Shoestring Starcraft SS160 Resto-mod - let the long slow road begin

[ShoestringMariner]

I think I have about 25 each in both 3/16 and 5/32 and never really felt I needed more. Granted, I haven’t needed to do any major repairs, but i think about 20-25 each makes for a adequate supply. They are well worth the investment in my opinion, especially when working alone. I’d put the air riveter, clecos, and my ratcheting wire crimps as my top three best tool investments for working on these boats.

Great, thank you.
Is it possible to do solid riveting without a helper? I often work solitary and late into the evenings.
I can’t think of a way to rig up a jig to hold a bucking bar on the inside. My arms just aren’t long enough to reach around. I can’t see it but it would be great.

 

[classiccat]

Great, thank you.
Is it possible to do solid riveting without a helper? I often work solitary and late into the evenings.
I can’t think of a way to rig up a jig to hold a bucking bar on the inside. My arms just aren’t long enough to reach around. I can’t see it but it would be great.

Only if you can reach both sides. The bucking bar requires a special touch/feel since it needs to bounce while the gun needs to be held firm to the rivet head.

 

[Watermann]

I just realized this is a SS16, for some reason I thought it was a SS18 which is why I had comments for adding the support. I didn't add any extra side supports. Think that is mostly for the V5s and such. Would need @Watermann to confirm on his recommendation.

SHSU

The V5 models are 18 - 22' all have the spray rail chine braces under the rib ends. I have seen a 16'r with a cracked spray rail, believe it was a late 60's model. If it were my boat and I had any doubt then I would add the braces but that being said very few 16'rs have had any issues unless rode hard while rotten.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

The V5 models are 18 - 22' all have the spray rail chine braces under the rib ends. I have seen a 16'r with a cracked spray rail, believe it was a late 60's model. If it were my boat and I had any doubt then I would add the braces but that being said very few 16'rs have had any issues unless rode hard while rotten.

Oh, did SC add them to the 16’s or only 18’s?
My rivets are at customs....I just bought clecos. Pliers and a rivet removal tool.

if they never did, I can skip it and get on to other things. I have too many projects...

 

[Watermann]

Oh, did SC add them to the 16’s or only 18’s?

Not that I can tell, here is a 1979 16' SS



and here is a 1979 18' SS

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Not that I can tell, here is a 1979 16' SS

View attachment 337305

and here is a 1979 18' SS

View attachment 337306

Bah! I wish I knew that before. That’s what I get for skimming through everything at breakneck speed.
Ok, so I have clecos and rivets for life...I’m just going straight to plywood and hardboard.
I should be glad, you saved me some work!
Thanks for digging up the pics

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Hey guys any of you have a
rod locker the centre floor of your 16 foot super sport?
My boat is gutted to the gills. To save me a trip to storage to pull out my sleeper seats etc.,im hoping I could get a rough width between the seats. I don’t want it to be too crowded but I also want the rod locker to be useable for more than three rods sort of thing. Maybe five or six.
Wondering if I can get away with a 12 or 14 inch wide door.

if anybody has a rod/ski locker or has built one, some ideas and what not to do‘s would be greatly welcome

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I understand exactly what you mean by your description of the hidden hardware, no sketch necessary. It sounds like a great idea if you can find or make the Z brackets - I was looking for something similar to use for fuel tank hold downs but didn't have any luck.

I’ve decided to use Neoprene well nuts which expand instead of making stainless clips etc

 

[SHSU]

Hey guys any of you have a
rod locker the centre floor of your 16 foot super sport?
My boat is gutted to the gills. To save me a trip to storage to pull out my sleeper seats etc.,im hoping I could get a rough width between the seats. I don’t want it to be too crowded but I also want the rod locker to be useable for more than three rods sort of thing. Maybe five or six.
Wondering if I can get away with a 12 or 14 inch wide door.

if anybody has a rod/ski locker or has built one, some ideas and what not to do‘s would be greatly welcome

Mine came with a ski locker in the center. I took it out and opted for a under floor fuel tank. The stringers are what you have to work between. According to my fuel tank planes, I accounted for 17.55 inches in width to sit between the stringers.

SHSU

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Mine came with a ski locker in the center. I took it out and opted for a under floor fuel tank. The stringers are what you have to work between. According to my fuel tank planes, I accounted for 17.55 inches in width to sit between the stringers.

SHSU

Thanks, agreed. Do you recall the width of your locker?
I’m not sure if there’s enough depth for a pair with reels attached except for maybe in the centre of the V (planning a V shape pan inside to shadow the hull shape)
Towards the outsides the pan can only be 3-3.5” or so. Ok for spare rods without reels maybe.

I’m wondering if the efforts and expense are worth doing.

 

[Moserkr]

Would have loved to have a ski locker in mine, but seemed like a lot of work to make it look nice and original. As far as measurements go, it seems like it depends which shift was working that day/year. In my ‘79, the stern is 18.5” wide between the center stringers, and in the bow its 18”. They are also offset by a 1/2” lol. If you build it measure yours first - looks like @SHSU and I have a full inch difference between our measurements. Would be nice to store rods though - i cut holes in my SW prior to finding this site or thinking about the future build. Will be storing mine above deck in rod holders which is not as ideal when the boats full of people for fun after fishing.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Would have loved to have a ski locker in mine, but seemed like a lot of work to make it look nice and original. As far as measurements go, it seems like it depends which shift was working that day/year. In my ‘79, the stern is 18.5” wide between the center stringers, and in the bow its 18”. They are also offset by a 1/2” lol. If you build it measure yours first - looks like @SHSU and I have a full inch difference between our measurements. Would be nice to store rods though - i cut holes in my SW prior to finding this site or thinking about the future build. Will be storing mine above deck in rod holders which is not as ideal when the boats full of people for fun after fishing.

Thanks. I’ll check for parallel. Mine have to be re-riveted they’re sloppy and wobbly.
I might add stringer extensions forward also. Doesn’t seem to be enough support from the stringer ends to the front of the bow.

I think I’m going to keep my compartment as forward as possible so there’s more V depth for reels. I will have to pull rods apart to double them, then store them that way. Shorter pvc tubes and shorter “box”. Maybe keep the total assembly down to 5 1/2 feet long. I’m still trying to keep a good amount of flotation foam under the floor at the back. It’s going to be a fairly shallow locker though I think like the picture attached. But more of a V bottom
I am going to do a long, curved PVC tube or two on the passenger side. So I can put full length rods away in the side cubby.

I really don’t want rods laying on the floor or piled in the bow. Or sticking up all over the place. And the net stuffed beside the seat drives me crazy too. I haven’t figured out a solution for the net yet.

I will probably make a filler board for covering up the splashwell. I’ll put little returns on three sides. I could lay the net there. I did a mock up and quite like the idea. Might even have a cushion made to fit that space and keep the net under it.
My wife likes sitting up front and I tend to run the kicker or front controller controls from the back.

 

[Moserkr]

Mine were wobbly too so i took them completely out, and put all new rivets in. Also braced them from moving side to side which helped. Made them strong enough to where i could walk on them if I wanted. As far as the bow stringer goes, mine originally looked liked the picture @Watermann shared. But with my new gas tank location, thats being changed. It is a pretty weak are though from the factory imo. Id like to see more structure for the part of the boat that breaks the path for the rest of the boat to follow.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I think I can make enough room for six rods wide. Maybe the outer tubes will be for rods without reels on them - spares.
I think I can get it to work with my 6’6” rods fully extended. Anything longer will have to be doubled over. I’ve got a 9 foot rod that I’m going to store full length on the side in a curved tube under the gunnel.

 

[SHSU]

Mine were wavy too. I just accounted for a 1/4 of slop on each side. So that gets us around 18 inches which is what @Moserkr had as well.

For depth, I think it was closer to 4 - 4 1/2. If you look at the stringers they got taller the closer you get to the Bow. Depending on the reel, you should be able to fit it in that space no issue.

Since I went the under deck fuel route I didn't have the room for a rod locker. I instead ran ours along the sides. Mostly out of the way, so its functional.

SHSU

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Mine were wavy too. I just accounted for a 1/4 of slop on each side. So that gets us around 18 inches which is what @Moserkr had as well.

For depth, I think it was closer to 4 - 4 1/2. If you look at the stringers they got taller the closer you get to the Bow. Depending on the reel, you should be able to fit it in that space no issue.

Since I went the under deck fuel route I didn't have the room for a rod locker. I instead ran ours along the sides. Mostly out of the way, so its functional.

SHSU

Yes, you’re right the stringers do get taller towards the bow. I’m planning on keeping the compartment door back so it’s swing isn’t between the helms. I was planning a drop in deck over the bow footwell area, but I might build a drop in live well to fill that space.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I picked up two sheets of 5/8 ACX plywood today. We are on lockdown. Curbside pick up only. I was running around like a chicken without a head in town today picking up a bunch of things. Brakes for the wife’s car, stuff for Mother’s Day, lumber store. Etc etc.
The guys through the plywood in my truck. It looks nice and clean and straight. Never thought to check the thickness

So when unloading is when I noticed it. They gave me 3/4”
Initial thoughts was cool, I’ll have a heavier duty floor. Then I realized I had a few pieces already cut in 5/8”. Not a huge deal, I have the bow triangle cut Which is fairly small and can be remade out of the cut offs.

The rear section underneath the transom was done last year. It’s five eights clad in nautolex.
i’m not entirely worried about the thickness difference there. The door track will hide it. Or my custom rework jumpseat as well splashwell if I go that route.

what I’m worried about is how will it affect the windshield/helm fit up. I know we’re only talking about an eighth of an inch here, but the windshield wasn’t fitting the greatest when I tore it down to begin with.

 

[SHSU]

I was able to get it to fit with a 1/4 spacer to account for the additional thickness of the floor. You can see what I did in post #645

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/1...-punishment-splashed-july-2019.687763/page-33

SHSU

 

[ShoestringMariner]

I was able to get it to fit with a 1/4 spacer to account for the additional thickness of the floor. You can see what I did in post #645

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/1...-punishment-splashed-july-2019.687763/page-33

SHSU

Thanks for that. You did such a great job on that build. I really must give it a full read through again. Your digging up the exact page was very helpful. There’s so many builds/resto’s here that it’s a massive pile of rabbit holes to get lost in.
Looks like an effective solution btw

 

[Watermann]

Yeah the console fitment by SC was very, shall I say sloppy to say the least. My SS got 1/2" base decking with the raised decking fore and aft being 5/8". Still my console on the port side had to be shimmed to make for that perfect fit I was looking for. I used 2 pieces stacked of .080 AL wrapped in deck vinyl on the port side. So do what you have to in order to get them right, it may be that you have to shim the WS brackets where they attach to the gunnels.
Mine looked like...