The well traveled 1979 Starcraft 18' V5 SS

[will w.]

https://flint.craigslist.org/bpo/5597290031.html
Wonder what shipping would be on something this size.

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for the ideas guys, all suggestions are welcome. The thing I've found with poly tanks are they have a mold so if something needs changed then they have to create a new one... more $$$. Manufacturers always seem to charge over the retailers too for their products.

The tank being sold at ocean link I see in the image above there's a Moeller logo on it so I'm pretty sure they aren't making the tanks just retailing them.

 

[Watermann]

I found another company who makes fuel tanks that I'd never heard of Kracor and they have a pretty good line up. http://www.kracor.com/support/fueltanks.pdf

OK, I feel need to lighten things up a bit from the gloom and doom of fuel tank woes. I was hoping she (the admiral) wouldn't see it but it's pretty obvious. I know there's those of you that really don't think cleaning vinegar does much if anything and is just a go through the motions or forget it altogether step. I pulled out the bow and side trim last weekend and laid them in the grass, hosed em down good with Heinz cleaning vinegar and let set for a few before scrubbing them with a 3M pad. I rinsed the pieces off with lots of water from the hose and sat them up to dry.

It was the next day when the damage was visible but this pic is a week later... Cleaning vinegar is a powerful acidic substance as my lawn can attest to. :lol: Paint stripper did not hurt the grass at all believe it or not.

 

[DLNorth]

Watermann,

I may be new but I'm loving this build. Keep it coming.

Some comments -

Aren't strippers caustic, meaning they react with a lawn different than an acid?
(A side story, years ago my daughter pissed off some classmates, who poured perfume on the lawn as a "gesture". It killed the grass and was seen many years later.)

Your fuel tank issue, if you rebuild the floor with easy access to the tank, you could just poor in sealer and defer the decision till later.

The V5 design, interesting shape, and I noticed that the ribbing was way less than the std mod vee design. Not sure I like that, even knowing that the loading is less due to the deeper vee. This looks like a big water boat. Probably why we don't see much of them here in MN.

Dan

 

[Watermann]

Scratch Kracor off the list, I called them and between the cost of their 27 gallon tank and shipping it would be as much as I paid for the boat, motor and trailer.. :faint2:

Thanks for stopping by with some comments North. Cost of the tank really wasn't the big issue for me that is until I called those guys above. :lol: The big issue is finding a tank that will fit the space and be safe for ever. I checked on the possibility of having a new one built locally and I can buy and have shipped all of the AL needed for just over 200 bucks add more if the old fittings are bad and I need new ones. I still would rather have a poly tank though.

 

[oldhaven]

It will be a bit more plumbing, but have you thought of using two smaller poly tanks? Moeller has a big selection of those. It would allow more flexibility with ballasting and capacity, and reduce the free surface slosh effect. Expensive to get two, but they come up used on local CL here fairly often.

Ron

 

[pckeen]

When I picked up my 18' Holiday, the existing tank was junk. I ended up getting one of these 12 gallon tanks, and it stores nicely under the splashwell. Two of these above deck gas tanks, or a different Moeller gas tank may fit above deck, but below the splashwell.

 

[dozerII]

Scratch Kracor off the list, I called them and between the cost of their 27 gallon tank and shipping it would be as much as I paid for the boat, motor and trailer.. :faint2:

Thanks for stopping by with some comments North. Cost of the tank really wasn't the big issue for me that is until I called those guys above. :lol: The big issue is finding a tank that will fit the space and be safe for ever. I checked on the possibility of having a new one built locally and I can buy and have shipped all of the AL needed for just over 200 bucks add more if the old fittings are bad and I need new ones. I still would rather have a poly tank though.

If it wasn't so far for you to drive you could bring the aluminum up here and we could put a tank together over a weekend.

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for the suggestions guys and yeah Glen I would do that in a heart beat if it wasn't such a drive. Trying to get some stuff done and forget about the fuel tank.

Today I took the SS out into the sun and gave it a good wash, first with soap and water then a vinegar scrub then rinsed. All in preparation for primer and paint.

Yeah it's a nice smooth gray, shot SE and then a couple hours later the alkyd primer.

 

[budski]

You're really getting there looks great.

 

[Candutch]

Looks great Rob and good timing on the paint. Synchro top coat pics tomorrow?

 

[Watermann]

It's so blasted hot here today (97) and inside the garage is like a paint oven. I dropped the amount of reducer down but it's flashing off so fast I can't get the paint to lay down nice like it should. Oh well I'm going in for a second coat now that it's a little cooler this evening. It's going to be what it is I guess.

 

[StarTed]

I see the forecast for your area in the triple digits tomorrow. Isn't that too hot to paint?

I'm amazed you're moving along so rapidly in this heat. It looks like it'll cool back down in a few days so that should be a relief.

Nice work.

 

[Candutch]

I hear ya Rob, it was around 105 in my garage today and I had a tough time getting the paint to go on nice. Leaving it overnight, light sand tomorrow early and shoot another coat right away since it's going to be hot again.

 

[Watermann]

Pulled the tape and rolled her out for some sun a couple hours later to enjoy the warmth.

Could've been better but it'll do for a fishing boat. Super light gray sides, bare bottom with black swoosh and stripe. The gunnels, splashwell and consoles will be the same dark gray as the trailer. Might have to rename her Fifty Shades of Gray. :lol:

 

[Candutch]

Looks awesome from here Rob. Couple more days before I can pull the tape. I hate when paint has to dry 24 hrs before re-coating.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah I'm not that patient, I shoot the first coat, wait 2 hours or depending on temps until it tacks up good and then shoot another coat. If I have the coverage and it looks good enough then I'm done. I hate sanding and the 2 hour re-shoot gives good results. The next day it's hardly even gassing out any more.

 

[Candutch]

I'm a rookie at this spray painting so I just follow the label. I have no patience either but I don't want to screw it up with the little experience I have. "Wet" coat tomorrow if u can get the hvlp spraying right, right now it's the hockey game and beers. Go Sharks!

 

[dozerII]

She looks awesome Rob, your sure not wasting any time on her.

 

[CBGale2]

Nice job on the paint! Black on gray was my other choice. It looks sharp!