Puget Sound 16 S/S

[Pugetsound]

Here I go. Do I have to remove the cocpit frames, and the side floor Aluminum angle strip to remove the floor. Have you ever had a aluminum boat sand blasted clean. My FIND has about 4 coats of nasty paint and I am lookikg for the easy way out. Every thing else has been removed as well as all gunnel hardware. The motor runs like a smoth clock 78- 50 hp Evenrude just rebuilt then sat for 8 years , started right up. The steering is frozen in the tilt tube but the cable is 2-3 feet longer than needed. So I may just cut it all loose and replace it. Tilt tube and all. Wish me luck I will need it but in no hury to finish.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Puget, I think a couple people have blasted their boats clean with walnut shells or soda blasting. You would have to check around your area for pricing, some guys said cheap, others were expensive. If you are in no hurry, why not spray the heck out of the steering system with penetrating oil and work it every now and then. Who knows, may break loose. Oh, and by the way, Good Luck.
Dale

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Pugetsound,

Some folks have had success with sandblasting but it is tricky, if too forceful it can warp or bend the aluminum. Soda blasting seems to be the preferred medium.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Do I have to remove the cocpit frames, and the side floor Aluminum angle strip to remove the floor

Are you talking about the vertical pieces of aluminum near the splashwell?

If you are I just removed the bottom rivets and left the pieces hanging until I put the deck and side panels back in.

Glad to see you got a thread going, will look forward to seeing your progress and some pictures

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

I mean the horizontal pieces the length of the floor. They are like 90 degree angle of fairly heavey material. screwd to the floor ,and I asume the side trim once the side panels are removed.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Gotcha, since my SS had been previously redone I'm lacking any sort of trim pieces there.

I will be using aluminum angle on those edges to keep my vinyl from peeling.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

The lack of pictures in this thread is disturbing

Yes, you should remove the consoles and side panel trim to pull the floor out.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Alright I have lots of photos just never figured how to post. N B and Rick posted some I sent to them . NowI need to figure this out myself. This boat was a mess but I had comitted to buy it and drove 800 miles round trip to get it . Whole interior was toast and outside paint was worse yet. However I can see what a little work and a few dollars should produce. Thanks for the help. Ed

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Set up an account on photobucket.com and link to your pics from there. There are 3 How-To threads in the non-boating technical topcs section.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Sandblasting is tricky on a car. You can warp sheet metal pretty easy. I wouldn't try it on aluminum myself.

They sell soda blasters at Harbor Freight, I'm dying to try one out. I think that would work pretty good. Low impact and not a lot of heat generated. Sounds like it was made for Aluminum.

 

[plane]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Hey, this is my first post! Just got a '74 16 S/S with a '77 Merc 70. I downsized from a Blue Fin Sportsman 1900 w/85 Force. Hope the S/S will still pull my daughter on skiis. From what I can tell, it's about 365# lighter, so hopefully the performance should be about the same.

Boat has a few issues, but is fundamentally sound. Transom seem to be good, and hull has no significant dings. I may have to replace the floor...though I think that's been done once already. The aluminum strips one either side are still there on mine. One question I have is whether there are aluminum "floor joists" under there...and if so, do they run side to side or lengthwise? Of course, once I lift the carpet, I gues I'll find out...just brought it home today.

Previous owners had removed the original "dashboards", to install a radio on port side and to cover non-functional instrument holes at the helm. The speedo is still around, just not installed, but I'm thinking of leaving it off. GPS is a lot more accurate, and I think I can seal up the hole for the speed pickup easily enough. Also tried to make a bass boat out of it, by making a plywood cover over the open bow and replacing the sliding doors into the fuel/battery storage area with a top-hinged door that swings up to make a flat platform level with the cockpit top. Fortunately they did all this without screwing up the interior too much, and all that's going. The brackets for the original sliders seem to still be there.

The zamak fittings on the bow rail are pretty crappy, so I think I may make the whole rail go away. If I replaced them with stainless I'd significantly increase my investment in this boat. Likewise the several dozen rusty snaps for a cover along the top of the gunwhales.

One last question...the pointed end for one of the rub strips low on the sides is missing. Any ideas on where to find a replacement?

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Sandblasting is tricky on a car. You can warp sheet metal pretty easy. I wouldn't try it on aluminum myself.

They sell soda blasters at Harbor Freight, I'm dying to try one out. I think that would work pretty good. Low impact and not a lot of heat generated. Sounds like it was made for Aluminum.

B D by the time you buy cleaner take your labor and have a lot of Toxic stuff left all over things. The ownership of a Soda Blaster sounds reasonable. I looked at a few today on the net and they are no more than a contract to have someone do your boat. and most here anyway have a minimum fee for 2 hours . One price was 600 bucks .three times the price of a home bought soda blaster.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Hey, this is my first post!

Welcome to iboats plane. Your best bet is to start a new thread here in the Starcraft section with your questions.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Thought about what wood to make up first ,then decided what the H--- so I am removeing ALL the wood incl the transom. It looks ok but the condition of the rest makes me beiieve I need to replace the transom. Takeing the motor off will make it easier to free the tilt tube. I will cut the cable on both ends as its 2-3 foot to long anyway. Have photos ready to post just need to do it. Moved the big boat out from the portable cover and put the 16 inside where its dry, now I can work any time I have time. The 22 holiday has a mooring cover and a travel cover its ready to go fish when again I have time. I could really spend all my time working on the boats as It is a joy to fix them up.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

The joy has long gone from my project....I just want it to be done.

I thought my transom was good as well but when I pulled it out I found rot had started and would certainly have continued.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

You know whoever said -time goes by fast when you are haveing fun. Guy must have had easy things to do. I guess we will feel good knowing what is done is done right,and in most cases better than factory.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

I now have the floor open in the center of the boat. Mice had a ball with the insulation. Question??? The floor has rigid foam I do not think it is origional, Did Starcraft use rigid foam in 1975?? The floor is 3/8 or 1/2 never treated but white paint on it. I just bet you for runners get a big laugh out of us first timers trying to get all thr rivets out and even finding them. I think the tear out is going to be the big useage of my time. I have Photos and will try to catch up and post them tonight ( I may need help as I have the Ist boat on photobucket and do not remember how we did it. No worry I will sort it out. I need to do this . Side panels came off in pieces also but those look easy to rebuild. As old as I am I may just use good grade of plywood, seal it and install it The foam looks good mostly and the boat drained water as well. However new foam, as its a cost less item, I hate to use the word cheap. lol Thank you for your help so far and once I get the interior back in order I will be a happy camper. Got to get the 22 out after Salmon soon. so will lose a few days now and then.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

A 22 for salmon? lol
Heck, I'd shoot em with my pellet gun..cheaper!
lol..

From what I hear (not see..ahem) your moving along..

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

AS Furguson says I KNOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Im just not smarter than a fifth grader anymore. But I still drive LOL photos are comeing just took some more the complete project will be there someday. The 22 is my Holiday boat ya know. It has been a Dandy.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Puget Sound 16 S/S

Did Starcraft use rigid foam in 1975??

Yep. My '76 http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2225.jpg