My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I live on the south side and go to that Hardware Store almost everyother day, even without the boat restoration. Friendly and helpful staff for sure and good prices on stainless steel. I got the first coat of blue on the deck and boaw area. It looks like three quarts of paint will be just enough for two coats on everything. Second coat will go on tomorrow and finish covering other console/bow panel.

I look alot on Craigslist. There just arent alot of used boat parts listed in Mohave County. I live in Minneapolis during the summer and their Craigslist has oodles of used boat parts. I have an eye on a new trolling bow mount on sale through Kmarts website - a Minn Kota Edge, 45 pd thrust, 50 inch for $351, free shipping.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I got the painting done today and it turned out pretty good I think. I pulled the tape off this afternoon and of course there are a couple of spots that I will need to touch up. I ordered four white Wise seats today. Two will be pedestals and two will be installed next to the doghouse. Tomorrow will be a day of rest. Now if I can figure out how to get the blue paint out of my cuticles everything will be fine.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Oops. Here is the other photo.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I have to agree, the paint looks pretty darn good. Seems paint is always a real inspiration to keep moving on with a project in anticipation of the finish.

 

[InMotion]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Looking great man! Nice work there.... great color choice for where you live... it should keep decently cool in the sun!

Jim

 

[fishrdan]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I have an eye on a new trolling bow mount on sale through Kmarts website - a Minn Kota Edge, 45 pd thrust, 50 inch for $351, free shipping.

I bet a 40-50# TM won't be enough for your 18'er. It would move the boat, but any wind or current could over come the TM. I have a 70# MG TM on my 18' Crestliner and it works well, until the wind kicks up, then I wished I had more power.

Also, that Edge TM is ol' speed coil technology and will run down battery(s) much faster than a "digital" TM,,, at slower speeds. I troll a LOT with my 14' jon boat and with the old speed coil TM's I would burn through 2 batteries in 8-10 hours of fishing, with a digital TM and a single battery I still have power left after 8-10 hours of trolling.

If you're just going to use the 45# edge TM for positioning the boat, in fair conditions, it would probably work,,, but I have a felling you'll want more power after using the TM for awhile.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Thanks fishrdan. We would only be using the motor to get back to the boat launch if the i/o conks out and we would only be going out on calm days. I am too old to paddle far and the lake isn't very crowded in the winter here so flagging someone down for a tow could be problematic. I am thinking a foot control is something I could live without as well. A Motor Guide 50" shaft with 45 PT is only $280 (alot less than one tow I think).

Gregg

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I got quite a bit accomplished over the last couple of days. I cleaned all electrical connections, install new switchs for bilge pump, nav lights and blower. I also installed a new blower and hoses. I found one wire that was really falling apart. It is two wires for the tilt that goes into a hole at the top of the out drive. I assume this is for the trim limit?

I eliminated the two forward cowl vents and will only have two at the stern - one for the blower facing aft and one for fresh ait facing forward. I picked up a couple of SS flush cowls to temporarily cover the two forward holes - see pic. After I mounted the rear cowls the admiral came out and told me they were too pitted to go back on the boat so I ordered two new ones. I installed some more of the jewelry as well.

This afternoon I installed the carpeting - see pics.

I am awaiting delivery of news seats, a VHF antenna, bimini top and boat cover. I also ordered some new cleats to replace the pitted ones. From Veada I ordered three aliminum hidden hinges for the openings I am going to put in each of the bow boards.

Putting things back together is certainly more fum than taking them apart.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I found one wire that was really falling apart. It is two wires for the tilt that goes into a hole at the top of the out drive. I assume this is for the trim limit?

Yup, those crusty wires are for the trim limit switch. That switch is NLA (no longer available) so it's best just to bypass it,,, once it stops working. My ol' 72 Mercruiser (with crusty trim limit switch wires) had a previous repair to bypass the bad trim limit switch, a Scotch-lock clamped over the 2 trim limit wires. The downside to doing that is, you could trim the drive up too far when the engine is running. IE: raising the drive past the trim limit and going up to the "trailer" position, bad on the Ujoints...

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

Those wires were bare in some places. Could they have shorted something out? I guess i will scotch lock them too. I spliced in new wires as far as I could reach, but they are probably just as crusted where I can't reach.

I am going to let the carpet adhesive cure today. I think I will install the windows on the consoles - out of the boat. I assume the circular channel on the bottom of both windows was for fitting the bow cover. Since there is no bow cover, and I am not going to have one, I can leave these two pieces off the reinstall?

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

There is a wire from the block on the starboard side that looks like it is a ground to the gas tank. Is that probable? The deck filler didn't appear to be grounded, nor is there any nipple to attach a ground. Should it be?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

The filler should have a ground wire for static electricity. Usually the wire runs from the deck filler to one of the tank sender mounting screws or a dedicated ground lug on the tank. Also need a ground wire to the battery or engine to the tank. Sounds like you have a tank to engine block ground.

If the filler doesn't have a lug, use one of the mounting screws with a nut/ bolt combo.

 

[Grandad]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I think I will install the windows on the consoles - out of the boat.

Hi Gammtka. Mounting the windshield to the consoles while off the boat will risk having poor alignment, particularly for the centre folding window. Unless there's a need for installing in this order, I'd hold off until the consoles are rigidly in place. Ya, I also bypassed the trim limit switch on mine, once I figured out its limited purpose. Just make sure your trim gauge is in working order and use it sensibly. - Grandad

 

[barato2]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

ya learns something every day. i hadn't even thought about need to ground fuel filler, and none of my boats have been from the factory. but easy as it is and given the consequences of a stray spark, it's a no brainer.

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I will clip those override wires. And thanks for the advice on the filler ground. Will do. My windshield came without the center piece so I installed both side in the garage. Hopefully they will line up ok.

 

[Grandad]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

ya learns something every day. i hadn't even thought about need to ground fuel filler, and none of my boats have been from the factory. but easy as it is and given the consequences of a stray spark, it's a no brainer.

Well I was biting my tongue before on bonding the filler pipe, but if it's open for discussion, I'd like to add this to calm a pet peeve. This is a conductive aluminum boat with a metal filler secured, I expect, with non-corroding stainless steel nuts and bolts. perhaps even star lockwashers. The hull is connected to the negative via your engine, so you can bond the fitting, but I'll bet there's really no need on an aluminum boat.

To take this a step further, there are some who go to great lengths in a feeble attempt to keep the hull isolated from the negative, so I suppose that's a good time for bonding the fitting. But then, remember that what we're trying to avoid is a spark between parts, even between the fitting and the hull. The safest way is to have everything conductive bonded together and at the same ground potential as the nozzle on the approaching fuel hose. OK, rant over. - Grandad

 

[barato2]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

i wondered if this might be why they didn't come that way from the factory. so are you suggesting that you think it's a bad idea to ground the filler , or simply unnecessary?

 

[Gammtka]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

I will ground it anyway. While monkeying around in the boat, see pic of consoles and panels dry installed, I was searching for the pink sending wire in the stern for the fuel gauge (moeller 18 gal tank). Couldnt find it. When to gauge cluster and there was no fuel gauge. I found a guy from ebay with a box of new old stock fuel gauges from 1972, the year of my boat, so I am going to go for it.

The picture below shoes the shift control mounted high on the gunwale. That can't be stock. I am thinking I will mount a board, covered in vinyl attached to extend down a few inches to attach the controls. I will make it big enough to mount the fuel gauge and a 12 volt outley as well.

There are two braces near the stern that I took off when I removed the side panels. I dont recall-do they go in prior to the lanels or after?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

You might have to post a pic of the braces.

 

[barato2]

Re: My '72 Starcraft 18' SS 140 Mercruiser Project

not sure about SS's, but on my holiday, the controls were mounted on the side panel

[/URL][/IMG]


are the braces you're talking about the side supports for the sliders?