Starcraft Islander project

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

That's way more work and cost doing the conversion from I/O to OB than replacing a bad cable. I keep waiting to see someone come along that wants to go the other direction.

A 135 OB would be a good replacement.

Congrats on the offspring nuptials, my daughter got engaged too and I asked if I could just make payments. :lol:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Pay for a wedding or go bracketed OB. MMMM I wouldn't abandon cable replacement yet. Still plenty of advantages to staying with the IO. Better fuel economy and no upfront costs to buy/fab a bracket and buy an OB. Just my couple of pennies, snal.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

It's all over but the cry'n now. Transom cut for an outboard today. Yep, I opted for a cut transom (20") and motor well VS an outboard bracket. I chose 20" since used 25" outboards in my area are rare.

New transom wood is cut, partially epoxied together. I'm going with 3 layers of 3/4". There will also be a 1/4" aluminum plate to spread the load of the outboard.

Multiple sheets of 5052 aluminum came in today for new topside fabrications. Picking up plywood for the new floor tomorrow. Before I get too far I'd really like to paint at least the bottom of the hull...chine to chine.

In an effort to insulate and "rigidize" the bow, I'll be installing a "ceiling" on the bottom side of the bow wood framing, and then fill the void with pour-foam and shave the contour. I'll be fabricating a larger than stock front hatch as well.

So, my 165hp I-6 engine and all outdrive parts are going on the market.

 

[classiccat]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Major stones!

...although I don't see pics...so did it really happen or are you just messin' with us?? :noidea:

I assume that you're fabbing a knee-brace?

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Major stones!

...although I don't see pics...so did it really happen or are you just messin' with us?? :noidea:

I assume that you're fabbing a knee-brace?

I know....pics will come soon...didn't have a camera today.
I'm contemplating the knee brace thing. Thinking about a double brace, incorporated into the motor well and tied to the stringers.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Figured out a splashwell yet? That is an important item with the transom cut to 20".

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Figured out a splashwell yet? That is an important item with the transom cut to 20".

I think so. The depth at the transom will be 5", the length front to back will be 25". I'll fab it up out of .090 aluminum and weld in a drain tube on both sides. I think I'll give it a 5 degree pitch off of the transom plane to make sure that it'll drain fast. Not exactly sure how high I'll go on the front yet.
The cut out is 35" wide at the bottom (I read that the HD hydraulic steering units need 32") and angles out at the top.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Be sure your splash well height and length in the front will allow plenty of room for your outboard to fully tilt. As said by others many times before,,,,,,, "Don't ask me how I know this is important"

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Transom wood, the 3rd piece (on top) is smaller because it will sit outside the brackets on the transom.



Transom cut-out.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

A bit more work done today. I enlarged the I/O hole just enough to get the worst of the corrosion out, made a template, and then used the template to cut a section to weld in out of the original transom material that was removed for the conversion.
Welding went MUCH better than I expected! There were a few "thin" spots from the interior corrosion, but I was actually able to fill in those spots with weld!
I also fabricated and installed 2 additional stringers for the floor system, and laid out 2 panels of the new topside metal. I'll bend those up in the morning. These 2 sections are the front panels that begin at the aft edge of the bow deck. The high point (that tapers towards the stern) of the original panels was 9"...I'm going 12"...which was the max that I could go and still get the port and starboard panels out of 1 sheet.
Next will be the bow deck, then the cabin roof, then I can start the real custom part...the high roof and side panels that will cover the helm.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Mmm

I do like outboards

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Nice bead you laid in there and on a vertical surface to boot! :thumb:

 

[ShowMeGuy]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

your transom mods look pretty sharp from what I can see from here in STL....

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Hey SMG stop your lolly gagging around these islanders and tear into that Chief or yours!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

The welder was tied up most of the day, so I didn't get a change to finish welding the transom. I did fab up a couple of panels for the topside, and one section of the cabin roof. Got one piece of plywood cut for the flooring so that I can measure from there to get my 6'-3" intended ceiling height over the helm.
I hope to finish up the transom weld tomorrow. I did manage to finish gluing up the wood. Should have time to apply a 2nd and 3rd coat of epoxy to the outside of the wood tomorrow.
I'll finish cutting the cockpit flooring and epoxy those panels this weekend.

 

[classiccat]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

As I said earlier...

Major Stones

...and you're showing that you have the skills to back-them-up! Excellent work!

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

At first I thought that was a pair of cleco pliers and then I realized... gasp it must be a hand rivet tool

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

What did you cut the transom down to, 20"? It's looking good.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

What did you cut the transom down to, 20"? It's looking good.

Yep, but only after much deliberation. It looks strange on such a deep hull. I can't tell you how many times I re-measured my cut lines,
it looks like 15" on that tall transom.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

As I said earlier......and you're showing that you have the skills to back-them-up! Excellent work!

Thank you sir! I've been working with metal for 39 years. The shop started out with nothing but manual tools...3' stomp shear, 8' hand brake, 3' rolls, a beverly shear, and a small collection of antique edgers, crimpers, and a bead roller. Our "only" aluminum welder is still a 35 year old Airco that is so big it'd fill most walk-in closets...but it works!....LOL!