better.

Now with epoxy resin, glass isn't necessary so it's just a little faster/easier.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Congrats on your purchase. You got a great hull which looks to have all it's parts, a nice condition original trailer and a great motor. Score!! Very lucky to have your deck boards in good enough shape for templates, especially that front one. I think you'd have little issue going from 1/2" to 3/4" on your deck. I put 3/4" decks in both the boats I did and I love the solidness. You'll have to rivet the consoles a little higher up on the gunwales (which may require you to replace the 1/2" pieces of aluminum angle on them with an 1" piece. You can kinda see here that mine are a little raised http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2629.jpg) but otherwise no big deal. Piece of advice on this......after your deck is in, get your console mounting and windshield alignment 100% squared away (this part: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2518.jpg) before cutting your new console panels (this part: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2533.jpg). I didn't and my windshield mounting turned into a real clusterf&%k. As Jason explained, poly resin is worthless by itself. It doesn't have near the adhesion of epoxy so if you use it without glass, it will crack and flake off in short order. In addition to U.S. Composites which Jason listed, Huron Angler and I got ours at Clark Craft http://www.clarkcraft.com/cgi-suppl...esin&*******=9dc4fdd1e5a2e3ba99a65448a569d333. I highly recommend the Arauco plywood from Lowe's. It's extremely nice. I used regular exterior grade from Home Depot for my deck and that stuff was junk. Tons of voids. I used Arauco for my transom and it was amazing how much better it was.

 

[Krichbourg]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Congratulations on your SS. Looking forward to more of your restore.
Welcome aboard.

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Okay - Epoxy it is. I could not remember what I used on my 12 footer as I pitched the can when empty - Now I remember that it was Epoxy and I did not use fiberglass cloth with it.

EZ- Thanks for the heads up on the consoles. I can put up with the slightly raised sides. I am at work so I am not totally following the aluminum angle idea... I think I am but not positive so I will have to look when I get home today. If it is that little piece that was left on after the console was taken off that keeps stabbing me in the leg when I walk by it... I know exactly what you are speaking about.

Console and Windshield Questions
1. So using the old console panels did not give a squared up console for the windshield?
2. Another windshield question. Those tabs that hold the windshield on the console... are they easy to find replacements? I have not broken one but three are painted on and I would like to clear the console to paint it easily.

I like the sound of Arauco from an ecological standpoint and it sounds like it is pretty tough stuff.

Transom Questions
1. Did you coat the transom with resin too or is the transom a tight fit that would not allow for an increase in thickness from resin?
2. Would (pun intended) it be an option to resin the exposed portion of the transom after it is installed and simply seal the edges with caulking?

Resin Question
1. How much epoxy should I buy if doing the entire underside of the deck and parts of the transom (if that is the way to go on the transom)?

Thanks again to all. This is fun and I am very glad that I factored this group in to my boat purchase.

 

[barato2]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Otte--

if eventual removability is a consideration, 3M also makes something similar to 5200 called 4200. nice boat and welcome to the insanity, BTW. one thing to always keep in mind on the floor/transom is that 1) the existing plan lasted for what, 35+ years?, even w/o epoxy/ so anything you do will likely last at least that long and 2)factory cut at least floors by hand and their job was not perfect...if i can do better than they did with my pathetic carpentry skills, so can you. just lay hands on a good quality circ saw (type with, at minimum, cast aluminum shoe instead of stamped steel), as making the bevel cut on floor outboard edges accurate would be tough with cheepo saw

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

Yes that is the piece of angle I'm talking about. My boat had been "refit" (badly!) at one point in the past so my console panels were junk. I don't know what you mean by tabs that hold the windshield on. Seal the entire transom with epoxy. It shouldn't effect the fit. On both the transom and the deck boards I did 2 coats each side hitting the edges with every coat. I sanded between coats which while optional did give me a super smooth finish. On the deck I did 2 coats on the bottoms, one coat on the tops and then installed it in the boat before applying the final coat to the tops. This sealed the fasteners. How much epoxy you buy really varies and I think it depends on your application method as well as the thirstiness of the wood and the formulation of the epoxy. I went through a TON! I applied it with cheap 3" chip brushes from harbor freight. I used 3 gallons on my deck and probably a half on the transom.

 

[Otte]

Re: My 16 Foot Super Sport

I'm stuck. This is due to ignorance. I want to take the outboard off but not sure how. Without the motor off there is not point in going forward at my stage. I have searched for a video on this but have come up empty. There has to be a step by step process but I am looking in the wrong places. I have the steering mechanism loosened and ready to go. I have disconnected the battery and gas tank from the engine. The oil resouvoir is ready to come off BUT...

What do I do with all the electrical crap? I am taking the motor in to get checked and serviced and I asked them what they needed and it sounded like they just want the motor without all the wiring. Or do I disconnect from the hand control and let them deal? Bleh - I am bad at this type of stuff.