restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

[jasoutside]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Photos are easier than fallin otta bed in the morning, no prob man, you can do it!

Yup, that's exactly what I'm suggesting. You can actually go as big as you want but the bigger the tank the longer/thinner it will have to be.

With the 29 in my deck had to be raised just a smidge, maybe like an 1/8" - 1/4". It just barely fit in there. With the 33 I actually had to cut into my cabin cushion structure to accommodate. And, that cabin deck had to be raised up roughly 8" or so from factory (Which is typically a step down to make head room - I didn't care about the lost head room, not like I'm going to be walking around in there).

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Photos are easier than fallin otta bed in the morning, no prob man, you can do it!

Indeed.... Just a quick heads up that your thread will automatically self-destruct at 25 posts if there are no pics...

You seem like a nice guy, so I would hate to see that happen... Just sayin...

 

[bikesnboats]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Okay. Easy like "fallin otta bed". Do you live in the upper peninsula, Ollie? Dem "Yoopers" is everywhere!

 

[bikesnboats]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

I almost ran out of tequilla in the hours it took to figure this out, jasoutside. Thanks for the encouragement!
bikesnboats

 

[jasoutside]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Ha! There she's is, well done man!

All right, your ability to post photos and the content that I'm seeing proves three things:

#1 You in fact have in your possession a nice ol Starcraft, welcome to the brohood.

#2 Islander owners are easily the sharpest crayons in the box.

#3 Islander owners are no doubt the most handsome, most GQ, of all the metal boat men.


Nice!


(or was it the dumbest and most homely, I can't remember now)

 

[Grandad]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Hiya Bikes, Pictures really do say a thousand words. I see you have an orange bottle of hand cleaner ready for deployment. I found that to be the perfect grease, goo and grime cutter for the bilge. My "agent orange" was Go-Jo with pumice stone added. If you smarm a healthy coating on that black scum and leave it at least 10 minutes, you'll find she'll polish up just fine. I started with a long handled dishwashing brush (to avoid dishpan hands), then followed up with a green Scotchbrite pad. Only a few places needed a re-application. - Grandad

 

[Bondo]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Thanks Guys! My rough estimation tells me that your 29 or 33 would fill the bill, Jasoutside. My boat differs from yours in that it has post helms and not the box/seats you've so0 beautifully crafted. Oh yeah, there shouldn't be conflict with my battery location:lol: Yes, I'm one of the thousands of faithful followers of your deightful saga! 20 years ago when I last used the boat it seemed as if it could use more weight forward, so I'm guessing fuel tank placement would be somewhere between the helm and a foot or so ahead of the engine. I really am kind of curious about fuel consumption of that 165, even though I could go 'round the world on the standard 36 gallons the boat came with using the (SLOW!!!!) kicker. As for the taking the boat apart, that's about all I've accomplished, jigngrub, other than artfully applyiing JB Weld on the transom corrosion pockets.Muchas Gracias, Mi Amigos!!
bikesnboats

Ayuh,.... Due to the tiny space, below deck,...

Now is the perfect time to ditch the pedistal seats, 'n build boxes to house the fuel tanks...

My Islander has the under seat boxes, 'n 18 gallon fuel tanks...

Buildin' yer own boxes, you could easily put even bigger tanks in to increase yer usable fuel...

It'll also give ya reasonably good balance...

 

[bikesnboats]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Thanks Grandad and Bond-O!!! Pretty good eyes, Grandpa. That grunge in the bilge defied my best efforts with a vinegar, Go-Jo, Super Clean paste. I should'a let it soak. If 10 minutes is good, overnight ought'a be fantastic! A great solution that permits me to avoid mechanical removal that might injure the hull. I'm not too concerned with the appearance of the bilges but I'd sure like to have good adhesion and penetration for the gallon of Gluv-It I intend to use.

Great idea, Bond-O, about the box seats. Those pedestals never felt very secure or stable on those 1/2 inch plywood decks, anyway. I like the idea that it puts the additional fuel above deck where ventilatiion is more assured, and a lot more convenient to keep an eye on fittings and hoses. With 18 gallon tanks under the seats at the transom on either side of the engine box, and 18 gallons under each box, that should give me about 200 miles of range at the most conservative fuel consumption figure I've seen for the Mercruiser 165 I6 which was 7 gph at 3200 rpm. It appears from pictures that the seat boxes offer a good deal more space in them than is required for 18 gallon tanks. What about making them just large enough to accomodate the tanks with single (swivel ?) chairs atop them, permitting more fishing space? We don't use live fish wells in these parts and the rearward facing seats were usually a couple of good sized coolers. Four adults aboard is about as many as I anticipate taking offshore. Can you conveniently stand at the helm with the box seats? Thanks again, fellers, for your help and advice. :joyous: bikesnboats

 

[Bondo]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Thanks Grandad and Bond-O!!! Pretty good eyes, Grandpa. That grunge in the bilge defied my best efforts with a vinegar, Go-Jo, Super Clean paste. I should'a let it soak. If 10 minutes is good, overnight ought'a be fantastic! A great solution that permits me to avoid mechanical removal that might injure the hull. I'm not too concerned with the appearance of the bilges but I'd sure like to have good adhesion and penetration for the gallon of Gluv-It I intend to use.

Great idea, Bond-O, about the box seats. Those pedestals never felt very secure or stable on those 1/2 inch plywood decks, anyway. I like the idea that it puts the additional fuel above deck where ventilatiion is more assured, and a lot more convenient to keep an eye on fittings and hoses. With 18 gallon tanks under the seats at the transom on either side of the engine box, and 18 gallons under each box, that should give me about 200 miles of range at the most conservative fuel consumption figure I've seen for the Mercruiser 165 I6 which was 7 gph at 3200 rpm. It appears from pictures that the seat boxes offer a good deal more space in them than is required for 18 gallon tanks. What about making them just large enough to accomodate the tanks with single (swivel ?) chairs atop them, permitting more fishing space? We don't use live fish wells in these parts and the rearward facing seats were usually a couple of good sized coolers. Four adults aboard is about as many as I anticipate taking offshore. Can you conveniently stand at the helm with the box seats? Thanks again, fellers, for your help and advice. :joyous: bikesnboats

Ayuh,.... I always had plans to build tackle storage over the fuel tanks, 'n under the seats,...
Just never got 'round to it, 'n now have other hulls to waste my time on...

I too, use a pair of Huge coolers, with seat pads for passengers,... 1 as a fishbox, 'n 1 as the beer cooler...
They live right at the back of the fuel tank boxes, 'n leave plenty of room for movin' about...

Matter of fact, I ditched the aft seats, so's I can belly up to the transom for riggin', 'n Catchin'...
I also re-did the motorbox to hug the motor tighter, givin' me more space, where it's needed the most...

 

[bikesnboats]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

Aha! Those dadgum seats at the transom were always in the way for working fish at the transom, Bond-O, as you suggest. Ok, those transom seats get eliminated and all the fuel goes under standard sized boxes, port and starboard. I'd be grateful if you could tell me the dimensions of said Starcraft installed boxes? No hurry, of course, as I'm nowhere near ready to build 'em. Just wonderin' how big are the gas tanks that I could squeeze in there? Padded coolers Happy bottoms I suppose would make for happy crew, I suppose.

 

[bikesnboats]

Re: restoring 1970 Starcraft Islander

The 1970 Islander is still on the ways, transom and all the interior is out. I'm going crazy with JB Weld as I clean and seal corrosion at the transom. A gallon of Gluvit and several cans of white Rustoleum are in front of me awaiting their turn as the weather warms here. Updates as progress is made. The wealth of info on Islanders on the form are making this restoration fun. Thanks all!
BikesnBoats