The well traveled 1979 Starcraft 18' V5 SS

[Watermann]

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.

Yeah the 3rd wheel will have to sit down on the deck between the seats. He can bring his own comfort butt pad though. :lol:

Had the day off yesterday so I got the livewell and cooler plumbed, used some self adhesive HVAC duct wrap to insulate the cooler insert. Not sure what I'll do for the hatch lid for insulation, still thinking on that. Then I got all the decking riveted down. The last of the wood pieces cut this morning, the trim for the front edge of the splashwell, bump out for the fuel filler line and the door cut for the center under deck hatch. Waiting on spar to dry now so I can vinyl everything.

Finishing touches going on.

 

[BWR1953]

So close... so very close!

Nice Starmada touch too! :thumb:

 

[classiccat]

It looks like dropped-by just in time for the splash! Lookin' good Agua!

 

[jbcurt00]

Great work Rob.

Carrying the Starmada torch too. Well done

 

[Candutch]

Looks fantastic Rob and nice Starmada decal.

 

[budski]

Nice nice nice, love your color choices.

 

[Patfromny]

Love the mob sticker. She's looking great.

 

[No-AH]

Launch pad ready mate....she's a beaut!

 

[oldhaven]

I don't know where you get your energy...I only have one of these projects and I'm not doing another anytime soon. It takes too much out of me dealing with the obsession.

 

[dozerII]

Awesome job Rob, quite the tranformation from the mess I brought home from Gibbles in Utah. I'm really hoping yours dosen't suffer from the same handling issues my 201 did with all the weight up in the bow.

 

[StarTed]

Wow, some beautiful progress. You know, you're making the rest of us look bad.

 

[Tnstratofam]

She's turning out really nice. I love the dash layout. The Starcraft center piece on the steering wheel and the Mob sticker are nice touches.

 

[Patfromny]

I really do like the dash Rob. I know I suggested wood grain earlier but it really looks nice the way it is. You had the vision and it was the right call. Wood grain or anything else wouldn't fit the boat as nice as it does now

 

[budski]

With the way you have the front and rear decks set up the driver and passenger areas kind of look like a step down cockpit, neat.

 

[Watermann]

Hey fellas thanks for buzzing my dry dock, I really do appreciate all the comments. ride:

So I have everything done except for installing my Ray Marine unit, it should be here later this coming week. The admiral mentioned to me that she might have forgot to get the SS insured earlier this week. :grumpy: Not sure I want to chance it but it sure is tempting. I guess the main worry is towing and texting idiots so it would be covered in that event just not on the water mishaps.

Last couple touches were the bump out for the fuel filler line and the center hatch.

I was pretty excited today as I went and fueled her up for the first time. That first towing run is always for me a bit nerve wracking for the first few miles but it went smoothly.Then I got home and was pumping the primer bulb and pumping and pumping... what the heck's going on? So I spun the deck plate out and there was a quart of pre-mix in the bilge, I forgot to tighten the spin on fuel filter. :doh: 2 hours later it was cleaned up and aired out. I got the motor running after some cranking and did a seafoam decarb. Let the motor run for a half hour and it was solid and I took the opportunity to test the battery voltage... 12.40v while running, oh that's not good, it looks like I have a charging issue to deal with now.

 

[budski]

Really nice jub covering that fill hose and door looks great.

 

[crankbait cowboy]

Super job, and congrats on such a fine project, your mob decal is an excellent touch

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for being nice guys and not rubbing my nose in the fuel mishap. :lol:

On the motor issue of not charging, I went straight to the rectifier and ohm tested it. It's bad so I got an order in for a new one.

Noticed a couple bad wires, these old motors have an issue with the insulation on the wires rotting. Also the nut that holds the drive gear on the starter was about to come off. Guess it was a good thing to run the motor and check things out before hitting the water.

 

[Marvelous5891]

That interior is looking beautiful WM

 

[oldhaven]

Thanks for being nice guys and not rubbing my nose in the fuel mishap.

I'd be the last one to say anyrthing after my bargain belly tank leak incident, but I know that panic feeling seeing gas pour out of the bilge drain. I'm glad yours was easy to fix.