Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restoration

[nearpar]

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.

 

[nearpar]

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.

 

[nearpar]

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......!

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Here are some more pictures,
QUESTION: Should I keep the storage hatch in the middle of the floor ? I think if I just not replace it the floor would be stronger...any suggestions ? Thank goodness for shop vacs !! Probably will not be able to work on the boat again until after the Memorial holiday, hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday I will start on the transom, then get the power washer out for a good cleaning.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I'd core sample that foam to ensure it was not wet below!!

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I decided I could not wait any longer I had to see if the transom was bad. I removed the aluminium and no suprise it was toast....

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Good idea !

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

If I need to get some new floatation what would you suggest I do ?

 

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Nearpar, I'm just slightly ahead of your project with a 86 21' Mariner. I had a full deck of foam and a similar transom and floor rot. I removed between 400 and 450 lbs. of foam. I'm going the way of the swim noodles at a buck a piece and some sheet foam from HD. I'll shoot you some pictures tomorrow, but my gut and vote is remove the foam.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

What he^^^ said.

 

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

View attachment 95278

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Nice job on the foam removal man. That is a lot of weight pulled out, good move

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Thanks for the pictures, yes you are only 40 minutes down the raod from me. I had a suggestion to take a couple of core samples and check it that way. My foam is very sturdy ( you can walk on it ), but I will probably remove it anyway. It looks like you removed your stringers too ? Are you going to form the center as well ? What are you using for wood ?

 

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

I'm using 1/2" marine ply. Picked up 4 sheets at $61.00 ea. My stringers are out as most of the rivets failed. I'm putting them back in this weekend after the Gluvit. And yes I will fill the voids in the floor with swim noodles and 2" sheet foam. I too could walk on my foam when I removed the floor. Reach in through the splashwell and take a sample from the bottom of the foam. Pretty sure you'll find you have "hard" sponges full of water. They will never dry out.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Are you using rivets to lay down your deck ? If so what kind and size ?

Thank you

 

[rtek816]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Yea I'm using rivets. I picked them up today. I decided to go with the large flange 3/16" X .800 from Graingers, until they called me back to tell me their on backorder. I hope to be at the point of laying down the deck over this weekend. I had to make a stop and was told to contact midstates bolt and screw. They had the rivet I was looking for and I got a hundred of them. Always have to get spares. They are a little bit longer (.825) but the clamp window was the same. The large flange has approx 30% more clamp force. Nautolux flooring and adhesive 88 showed up this morning. Hope this weather straightens out soon. 40 degrees and rain unmotivates me. I'm still cleaning the glue and rubber backing off the sides. Almost a bigger pain than the foam. I've got a lot of work planned for this weekend. Bob

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

OK had to take a break to repair some foundation issues on the house, but I am back at it again. I made some good progress since my last post, Boat is in upside down and on saw horses ! Here are some pictures , the saw horses came out well the are 84 inches long each.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Today I mostly worked on the trailer, I removed the lights, rollers,winch,etc. The trailer is at the sandblasters awaiting a good cleaning, and epoxy primer/paint job. I also got out the heat gun and removed all the vynal striping, lettering, and licenseing numbers. It only took me a couple hours to get the stripes off. Oh BTW the other boat is my 78 Islander, the inside just had a complete restration. When I am done with this project I am going to give the Islander a complete paint job and recondition the trailer as well.

 

[nearpar]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Ok a question....please see attached pics. after I flipped the boat over I found a couple of screws that penetrated the hull by the previous owner. The are well below the water line, should I repair these with JB weld ? what do you recommend ? I am going to remove the screws and repair the holes soon. As for the rest of the hull it looks great all the rivets looks good etc.. I plan on using gluvit inside just for insurance.

Thank you in advance...

 

[Piece715]

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Re: Starcraft HL-180 Complete Restroration

Here is how I laid my foam... Have a 1986 Sea Nymph... I went the foam board way. The Starcrafts are laid out a little different but could spark an idea. I know EZ went with pool noodles. He may have some shots of it in his thread.