My old Starcraft

[michwolf]

I bought a nice old 1935 steel Starcraft last Fall and posted a pic of it here after buying it.Its been nearly a year now and thought I'd post a pic of it after many hours,frustration,cuts,burns and abrasions from fixing her up.It had some loose rivets and a small weld was needed on the lower bow part,and the rivets were all sealed with lead.All I had to do was re-flow the ones that were obviously loose.The boards for the seats were amazingly still nice and tightly mounted.I sanded it down to the original galvanized steel and then put a coat of rustoleum silver paint for galvanized steel on it.Took it to the campground and it sat in the water for 6 days....ummm,while we were'nt having fun fishing on it!But the lower painted half actually looks better now than the upper painted part that was unexposed to water!I had my trusty 1989 15hp Gamefisher on the transom this time.I just was'nt gonna mount my 'old guys' on a untested boat this time around.I hope my PO-15 is'nt too heavy! My Evinrude Ranger will be too light...

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii297/lonewolf1957/my old boat/

 

[JB]

Re: My old Starcraft

A real beauty, michwolf. Nice work.

 

[barato]

Re: My old Starcraft

nice job! i think you may have the oldest boat on here.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: My old Starcraft

It?s a thing of beauty. She is built like a tank in more ways than most would think.
1935 makes your boat the oldest on this forum. The next closest would be the 1940 that looks the same as yours. Those stars on your caps mean quality. Count them up and you will find they add up to five. Two on the front, two on the back and a hidden one that only those in the know can find. That makes a 5 star boat that 75 years old.

GLG

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My old Starcraft

Um, 75 years old! Wow, that is super cool!

 

[Deadwood]

Re: My old Starcraft

Finally...something older than me on here.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: My old Starcraft

That is the oldest rig I've seen or heard of

My question is how many fish have been caught on that thing over the past 75 years

 

[Deadwood]

Re: My old Starcraft

That is the oldest rig I've seen or heard of

My question is how many fish have been caught on that thing over the past 75 years

Well if it was part of my fleet and fishing luck (I've got a very old 10', +or-, Crestliner rowboat too) I'd say "if I caught the one I'm after and 10 more, I'd have 11".

 

[bananaboater]

Re: My old Starcraft

A truly rare SC reworked with love and affection. Congratulations.

I wonder if the magnetic field around it helps with catching fish?

 

[michwolf]

Re: My old Starcraft

Thanks very much everybody for the great comments about old steel.Thats what I named it and put it in red letters on the transom.Sorry for my late reply,its been really busy at work(thank God) and the weekends are spent doing things I put off too long like house repairs ! Not nearly as enjoyable as boats and motors!
I have'nt had her out since August,but have a Friday off in 2 weeks and it'll be the last time out 'til Spring.She goes like a tank for sure in the water and at higher speeds,with waves and against the wind,will spray some water into the boat because it doesn't have the 'ridge' along the sides that push/block the water down and outwards.But it sure feels good on a hot day and is a minor annoyance if at all.I could'nt believe the stability of this thing when anchored and standing up in it.Due to its weight I suppose,you hardly get any side to side rocking motion like a lighter boat,unless its forced.Did'nt have any leaks that I could tell,just spray when going fast and it dried up quickly.We caught some really nice fat bluegills and perch on this boat,we had to fish in 50-75 feet of water though with slip bobbers and redworms.Ended up with about 60 boneless 5"-6" fillets!The 'magnetic qualities' of old steel surely came into play....
This boat was used up in northern Michigan during the summer and stored all winter before I bought it.I don't think it was used much and the guy I bought it from on craigslist said he bought it at a barn sale up there.I got it for a $100 and its found a permanent home now.
Thanks for the Starcraft emblem picture, GLG Fishing!4 Stars + 1 indeed!
I have a really nice 1948 Johnson PO-15 22hp that I want to mount on this boat ,JUST FOR FUN,and see what she'll do.This motor weighs 120 pounds and I'm not sure if it will handle this much weight.I weigh 180 pounds so thats 300 pounds.The transom may be only inches from the waterline,but once under power and the tilt set correctly,I think old steel can handle it.I'll just have to be really careful with a modern dead stop switch attached and a quality life jacket!
Heres a video I made of this boat with a 1989 15hp Gamefisher mounted at the campground on Nichols Lake in Michigan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZuoVwh0Udk