Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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I have a late 50's early 60's 12ft aluminum Starcraft with a 35hp Buccaneer. I got it about 3 years ago for a good price(FREE). I would like to restore it and turn it into a little fishing boat. Nothing fancy. But, I need to know if its even worth the trouble. The motor was running good 3 years ago, it has no leaks, and has been in a garage since I have had it. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated as I am very new to this.


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc20/nhogsed/IMG_0429.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc20/nhogsed/IMG_0430.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc20/nhogsed/IMG_0433.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc20/nhogsed/IMG_0437.jpg
 
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Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Ok, resizing the pictures obviously didnt work. Sorry about that.
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Welcome to iboats and the Starcraft club :D.



Rick
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Ok now that the formalities are over we can move on to the resto . I would say yes its restorable . You are going to need a sheet of aluminum to remake the bow cap infront of the dash otherwise she doesnt look that bad nothing a month of ripping her apart clening the snot out of everything and then a month or so of carefully putting her back together :D. I would replace the bow cap before pulling her off the trailer to keep her in the right shape :D.


Rick
 

Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I have read on here that any boat under 21ft must have foam. Only problem is this one has no floor. The only foam I found was in a large tray under the bow. Is it possible to put a floor in this or is the foam not necessary? Is the sheet metal over the bow structural or can it be left off?
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I would say the bow metal is structural and no foam isnt mandatory although hving some is a good idea just in case the boat starts to take on water . Let me see what I can find on a brochure for your boat to see about the floor . I am sure you could put one in but it will be differant than the decks in larger Starcrafts like mine ( although mine is on the smaller side of the larger ones :D ) . I would put the bow cap back on if you have it or rebuild it with new aluminum if you dont simply due to the fct I personlly havent seen a 12' Starcraft that actually had a bow on it most of them are open jon boat styles .


Rick
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

The oldest Brochure I have access to is a 62 and theres nothing like yours in it so yours may be older than 62 . Your seats sit where the bigger boats decks sat so although you may be able to do a deck similar to Huron anglers a standard deck might be a little tricky. I would try to take her back to her former glory simply due to her age and rarity.


Rick
 

Andy in NY

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Oct 25, 2007
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I have read on here that any boat under 21ft must have foam. Only problem is this one has no floor. The only foam I found was in a large tray under the bow. Is it possible to put a floor in this or is the foam not necessary? Is the sheet metal over the bow structural or can it be left off?

that is the requirement for NEW boats. you do not need to put any in.


and for the record, just about ANY starcraft tinny is restorable!
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Hogsed what part of the country are you in . I will say if you dont feel like restoring her I will gladly trade you the 1960 Cutter 14' runabout pictured in my avatar for her if you have a title :D. I have a title for the cutter :D.I have developed a slight preferance for these Tin Cans and like I said I would return yours to as close to original as I could get it with a few changes such as a pretty wood dash and seats :D.


Rick
 

tmcalavy

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Aug 29, 2001
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4,005
Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

It's a tinny with an OMC Big Twin...go for it. Should be worth the effort.
 

CheapboatKev

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Oct 4, 2008
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5,813
Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Welcome Aboard..

I wouldnt mind have a lil 14 footer with a 25p tiller..Def worth fixing her up and getting on the water..Which reminds me to ask..
What have ya been waiting for?? 3 years? lol
No time like now, go for it!
 

Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I'm located in Ga. I dont know why I have waited so long to try and restore it. I guess I was afraid to since I know next to nothing about boats, especially 50yo boat motors. But I will take your advice and try and restore it to original. I'm sure there will be many more questions in the future.
 

Hogsed03

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Well, after much thought I believe I have decided to sell it. Any idea what I could get for it? I dont want to ask to much or to little.
 

Rickairmedic

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Hogsed the sad but honest truth is that in its current condition and I hate to see a classic like that go away but you would get more out of that boat like it is by pulling the outboard and selling it and then taking the boat over to the scrpyard and scrapping it and then selling the trailer . Hopefully we have another member close enough to you to save her but otherwise I would say on a good day on craigslist $100.00-$200.00 and even then the buyer might be buying it for the motor or trailer. I wish I was closer I would trade you This boat


DSCI0074.jpg





For that boat in a New York minute .


Rick





Rick
 

Lion hunter

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Apr 9, 2005
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I wouldn't sell it as it if thats what your going to. Spend a little time and clean up that motor and if it runs will be worth 2-250, if not clean up the parts and ebay it. The trailer is good for a hundred. Boat will fetch 50-100. Kind of sad but there worth more in parts.
 

Joe_the_boatman

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Apr 14, 2005
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I'm located in Ga. I dont know why I have waited so long to try and restore it. I guess I was afraid to since I know next to nothing about boats, especially 50yo boat motors. But I will take your advice and try and restore it to original. I'm sure there will be many more questions in the future.


Where in GA?
 

Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I'm in Paulding county. I'm still somewhat undecided on what I'm going to with it. I'm still tearing it down and am going to try and replace some of the wood structure pieces. My brother and I were both in the Marines and he was a coxswain in a boat company and has some experience working on Zodiac boat motors so he is going to help me out there plus, he works at a body shop and said he may be able to help me out with fabricating some of the metal. The only problem is I work 11-12 hours a day and have very little time to work on it. But, we will see what happens.
 

Joe_the_boatman

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

Well, you found a good place to get information (iboats forums). Take a look around at other people's projects. You may decide that this could be something you want to work on a few hours a week when there's time, or decide that it's too much to deal with.

Me, I did some research, set a (rough) time and expense budget up front, then decided to jump in.

If that boat were mine, I'd make it into a center console with a casting deck up front, and give it a new paint job. I guess it depends on what you want to use it for though.
 

Hogsed03

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Jun 22, 2008
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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

No were talking. I like the casting deck idea, not to sure about the center console thing though. Where could get plans on how to build and more importantly how to secure a casting platform? I plan on using the boat mainly for fishing so that is how I want to rig it. It is going to get a new paint job and I am replacing all the structural wood.
 

Joe_the_boatman

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Re: Starcraft-Can this be restored?

I'd use 3/4" PT (press treated) plywood, painted on all sides. I'd put a swivel chair up there in the center.

In my boat, the floor is secured to the bottom ribs by blind rivets. You could do the same (they'd have to be shot in crooked through the wood though, to be parallel with the ribs). I would feather the edges of the plywood, and notch out areas around the ribs, so it'd sit flush against the hull. Granted it wouldn't be too tall this way, but it'd be usable space at least since there'd be something to stand on.

Before you go through all that fabrication though, maybe lake test it with you standing in the front and check for stability. You wouldn't want to build all that and then not be able to use it because the boat's off kilter.


I was thinking of a center console something like this: (stolen from http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=120379&page=2)


pic601b.jpg
 
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