The well traveled 1979 Starcraft 18' V5 SS

[strokendiesel002]

Awesome! Solid holeshot, midrange response and 42 mph... How much more can we ask for?!

The ability to cut through wakes smoothly is the one thing my little 16 sport will never be able to do, and I've always been jealous of those hulls that can

Again amazing job, I really like the stripe you did, she looks every bit as amazing g as I believe we all imagined! Thank you for sharing this for all to see!

 

[Watermann]

Thanks, I'm a huge fan of the old skool new look with everything old made to look new again and adding the period correct swoosh with the 79 Merc made the look complete. I debated a solid color with the newer decals but decided to just bring the old SS back to all new but old if that makes sense.

This V5 hull design was a bit ahead of it's time and I fell in love with it here seeing what forum members were able to do with it. Most rank and file folks I see around the launches have no idea what these old Starcrafts are all about but you guys sure do.

 

[will w.]

Congrats on a successful splash. I too have always thought the V5 were ahead of their time.

 

[MD28]

Love it Waterman! Thanks for sharing your build and also your knowledge on these boats, it is appreciated!

 

[Candutch]

Congrats on the splash Rob! She looks fantastic on the water.

 

[Watermann]

Today I got some of the post splash to dos done.

Not sure why I forgot the safety chain but I added one that is very substantial with a clip S hook.

Shifter was out of adjustment by a couple turns, should be good now.

Got the middle carb main jet plug out, was an act of sheer terror as the PO had stripped out the head and there was red locktitie. I had to cut a new slot with a dremmel tool and heat the screw to get the leaky thing out. Reinstalled the carb and removed the fuel pump. Now have to wait until mid week for the parts.

An X rated Merc pic below so navigate away if you're not able to view such tri-power beauty. :lol:

 

[nrf414]

Rob,

I'm a little late to the excitement it congratulations!!! Looking awesome and I bet it felt awesome too. Great work. Thanks for taking us along

 

[Watermann]

Hey there's no too late, thanks for stopping by and the compliment. Thanks to all you guys for your kind words. :happy:

Knocking things off the shakedown cruise fix it list this week. I think I figured out the Faria OB tach issue reading low, I had the wrong setting on the back so that was an easy fix upside down under the console. These inline 6 Merc tops have to be set at 12 pole rather than cylinder numbers so I had to set the tach at 5.

Another thing I hadn't mentioned was the dash panel flexing too much for my liking due to it having 2 huge cutouts on the front and top. I fabbed up a bracket from a piece of angle AL then bolted it to the top helm mounting bolt and the other end screwed into the front console plywood.

I'm thinking an extended second cruise this weekend to see how things shake out.

 

[Pusher]

Good call on the reinforcement There's a crack that will never happen.

 

[GA_Boater]

dash panel flexing too much

see how things shake out

Watch out!

Doesn't the tach have a 12P setting?

 

[Watermann]

Watch out!

Doesn't the tach have a 12P setting?

Yeah 5. It was set on 6 so the tach read low. The settings are 1 through 6 and the instruction/manual are less than 2 pages of English for the entire 4 gauge set. I found the pole setting info at my Inline Merc closed FB group.

I had to download a PDF from Faria that was a conglomeration to tell me what setting was for 12 pole on their 7k OB tach. Appendix V, here's the link if someone down the line needs it. http://faria-instruments.com/site_ma...pair_guide.pdf

7000 RPM Outboard Tach
OB ALT SWITCH SETTING
1 - 4 POLE
2 - 6 POLE
3 - 8 POLE
4 - 10 POLE
5 - 12 POLE

 

[GA_Boater]

OK - The 5 setting confused me cuz Mercs are 12 pole. I guess Faria didn't have room to print 4P, 6P, etc., like many tach makers. :doh:

Still one more thing crossed off on the punch list.

 

[jvanhees]

:love-struck::love-struck::love-struck: your latest build is my favorite so far. Beautiful SC Rob! What a great looking boat. I think your fuel pump issue solved my recent post regarding my half speed motor. WELL DONE SIR :thumb:

 

[Watermann]

Thanks for stopping in fellas

Brown truck right on time today dropped off the fuel pump repair kit. I also got a new ignition key since I hate having only 1, pretty awesome setup, you get the same number key and it's pre-cut, works perfectly.

This fuel pump rebuild was so easy compared to the kit I put in the Johnson which had many parts to include springs and balls. Pulled her out and put on the muffs, started right up in 2 seconds and I could hear a snapping sound. I got to looking and could see a visible spark on a coil jumper wire. I shut down the motor and could move the connector with my finger. Found that every one of them were loose.

Started again and had no leaks and the tach is acting normally too so I think I'll be heading out for another trial run this weekend.

Question:
Anyone see an issue here, so while the motor was running I checked the gauges and saw the volt meter which goes to 16v sitting at 16. I checked the battery with my multi meter and it read 16.3v while running and 13.3v when the motor was off.

 

[GA_Boater]

16 volts isn't unusual when over 2-2500 RPM with no regulator. It should be less at idle, maybe about 13 volts.

The question is - Does your Merc have a regulator? A regulated motor should max out about 14-14.5 volts.

 

[Watermann]

I noticed it running at 16v last weekend. Stock rectifier that I replaced last week so I'm guessing that is normal voltage for these motors to run then.

 

[GA_Boater]

My rectifier-only motor hits 16 volts about 3000 RPM. That's what I used as a reference in the previous post.

 

[MNhunter1]

Just catching up after a little hiatus... Absolutely fabulous job WM! Another beautiful Starcraft on the water.

 

[Watermann]

Thanks Don, I've been reading up in the Merc forum archives and I see many that have come before me worried over the same "overcharge" issue which makes me worry less especially since I have no electronics attached to that battery for the higher voltage to even matter, just the TnT and motor on that starting battery. Everything else runs off of the other 3 deep cycles.

One other thing checked that I forgot to mention after the splash is I pulled the vent plug on the lower to make sure no water leaked in or the oil came out milky. I'm happy to say the oil was as pristine as when I put it in. I also replaced that vent plug as a PO owned only screwdrivers that were worn out, bent up and or not the right size for anything he used them on. That vent plug was monkey'd up bad when all he had to do was use the right size screw driver and a new gasket like I did. I replaced both plugs on my SN lower with allen heads so no monkey would ruin them with a screwdriver again.

 

[GA_Boater]

Watch the voltmeter when you're out running around. And keep an eye on the battery acid, a high charging rate tends to cause evaporation.

Hey - The right sized screwdriver also fits allen heads. Don't know how I know that.