Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restoration

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Here is my progress to date. 100 pool noodles and 1- 2" sheet of pink foam. I'll epoxy over all the rivets and won't get much more done over the next 3 weekends. Off to Nascar at MIS this Thursday and off to Germany the following Friday for a week. I'd rather be fishing errr.. catching. Bob

 

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Don't know about those screws. What are they holding on the inside? Know a good welder? Looks to be close to the other rivets but you may want to investigate small head rivets that you can buck in and gluvit over to seal those holes. Did you remove any blind rivets from the inside? My brother will be up with the tools to buck in rivets after the 4th of July weekend. He works with airplanes and has the proper tools and skill. I have to put the carpeting in on the sides before the supports and rod holders get riveted in. Bob

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

My old foam is in great shape I am going to use it, but will fill the center and where ever else I can find room for with noodles. $1.00 each at the dollar tree seems the best price so far ...?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

For those through the hull holes, (given their location) I'd replace them with stainless nuts and bolts.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Nice project nearpar, and that Islander looks sweet too

I can't believe somebody put screws thru the seam there, what a moron

Probably one of the worst places to mangle the hull, but should be fine with 5200 and rivets/SS bolts, as mentioned.

My trailer is nearly identical to that EZ-Loader, nice set up if you like rollers.

BTW HL-180 stands for Holiday, the closed bow runabout that Starcraft has been building since way back in the day. Not sure if you already knew that or not.

Good luck with the rest of the project, I used foam boards and noodles on mine for flotation.

I'd get rid of all that old foam just to be on the safe side, unless it's 100% dry.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Huron I did not know that HlL was Holiday. So I cound use stainless nuts/bolts with some 5200 or maybe JB weld ? I will probably have to drill them out to 1/4 0r 5/16 ? Rivets may work as well too.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Got the trailer back today and it looks great ! Before I sent this to the sandblaster I completely stripped all the rollers lights etc.. so I could get a good job, and I was not dissappointed. The trailer was raised up in the air with a crane and then completely sandblasted, then painted with an epoxy primer and a urathane paint. All I have to do now is reassemble.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

That looks awesome. I will totally be springing for the sandblaster when I get around to painting my trailer.

 

[joeymunster]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restoration

I had this thread already posted, but for some reason when I edited the title no one can see it anymore, so I am starting over.

Last fall I purchased a 18 foot 1980 Starcraft HL-180 runabout. I bought this boat for about $950.00 it has a 85HP Johnson outboard that runs fine.. The floor and transom are shot, the hull and most of the hardware are in very good condition. I removed the motor, seats last fall and stopped for winter. I bought this boat for fishing and planned on restoring it as such. Here are the pictures before I started the demo.

Please help me!!! i have a hl 180 i NEED to know how much fuel the original tank holds!!m if you know this you will be my hero !!!

 

[joeymunster]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

ok guy's i am back on the starcraft hl-180 project, had to stop for the winter and lot of rain we have had as of late. Also purchased a 1978 islander that is basically ready to go, but i need to get that ready for fishing as well. I am still in the demo mode on the hl-180, just removed most of the hardware including the windshield, hatch, kleets, fuel tank etc...
The original fuel tank was replaced by a huge 30 gallon steel tank and placed up front. This tank is in excellent condition and i will use it again. When i started to remove it i could not believe it.... Is was full !!! I had to pump most of it out so i could lift it out of the boat. So here are some pictures of what i have so far. I still have to remove the flooring and the transom. Hopefully i will have that out next week.

how much fuel does the original tank hold in the hl 180???

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I would like to help you, but my boat did not have the original feul tank in it.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Made some good progress on the trailer today as I started to reassemble. I installed the rollers,winch,step plate, and new safety chains. I cleaned all of the Ubolts, nuts and other bolts etc by wire wheeling them and then degreasing and painting them. The rollers are mounted on aluminium shafts which were wire wheeled, degreased and cleared. All I have left to do is get a new LED light kit and install the fenders. I am painting the fenders the same color as the boat. ( wimbledon white ) This was the white color that was used on the 1964/65 Ford Mustang. It's kinda of a cream white color. After the trailer is finished it's time to get the hull ready for paint!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Wow that trailer is gonna be all set for years after that treatment. Looks great.

One thing I will say is that I highly recommend that you replace all the rollers so they don't mark up the new Ford paint.

Bunks are a cheaper option, dozer has an 18' and just converted to bunks- lowered the boat by 4".

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Thanks Huron I will consider that, going down this morning to buy the lighting kit and paint. Hopefully I will have the trailer done in the next day or two so I can get started on the hull.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I can't believe I spent 4 hours on just the two tail lights today. I drove down to Harbor Freight and bought led lights(only 5 miles ). Made new brackets for the lights out of 18 guage galvinized steel, the lights are basically done and I can move on the the fenders.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Those brackets you made are awesome. Very nice work. I have basically those same lights (basspro branded) and they are fantastic.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Nice neat job on the tail light install, trailer looks real good.
Glen

 

[spitrockz2]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I'm wondering how your project is coming... still working at it? A lot of helpful stuff here since im going to be doing the same thing to my '89 hl 180 this coming winter. I hope you keep posting your progress!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Well did some more work on the HL-180 today..... I removed all the controls, wiring, console, and the wood floor ! The floor was really bad , worse than I had expected. I managed to save most of it for templetes for the new floor.
QUESTION: The foam floatation is in really good condition and looks to be a pain to remove. Should I keep it ?? Also what do you guys recommend I use to fasten down the new floor with ? special rivets ? or should I use stainless screws ? Here are some new pictures....man I love my shop vac......!

Have you removed your foam yet? It looks to be the good water resistant 2 part urethane and with that good drainage you have down the center beam of the bilge it should be dry and seaworthy.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I'm wondering how your project is coming... still working at it? A lot of helpful stuff here since im going to be doing the same thing to my '89 hl 180 this coming winter. I hope you keep posting your progress!!

The weather has just been simply too hot for painting the last few weeks. It looks like we will be back into the 70's this week so I can finally get the paint work done, I will post as soon as I get started this week.