1979 18’ Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning – lots of pics)

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Yeah, I was going to post pictures after this weekend's work, but I'll dump some now in case anyone needs a little motivation for this weekend on their own project.

I just pulled her back out after 2 weeks of visitors/parties/vacation/beach trip, but now she's front and center stage.

Yesterday I put the consoles in and set the windshield on top, and installed all hardware and cap on the transom. I'm going to paint that cap black; it's pretty beat up, and I'm not going to be able to find a replacement anywhere. I sealed all the through-transom hardware (stainless, btw) with PL Premium concrete sealer. It was everywhere yesterday! Tools, hands, clothes. Cleans up w/ min spirits or acetone though.

She'll have a black rub rail (and black Merc out back), contrasting against the light gray. I've been debating on painting the bare aluminum window frames black to match. It'd look better now, but when they get scratched up...... eh, I'll probably just leave them. I'm a function-over-form type guy. All this paint and whatnot we just did since the hull was already stripped.

More pics of progress to follow Sunday night (well, that's the plan at least).....

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

1 more thing - I think I'm going to use the spray bedliner stuff instead of carpet for the storage pocket under the gunwales. Carpet adhesive is too tough to trowel in that little space, and I've heard the spray adhesive fails quickly. Contact adhesive is a no-no also I've heard. I'd use it (still have some left over from out kitchen counter laminate project), but 1) it looks permanent (grinder to remove) and 2) no readjusting once the surfaces touch. That means wrinkles, unless I'm super careful.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Great looking project!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Looks great! Thanks for the update. I do think you're going to want to find a much larger motor though.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

I do think you're going to want to find a much larger motor though.

Yeah, I've thought about that since I bought it. If I can get up to around 30mph, I think I'll be happy with it. If I feel the need for speed, I have the jetski (47mph via GPS).

I got this motor when I traded a (free) riding mower for a boat/motor/trailer setup. Pulled the motor, sold the boat (which I considered scrap) and trailer for what I paid for the Starcraft ($200). Motor runs in a barrel of water, but I've never had it out in the lake. We'll see.

I've heard in more than one place that 2 strokes are designed for constant speed operation (WOT). Don't know how true it is, but it makes sense with the reed valve stiffness, etc making a certain RPM the engine's sweet spot. I also know that theoretically, an IC engine is most efficient at WOT.

So, instead of having a 150hp and throttling down to 30mph, I should use less gas with a 60hp, running full throttle at 30mph. (Ahem, if it even gets to 30mph).

Ah, it's just a crapshoot anyway with all the other variables. I just figured I'd take this combo out on the lake and see how happy I am with it. I'm still under $500 for the whole setup. My goal was (is) to keep it under $1K.

 

[fishie]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Looks awesome man!! You've done a great job! Would'nt mind seein' this one in person, you ever out on Lanier? Hopefully I'll have my project out there soon!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Well certainly give it a try with the 60. It will probably do 30. However, if you have a couple passengers I think you're not going to be pleased. My boat is a 16' and I'm only running 37 or so with 2 people and an 85 HP. Watch craigslist in your area or eBay and you can probably pick up a V4 Johnson/Evinrude 90-130 HP for a grand or less. And if your Merc is running well you could probably recoup a lot of that selling it.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Looks awesome man!! You've done a great job! Would'nt mind seein' this one in person, you ever out on Lanier? Hopefully I'll have my project out there soon!!

I've been out on Lanier a few times (not with this boat, of course). Allatoona's 15 min from my house, so that's where we usually launch. Less crowded too, and it's 2' below full pool, where Lanier's 16' under.​

Beautiful lake though. We'd get out early and set up on an island (which Allatoona has a deficiency of). Ladies would sit on the beach and lay out, guys would go out tubing/skiing. Later, horseshoes on the beach while lunch was grilling. Good times.

I would've posted some more pics as promised, but really all we did all weekend was attach the stuff that was just set in place for the previous pictures.​

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Well certainly give it a try with the 60. It will probably do 30. However, if you have a couple passengers I think you're not going to be pleased. My boat is a 16' and I'm only running 37 or so with 2 people and an 85 HP.

You're probably right. The boats we're used to are pretty slow, so I won't have much to compare it to. My dad's 16' Grumman (aluminum) has a 'Rude 48 on it, and he runs 27mph (which we think is fast enough). His last boat was a 15' aluminum V w/ a Johnson 25, and I think we clocked 29mph on it before he sold it.​

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

I got to 28mph with the 70 hp on the back of mine. Planed fine and ran fine, so I think the 60 will be okay if you don't need to go anywhere fast. Was by myself to get 28mph. Didn't have the motor long enough to do much testing and the fin on the motor seemed to keep the bow too much in the water. Plus the prop was in rough shape. With some playing I thin I could have got to 30-32ish.

Anyway, with a 115 hung on the back I made 38 mph. Got some tuning of sorts to do as I should do better than that.

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

1 more thing - I think I'm going to use the spray bedliner stuff instead of carpet for the storage pocket under the gunwales. Carpet adhesive is too tough to trowel in that little space, and I've heard the spray adhesive fails quickly. Contact adhesive is a no-no also I've heard. I'd use it (still have some left over from out kitchen counter laminate project), but 1) it looks permanent (grinder to remove) and 2) no readjusting once the surfaces touch. That means wrinkles, unless I'm super careful.

Great Job! One other thing you may want to try in that pocket area is the textured spray paint. I don't have a good pic of that area that isn't covered in fiberglass dust. I'll take one tonight and post it up.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Yeah, I forgot to post my results w/ the bedliner stuff. I forgot which brand I used, but it was $7/can at Walmart (which was the most expensive they had).

I wouldn't use it again. Not much texture, didn't cover up the glue like I had hoped, and was thin like spray paint (yes, I followed the directions, shook the can a ton and sprayed 30" from the surface). Plus, it only covered 1 side before the can ran out.

I used Bondo's Rubberized Undercoating for $5/can, and it covered both sides and had great texture which covered the old glue. Live and learn.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

hmm I don't remember what kind I used from Wally World. I know it had better texture than the stuff I had used from there previously that I rolled on. Very "gritty". I was pleased, but yes it didn't go very far. My spashwell took a whole can.

 

[Reelized]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

WOW! This thread sure boosts my ambition.My hull (77 Mariner 210)is gutted and clean and transom is built(extended new one to accommodate a 25" shaft 150 FI suzuki ).Vacation in August while wife and my 4 month old son are away I hope to have the floor in and motor hung.

 

[Petey_racer]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

I am TRULY impressed!!
VERY nice job!

I have a '71 16 footer and the deck is rotting at the back. I keep telling myself it's too much work to fix. I already had to replace the wood in the transom and far rear deck under the fuel tanks.

Seeing this project makes me want to tackle mine.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

We owned a 1976 version of the same boat. Great boat. She took everything from 6' waves on Lake Michigan to endless hours of waterskiing on the inland lake we used to have a place on.

She was equipped with an 85 Johnson. She'd run in the high thirties at 5600 RPM. She pulled skiers like a tractor. She'd out pull every 1000, 1100, 1150 Merc. on the lake. She was a hands down favorite for my freinds to ski behind. Threw down a beautiful wake too.

It's nice to see one of those old gals all dolled up. Her lines are "classic". Nothing new looks as good.

What you have done to her is nothing less than spectacular. WELL DONE! Thanks for the memories.

Better than new. Kudo's!

I am nominating this project for the "Completed Projects" topic area.

BTW, 85 ponies is minimum for that boat. I operated some like it with 115's and it really woke them up. Something around 100 to 115 is perfect. Its rated for 140. A larger engine "loafing" will use a lot less fuel than a small one working its guts out.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Better than new. Kudo's!

I am nominating this project for the "Completed Projects" topic area.

AH! Not yet! I gotta post some pics of the interior when it's done.

I just got done screwing the dash in, and am going back outside after this post to put the seats in, so I can spot where the steering and controls should go. Hope to be done this week though, at least enough to get pictures of it w/ the engine mounted.

Thanks for the compliments though. It was a tough decision to get rid of the original "SuperSport Blue" and paint grey over it, but I wasn't going for a restoration here, just something to get me on the water.

 

[Reelized]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

but I wasn't going for a restoration here, just something to get me on the water.

You far surpassed the something to get me on the water part.I hope mine comes out half as good.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

OK, your wish is granted. Let me know when you feel she's done.

 

[mcattac]

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

Re: 1979 18? Starcraft Supersport Resurrection (warning ? lots of pics)

I've been doing the same thing as you are with my old Starcraft Bowrider.

It's a 1974 18' Supersport.

Here's a photo of me tearing out the floor -

I have it completely stripped to the hull now and it is over to my buddies machine shop for a little metalwork on the transom. I am increasing the height of it to accept a 25" shaft motor instead of the 20" it came stock for.
I use it on Lake Erie and it gets rough with a bit of water splashing over the transom. My intention is to increase the transom height and reduce or eliminate this water coming over the stearn. I'm also eliminating the splashwell. Anyway, that's the plan.

I am also having my buddy raise the floor supports 4" to acomodate a 28 gallon aluminum fuel tank in the belly. I bought the tank on eBay for a real nice price. This will move a little of the weight from the stern to the center of the boat allowing me more room for added weight on the transom. I am intending on a 4-stroke Honda 90HP main motor and Honda 4-stroke 8HP kicker trolling motor. This modification will raise my floor higher, but it should also make fishing a little better out of it.

I have a couple questions.

First - You used only 1/2" plywood for the floor. Everything I have seen says to use 3/4". Is the 1/2" enough? Is it spongy at all? As you can see in my picture, I'm not a real tiny guy. I really want a strong floor, but would love to save that added weight that 3/4 plywood will add to things.

Second - How did you flip the hull to sand and paint it on the outside? I want to do this too and I am worried about flipping it back rightside up and getting it back onto the trailer without scratching the heck out of it. Lots of friends???? Or did you use an engine lift some how?

You are doing a great job.
Thanks for sharing.

BTW, I'm not doing mine to save money.
I just got tired of boats that weren't exactly what I wanted.
So I decided to do what you're doing and create my own.

Mac