Starcraft Islander project

[snal]

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

LOL!...with as much riveting as we do, you'd think there would be at least 2 air riveters in the shop, but there are none. We typically only use 1/8" rivets though, so even the stainless rivets aren't that difficult with the hand tool.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

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.

I figured you went 20". It's just so deep looking with the tall transom. Are you going to make a box type splashwell matching the cutout width?

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

I figured you went 20". It's just so deep looking with the tall transom. Are you going to make a box type splashwell matching the cutout width?

Already have it made. I actually made it 4" wider than the cutout (2" on either side) and 5" deep at the horizontal line. It's 26" front to back (on a 5 degree slope...so actually ends up being around 25").

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Made a template for the cabin side panels that would give me 6'-3" of headroom. Side panel template is 5' long and 33" tall. This is WAY too tall and "funny looking" for the rest of the lines of the boat...so I'm going back with a simple windshield like stock...if I can find one.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

And the motor well....

 

[classiccat]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

motor well? try motor canyon! Holy smokes that's alot of tin!! Lookin' good!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

motor well? try motor canyon! Holy smokes that's alot of tin!! Lookin' good!

LOL!...I researched the dimensions, and gave it enough width for a hydraulic steering system (in case I opt for that) and enough tilt room for a 175 HP engine. It actually looks bigger in the pics than it is (on a scale based on the rest of the transom). She's 36" wide at the bottom (4" wider than the actual cutout) and 49" wide at the top. Depth front to back is roughly 24".
I had originally planned for a tilt-back at the front of the motor well, but as you can obviously see in the pics, I decided to make the front pretty much vertical. A 1.5" plywood brace will fit there, which will go from gunnel to gunnel.

 

[Watermann]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Man that sure is a lot of work and materials the average guy can't do and doesn't have access to. After you pull this off there won't be any doubters in the crowd that it can be done. Can't wait to see it all welded up. :encouragement:

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Man that sure is a lot of work and materials the average guy can't do and doesn't have access to. After you pull this off there won't be any doubters in the crowd that it can be done. Can't wait to see it all welded up. :encouragement:

True, I'm blessed with the materials on hand, the equipment to fabricate, and a little bit of know-how, but the average "Joe" could do quite well with templates taken to a local fab shop and do the same. Especially if they come to my shop, where I give discounts to boaters and Harley riders!....LOL!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

If I build a H-D V-Twin powered boat, will you work for free? :lol:

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

For those of us not familiar with new time work, can you please show the process of lining up and shooting holes all the way thought riviting in that new motor well.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

If I build a H-D V-Twin powered boat, will you work for free? :lol:

That would get you pretty close to free labor and materials at cost...LOL!

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

For those of us not familiar with new time work, can you please show the process of lining up and shooting holes all the way thought riviting in that new motor well.

Sorry...I'm not fully understanding the question.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

It's not just oldwizard, I think we'd all like to see you align the panels, fix them in place so you can drill for rivets, then put it all together. Since it's NEW work, not being rebuilt as it was from SC, or a new part being attached to an already fixed in place part, it's a whole pile of tin parts needing riveted together, then installed onto the boat.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

It's not just oldwizard, I think we'd all like to see you align the panels, fix them in place so you can drill for rivets, then put it all together. Since it's NEW work, not being rebuilt as it was from SC, or a new part being attached to an already fixed in place part, it's a whole pile of tin parts needing riveted together, then installed onto the boat.

Ah...ok. Since it's not fastened together yet I'll try to get some pics of how I do it.
The well is made in only 2 pieces, the well it'self, and then the front panel.
You can probably tell from the pics above that I ran out of material, and didn't have enough width to get the angle on the front of the well where it should be...I made up for this on the front panel by making the lap flanges wider at the top. This isn't professional looking but it will have to do.
I placed a straight edge across the gunnels to use as a point to measure to, and keep things level. I left the sides of the well a bit long originally, and used that same straight edge to mark a level line, and then trimmed off the excess.
I'll likely use pop-rivets to hold the pieces in place, then remove it from the boat and install solid rivets. This will be much easier to do with it off the boat.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Been a good "day off" from work. I took some mercruiser tools back to a friend that I'd borrowed them from, and may have landed a windshield for free! The boat has been in their yard for 6 years, so he thinks the owner (who has virtually abandoned it) will agree to let me have whatever I need.
This shop also had an early 80's Mercury 115hp (inline 6) outboard for $1000. Doesn't sound like a bad deal but I've never been a Mercury fan.
My friend then tells me about this guy that has a rebuilt 83/84 Johnson 175hp for sale, and he says he'll try to get in touch with him and have him call me...he just did! The engine was totally rebuilt and only used a few times since, and then the guy's garage caught fire and damaged one side of the boat (basically got hot enough to crystallize the fiberglass) as the boat was being stored outside of the garage. Anyway, he wants $1200 for the engine, which sounds good, so I'll be going to look at it on Monday and hear it run.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Re-worked the motor well today, shortened it by 7". Finished welding the transom patch and then epoxied any areas on the inside that had corrosion. The inside will get painted Monday, then I can install the new wood.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

Got the transom painted inside, and the new wood installed. Finalized the motor well redesign and made a trim piece for the cutout.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

:thumb: What's you secret for cleaning the inside of the hull? Must be just about the cleanest we've had.

 

[snal]

Re: Starcraft Islander project

:thumb: What's you secret for cleaning the inside of the hull? Must be just about the cleanest we've had.

No secret really, and it's not as clean as it looks in the pics. I pressure washed it twice, then scrubbed it with a degreaser that's safe for aluminum, and I still had a few areas in the bow where a bare steel anchor chain had been kept. Those rust stains were the worst to remove. I used the degreaser and a scotch-brite pad on a DA sander. The engine area was mostly caked up oil/grease and I used a brass wire wheel to loosen it up.