Starcraft Holiday 18 make over

[BOYS & TOYS]

Had a good test of the suspension seats today and they are worth every penny. Floating on air comfort with waves you would normally brace yourself for.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah the suspension set up is nice, only time I've used them was in our work jet boat.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

Another good day on the water with good friends. Most of the cod were released if they were in good shape.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

Biggest striper landed on my boat this year. Good fighting fish.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

A few things I forgot to show that might give someone else an idea.
1 _Welded a mounting pad for the transducer with enough room for a small anode. The pad is thick enough to use #10 /24 stainless fastener threaded in it. No extra holes in transom
2_ Fuel filter with water drain. Mounted behind the kicker mount on the inside of the transom. The in line valve is used to drain the gas from the carburetors by closing it after it's loaded on the trailer. Just leave it run till the idle changes and no gasoline dribbles in the splash well on the way home.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

1_ Found some plastic while dumpster diving at my friends shop. Cut to shape on the band saw, router the edges and countersink screw holes. Made nice battery and fuel tank retainers.
2_ this is how I extended the stringers and riveted them to tabs welded to my transom frame

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

1_ trying to use any space possible I found a net from a junk car to store life jackets(and Sponge head) under the bow. I can fit some short rods or 2pc rods in the rod rack. The stern light is safely attached to one of the original wood supports.
2_taken from inside the bow storage this shows how I welded tabs to screw the wood support into. Wires are mostly protected behind the dash inside some scrap plastic water pipe.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

My drain plug is an aluminum version of the plastic splash well drains. Using a stainless 1/4" pipe plug outside. The shop towel in the center wicks water out during storage that won't reach the drain hole.
Last trip striper fishing I found someone's braided line. Shaft seal appears fine.
Very sad day, it's in the tent for winter.
April is so far away

 

[RUN]

1_ trying to use any space possible I found a net from a junk car to store life jackets(and Sponge head) under the bow. I can fit some short rods or 2pc rods in the rod rack. The stern light is safely attached to one of the original wood supports.
2_taken from inside the bow storage this shows how I welded tabs to screw the wood support into. Wires are mostly protected behind the dash inside some scrap plastic water pipe.

...using a net like this is a really good idea. In the bow of our NOVA there is a lot of mess with us ;-)

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

...using a net like this is a really good idea. In the bow of our NOVA there is a lot of mess with us ;-)

Your Nova looks amazing,better then new.I would be too nervous to use it.
Here is my Krusty Krab dusted with snow before I put it away for winter.

 

[RUN]

Your Nova looks amazing,better then new.I would be too nervous to use it.
Here is my Krusty Krab dusted with snow before I put it away for winter.

The same every year. suddenly and unexpectedly it's winter. I still have an old tarpaulin for you. ;-)
We take care of the old girl but we don't spare her.

 

[Crankerbait]

I am in the middle of taking apart the transom of my ‘73 StarCraft Holiday. This gave me some great ideas for a new transom. Do you have any pictures of the knee brace?

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

I am in the middle of taking apart the transom of my ‘73 StarCraft Holiday. This gave me some great ideas for a new transom. Do you have any pictures of the knee brace?

When I received the boat it had no knee brace. The person who put did the i/o conversion probably tossed it. Someone reinstalled an outboard motor and built a heavy duty 1/4" splash well that resulted in a solid engine mounting even though the wood was garbage.
I attached the bottom of my transom frame to my heavy reinforced stringers on either side of the bilge. I also made a new 1/4" and 3/16" splash well that resulted in a very solid structure.
When you start with nothing you can be creative.
If you have any questions or want pictures ask away.

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

I found a problem with my windshield frame corroding under the rubber trim that holds the glass.
I noticed a small bit of powdery corrosion shortly after I built it. The boat is rinsed with fresh water after every trip in the ocean.

I pulled the glass to find pits half way through the 1/8" 5052 in only 3 summers use

I have other trim on the window frames that I reused from the original dashboards and it had near zero problems.

I called the shop that supplied the rubber and cut my glass and they had no idea.
I needed to know if a better rubber product was available.
I called the rubber manufacturer and they never returned my calls. The glass shop got a response of "this is our product line ,pick one to use".

I was also told to check with the boat builder? That didn't help since I made it.

I think the rubber has carbon in it thats causing the problem.

I cleaned everything and greased with silicone brake lube that doesn't cause rubber to swell.

It seems okay now. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

Look what followed me home. I think it's going to need some redesigning.

 

[Moserkr]

Thats big!!!

 

[Fishon125]

My 18 Starcraft Holiday !

 

[BOYS & TOYS]

My 18 Starcraft Holiday !

Your boat might be older then my 1968. It has a flat dash instead of two consoles. Even has the purple stern light

 

[Fishon125]

Yes, it's a 1965. The interior is almost pristine, too! Original seats without a scuff or tear !

 

[ShoestringMariner]

3/16" 5052 was riveted to the transom .I didn't want to use plywood core for the transom so 2" tube was welded up to fit. I designed the transom to use long and x long shaft motor by adding or removing a piece of 2x4 aluminum that bolts in.
I made a jig to drill the motor mount pattern.

After a long day on the water my back was reminded me of my age. Time for new bases for the seats. I picked this style because of the aluminum/s.s. construction. I made an adapter so I could use the round existing pattern in the floor.
The second one was home made with the addition bolt pattern included.
After building the seat mount I learned that just because you can make something doesn't mean you should. Much easier to purchase this piece

You sir have mad fabrication skills!