New to the site and boating

jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
I bought a 79 Starcraft SS 18'6" boat this summer. First boat. It's a yellow one mixed with that "harvest gold" color that was so popular for a short while. The boat has seen a lot of use.

The motor runs very well, trim works good, but sags after a while out of the water, steering is almost effortless. All the electrical, tach and lights work. I took my GPS out and it goes 37.8 mph with two of us in the boat, downstream, with wind at our backs. Fast enough for our needs anyway. We've burned many tanks of gas already this August skiing, wakeboarding and just cruising around on our local reservoir lake. My family is having a blast! Just what I had hoped for.

The boat needs to have the floor replaced and I want to paint the hull and the trailer, and perhaps work on the upholstery. I read another thread started by joeyplumley and was very impressed with the work. You guys are good at this stuff! I hope to learn a thing or two. I'll save my specific questions for now. I'll try to post some pictures soon. This looks like a great site! I don't bring any expertise to the table. I'm just a novice, first-time boat owner.
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: New to the site and boating

Welcome to iboats! Lets see some pics of your boat. 37.8MPH is going really good for an 80 on that hull. Real good.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

ezmobee said:
Welcome to iboats! Lets see some pics of your boat. 37.8MPH is going really good for an 80 on that hull. Real good.
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Thanks for the welcome ez. I'll try to get a photo in here. Not sure how to get one to display in the text area.
 

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wvmedic

wvmedic

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Jun 3, 2008
Messages
502
Re: New to the site and boating

Welcome to the club. Good choice on the Starcraft.

Jeff.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

wvmedic said:
Welcome to the club. Good choice on the Starcraft.

Jeff.
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Thanks Jeff. My choice was total chance. The boat was the cheapest one I found that ran. I'm still gathering courage to fix the floor and paint the hull.
 
wvmedic

wvmedic

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 3, 2008
Messages
502
Re: New to the site and boating

Paint shouldn't be a big deal, and if you have any mechanical ability the floor won't be to bad.

Lots of info here to help and folks willing to help with info if you get stumped.

Search the resto threads, Cheapboatkev, Rickairmedic, ezmobee, northbeach and andy in ny. These guy's have been thru it and will share advice.

And even if you stumbled into a Starcraft by accident, it is still a Starcraft so all is well.

Jeff.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

wvmedic said:
Paint shouldn't be a big deal, and if you have any mechanical ability the floor won't be to bad.

Lots of info here to help and folks willing to help with info if you get stumped.

Search the resto threads, Cheapboatkev, Rickairmedic, ezmobee, northbeach and andy in ny. These guy's have been thru it and will share advice.

And even if you stumbled into a Starcraft by accident, it is still a Starcraft so all is well.

Jeff.
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Thanks for the encouragement. I've been reading Starcraft threads off and on all day. I'm actually looking forward to the project. I've done a bunch of home remodel projects, so I have some tools and some chops. No boats though. The weather is so perfect that I'm going to have to wait to start the project. I'm gonna burn some gas! Are brand boat owners as nuts about their brand as Starcraft owners? This is kind of contagious.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

You know, I've been referring to this boat as an 18' boat. I just measured it and it's a little 16'. The registration says it 18' 6". Does that measurement include the motor? The max motor size is listed as 85 hp. Let me try to post some more pics.
 

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wvmedic

wvmedic

Chief Petty Officer
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Jun 3, 2008
Messages
502
Re: New to the site and boating

I thought it looked like a 16', but I wasn't going to question you.:D

Sure is a clean looking boat, I don't blame you for not wanting to start on it until the weather gets to bad to run her.

Jeff.
 
coolbikeguy

coolbikeguy

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
491
Re: New to the site and boating

i thought too that it looked more like a 16 footer. dont be afraid of that floor. i have an 18 footer that im starting on ( ill get my resto thread started soon ). just take your time and mark everything you take off the boat and its location.these boats are really very simple and easy to work on. i have most of my interior out and about 70 % sanded. i used a random orbital sander and 220 paper. it took less than a 1/2 hour to do the port side. i sanded down to about where the water line will be and ill be stripping the rest since it has several coats of paint on it and its pretty rough. good luck and take lots of pics on your way... scott
 
ezmobee

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: New to the site and boating

HA! I also thought it didn't look like an 18'. Well that explains the speeds you're getting. That's right in line with what I'm getting in my 16' with an 85. Good luck with your restore. Tin boats are fun to work on.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

Another case of, "It's shorter than you think". Heh, heh. Ah that's a familiar story.
 
jt185

jt185

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
162
Re: New to the site and boating

I now have my eye set on a new boat. I really don't have the time or the space to do a restoration project. Sorry to disappoint.
 
CheapboatKev

CheapboatKev

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,813
Re: New to the site and boating

Your TRADING in the starcraft??? For a GLASS boat???

What is the dealer giving ya for it??

We shall never speak this name again..
He who must not be named...:mad:
 
Rickairmedic

Rickairmedic

Commander
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
2,576
Re: New to the site and boating

Berno before you trade her in make sure there are no members close to you that would be willing to match what the dealer is willing to give you in trade . I would keep her really looks like a simple resto and a whole lot cheaper than a new glass boat ( even if you paid someone else to do the work on her ).



Rick
 
R

redjet703

Cadet
Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Messages
23
Re: New to the site and boating

Good looking boat. It looks a lot like mine.
http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz63/redjet703/DSC02581.jpg[/IMG]
DSC02581.jpg

redjet#703
 
Bifflefan

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: New to the site and boating

I like the color... Id redo it in the same color if it was me just to be a little different and because they didnt make many that color.
 
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