Starcraft 1971'? 16' to Duck Boat Rebuild

[danimal045]

When I was dreaming of building a duck boat, I figured I would put moveable pedestal seats in with it setup to be able to have 3-4 guys lined up down the middle. Be able to swivel to see both sides, and a fold down blind, holders to rest your gun along the sides in fro t of each seat. Then pick up the seats and put them in a square or balanced pattern for traveling to and from hunting spots. No raised front deck, flat deck from stern to bow and completely open for decoys/gear. Shotgun racks under the gunnels. Tiller would be easier and save space but console is doable. Cant forget a ramp or steps, maybe a hang off the side platform, for the dog! Id prefer a jet pump too on an outboard for the shallow spots ducks love.

Just my .02 haha. Ive kayaked hunted for ducks, before my dog I even swam or used a surfboard to retrieve them. Hunted from sodak to cali and all in between chasing the migration. Boat hunting for them is fun and opens up a ton of opportunity.

Id read over @g0nef1sshn ’s thread since hes been there and done it twice. I looked through a few pics but will have to go through the whole thing.

I get after em’ in the yak! I was just able to snag a unicorn Cabelas/Redhead Northern Flight kayak blind, hit her set up a couple weeks ago!!

 

[danimal045]

Got her interior stripped down. Gotta clean the inside. I just swept and shop vacced. Got 2 mice living in the hull. I Godzilla’Ed their home. Were not happy.

 

[danimal045]

Here is a 16ft SS I redid for ducks and fishing. 2 different layouts over time. My Dad did the most recent layout.

I only got 1 actual hunt in before blowing the used motor I picked up, but got my first band ever in that only hunt so I couldn't even be mad.

77' 16ft Starcraftt ss

This is a boat I am fixing up for hunting boat. Plans are to go with a tiller motor. I dont think Ill take it down to bare aluminum to repaint. Just sand down, clean and primer and paint, or just paint. So far its gutted and the just got the transom out of it. Ill have more pics up later...

forums.iboats.com

In your thread, after stripping you remove transom and find a hole.

i removed the outside of transom were motor sits, and corner caps were the gunwale meets the transom, and tonight i am going to get off that top strip you undamaged (hopefully).

It appears in your pics you did not have to unto the silver trim piece or gunwales to prod and pry the transom out? Looking at i was thinking it was going to be tight trying to get it out without removing them. Any advice?

 

[g0nef1sshn]

In your thread, after stripping you remove transom and find a hole.

i removed the outside of transom were motor sits, and corner caps were the gunwale meets the transom, and tonight i am going to get off that top strip you undamaged (hopefully).

It appears in your pics you did not have to unto the silver trim piece or gunwales to prod and pry the transom out? Looking at i was thinking it was going to be tight trying to get it out without removing them. Any advice?

The first one I took out when I got it was so rotten I got it out mostly in pieces. I think one screw/bolt held me up a bit but it eventually slid out.

The second one wasn't "as bad" so it slid straight out.

Advice would be take it out in pieces if need be, or find a solid piece to put a big eye bolt in to pull it out with pulley. Condition of the wood and how (glued?) It was put in makes the removal what it is.

 

[danimal045]

The first one I took out when I got it was so rotten I got it out mostly in pieces. I think one screw/bolt held me up a bit but it eventually slid out.

The second one wasn't "as bad" so it slid straight out.

Advice would be take it out in pieces if need be, or find a solid piece to put a big eye bolt in to pull it out with pulley. Condition of the wood and how (glued?) It was put in makes the removal what it is.

Thanks.

It’s pretty solid, but 50’yesrd and bolts wore in a bit, figure if I’m gonna redo everything anyway, may as well replace that. I’m not in a hurry, and i don’t want to have to redo things. Haven’t got a chance to get the top aluminum piece with the little nails out to try and get the whole piece out yet.

On a side not, i just bought this house we are in in October and am still meeting the surrounding property owners, and my neighbor down the bottom of the drive has a 4x4 sand blasting booth he said i could have at, may come in handy. Big gear head, checked out the build, may be helpful.

 

[danimal045]

Got a few minutes to head up to garage. Was able to pull the pain in the butt nails out of the top cap of the transom, appears i am going to have to remove atleast part of the gunnels to get the transom out. Going to try that eye hook trick you mentioned.

As far as rivets, it appears there are 3 sizes. Solid rivets on the outside of the boat attaching the keels, etc. larger blind rivets attached the floor and around the transom, and smaller blind rivets attaching the trim. Trying to figure out exact sizes.

The transom doesn’t appear to have bowed the aluminum, which is a plus.

 

[g0nef1sshn]

One of my favorite things to do is use the search feature and search this forum only. Rivets were one of the fun parts for me. Solids and blinds

I can't remember the sizes I used, too many fractions goin through my head to pick one just thinking about it.

 

[Moserkr]

Rivets, rivets and more rivets! (Repaired)

All of us have to learn a new trade when it comes to restoring our 'gently used' riveted aluminum boats. Disputably Starcraft boats are the most popular and prolific aluminum boat of all time and the same rivet questions come up time and time again. Rather than answer each and every question...

forums.iboats.com

Rivet sticky at the top of the forum, courtesy of watermann.

Love that kayak blind! May have to look into that. Boats looking good. Definitely worth replacing that transom, looks like its seen better days.

 

[danimal045]

Rivets, rivets and more rivets! (Repaired)

All of us have to learn a new trade when it comes to restoring our 'gently used' riveted aluminum boats. Disputably Starcraft boats are the most popular and prolific aluminum boat of all time and the same rivet questions come up time and time again. Rather than answer each and every question...

forums.iboats.com

Rivet sticky at the top of the forum, courtesy of watermann.

Love that kayak blind! May have to look into that. Boats looking good. Definitely worth replacing that transom, looks like its seen better days.

thanks! ill post some more pics this weekend after I get it out.

ill post some more pcs after I get the transom out this weekend.

I have been trying to source some aluminum for the new floors looking around .09", people seem to be saying as thin as 0.06" and as thick as .125", so figure that would be a happy median. had no idea it had gotten so expensive. I plan on covering the floor and gunnels with marine vinyl or hydroturf, so I may try out a forum tip i read of cruising scrap yards and trying to find old highway signs.

 

[SHSU]

You are trying to use aluminum instead of wood for your flooring?

SHSU

 

[danimal045]

You are trying to use aluminum instead of wood for your flooring?

SHSU

That was the initial plan, but with how expensive this aluminum is and trying to do this as well and cheaply as possible, wood may be back in the mix.

This is my first boat and build, don’t know anything besides what I’ve watched on YouTube and read in forums, seemed like a lot of people were using aluminum

 

[g0nef1sshn]

That was the initial plan, but with how expensive this aluminum is and trying to do this as well and cheaply as possible, wood may be back in the mix.

This is my first boat and build, don’t know anything besides what I’ve watched on YouTube and read in forums, seemed like a lot of people were using aluminum

I thought about that, but only reason I figured it would be worth it was if I only hunted salt water. Or had no budget. Wood is fine as long as you keep it covered when not in use.

 

[danimal045]

I thought about that, but only reason I figured it would be worth it was if I only hunted salt water. Or had no budget. Wood is fine as long as you keep it covered when not in use.

Wood will def cut down significantly on cost. I plan on priming and base coating everything inside, then covering top of gunnels, floor, platform, and rear Box/seat with whatever decking material i use.

Still a ways off, obviously, but going to attempt this camp pattern, and for cost and durability use this flooring cover

 

[Moserkr]

Aluminum floors would be pricey and even .125 would bow as you walk on it. Its doable but not really worth it vs wood. Plenty of ways to seal wood too and it will last quite a while, maybe 20 years?, especially if you cover with vinyl on top of the seal.

Camo pattern looks good! Great part about a duck boat is you can beat it up and you will never notice!!

 

[danimal045]

Aluminum floors would be pricey and even .125 would bow as you walk on it. Its doable but not really worth it vs wood. Plenty of ways to seal wood too and it will last quite a while, maybe 20 years?, especially if you cover with vinyl on top of the seal.

Camo pattern looks good! Great part about a duck boat is you can beat it up and you will never notice!!

Any particular grade/thickness you are fond of for floors, front casting deck and rear transom box/casting deck?

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Any particular grade/thickness you are fond of for floors, front casting deck and rear transom box/casting deck?

5/8” will be fine for floors. Depends on your intended deck size and it’s unsupported spans. Perhaps 3/4 for everything

 

[danimal045]

5/8” will be fine for floors. Depends on your intended deck size and it’s unsupported spans. Perhaps 3/4 for everything

Appreciate the input. As a newbie wading in, just like anything on the net, there are so many varied opinions and approaches.

I was planning on power washing inside and out, getting decals off, and deep cleaning the interior bull to get some better pics up, but it’s back to 20 degrees….

Gonna head up in a few to try and get that transom out before the last evening goose hunt of the season… bittersweet… but my wife is tickled nothing comes in till may, told her that would leave more time for fly fishing

 

[SHSU]

I did 3/4 BCX, no treated lumber in an aluminum boat. I am a bigger guy and didn't want any bowing under foot when walking around.

SHSU

 

[Moserkr]

As @ShoestringMariner and @SHSU said, 5/8” or 3/4” is fine. Never use treated wood on aluminum. I believe Starcraft used 1/2” and it was untreated AND unsealed. Mine came with pretty new 3/4” bcx already sealed from my friend so I reused it. I would go 5/8” if I had to buy it, guessing its cheaper than 3/4”. The difference in height from the floor can throw off how consoles sit too.

 

[danimal045]

Well got her all cleaned up inside still need to get the transom out. Have to disassemble the gunwales to remove it, as the aluminum sits on top
Of the transom and then the the cap in the corner goes over top of the gunwales and transom.

Here are some pics of her all shined up naked. I havent came across any loose or missing rivets. Any tips for testing their integrity to see if they need redone or not?