The well traveled 1979 Starcraft 18' V5 SS

[BWR1953]

Fantastically awesome wonderful work as always WM! You really set a high bar for the rest of us! :thumb:

 

[nrf414]

Slicker than snail snot. Great work Rob!

 

[Watermann]

Great to see you fellas buzz by my dry dock and thanks for the kind words. :yo:

Well despite the rain and foul cold weather today my dedicated resto buddy helped me knock out the remaining pieces of the aft casting deck. There were some challenging ply cuts, AL supports to fab up. It's looks simple but a whole bunch went into properly supporting the decking so it can be walked on for years to come. I guess there's nothing left now but to seal up the wood and wrap some Nautolex vinyl. :happy:

If you look to the starboard side of the pic you'll see my nemesis, that side fuel filler line. There was no way to get that behind the side panel so I had to split the panel and will have to create a bump out for it at the front of the casting deck. I went over Budki's V5 build and wish like heck I would've followed suit and filled in that side hole and put the filler line out the top of the gunnel. Oh well I figured that out too late but on the bright side I can get to the filler and vent easily. :lemo:

 

[budski]

Really like what you did with splash well great storage from a lot of wasted space.

 

[BMerr509]

Looks awesome Rob! Do you plan on closing the front part of the deck or just leaving it open for access to below the deck?

 

[Watermann]

Looks awesome Rob! Do you plan on closing the front part of the deck or just leaving it open for access to below the deck?

Yeah it's going to be enclosed with the center being a hatch for access.

 

[crankbait cowboy]

looks great WM, excellent work and really liking the hatches and storage

 

[pckeen]

Excellent - you have storage galore in that. Are you going to enclose the central part of the under deck space to prevent stored items from rolling out of reach, or will you just leave it open?

 

[Watermann]

Yeah Peter I've debated enclosing and compartmentalizing the rear area but due to the plumbing for the livewell it'll be too much of a head ache having a pass through and I have cross over wiring for the main fuse panel.

So this weekend besides fishing my Chief's end cap out of the drink I got all of my decking sealed and Nautolex vinyl on but not installed in the boat yet so it's kind of scattered around my destroyed hangar.

I did finally brain storm a solution for that trouble area under the consoles. The sides of hull come in so sharply on this V5 that SC ended the side panels right at the start of the console and then glued carpet on the sides to call if good. The original layout of the side panels included 2 cubbys, one on each side, midship high on the side panels right below the gunnels. The AL cubbys were too long to go where I wanted them so I cut off 6", reassembled and fitted them along the side next to the seats riveting them to the side rib and existing panel. Then I made up another panel that reaches down to where the seam is thus creating a 4" deep storage pocket.

Tough to explain so here's what it looks like now.

.

 

[No-AH]

Nice clean look! That area in most boats I've compared is a real head scratcher on how to finish. I ended finishing that area on the holi with 2" foam board glued to the hull. I had to relieve the back of the foam board with horizontal cuts every inch or so and 3/4 way deep so that it would take the shape of the side hull. Also had a hull rib to dig out material for to cover it. I used a high tack waterproof adhesive and mechanically braced it while the glue cured.

 

[Watermann]

That's an interesting approach, I see why people just slap on carpet and move on. What's on the outside finished side of the foam board?

I know in pics it doesn't look like much but this area was a challenge for me to over come and make it look decent.

 

[No-AH]

Being a mechanical insulator by trade I've experienced this way of finishing uneven surfaces in the past. I haven't decided what I will use for a finish [either carpet or vinyl] yet as I've just removed the bracing I used as it cured....but I'm very pleased with how it bonded to the hull and has given me a smooth area to work with. I'll post a pic when I get home.

 

[RStewart]

The boat is coming along. Nice work WM. Not sure if this is part of your plan, but are you/could you put 2 more seats between the cockpit & rear casting deck?

 

[Watermann]

Thanks Ron but no there's not enough room and if I fish with 3 of us in the boat that would be the max, most the time it's just 2 guys in the boat.

 

[Candutch]

That looks really good Rob and it will be nice to have those storage pockets for small stuff you just want to chuck somewhere.

 

[Watermann]

While the spar dries on the helm side panel I got going elsewhere. The 3 rings on the starboard side below are 2" pass through's for rod holders, the rod butts will go into a holder mounted fore on the side panel.

 

[budski]

That is looking just awesome Rob, not much left till splash time.

 

[Watermann]

That is looking just awesome Rob, not much left till splash time.

Thanks John, we'll see how the weather is this coming weekend

 

[No-AH]

Superbly laid out mate! Great use of all usable space in that configurement!

 

[Patfromny]

The boat is coming along. Nice work WM. Not sure if this is part of your plan, but are you/could you put 2 more seats between the cockpit & rear casting deck?

Great work as always WM. Just an idea for you on this subject. It looks like the rear casting deck would make a nice bench seat for any additional fisherman buddy's. Just give me a life cushion to sit on and I'd be happy as a clam back there.