1972 Starcraft Supersport

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Hello...very nice looking project...I'm guessing 18ft...?
Is the trailer the original one for that starcraft?
If you want to add push pull switches to your dash..I recommend
the Cole Hersee Brand...used a bunch of them on my 1971 Starcraft SS
To identify the swiches I used stainless Steel washers stamped with
a letter/number stamp kit you can buy real cheap...figured its cheaper
then paying someone to engrave the tags...marked the hammer end of the
letter stamps with a vertical line using a permanant marker to get the
orentation of the letters correct...held stamp with vice grips and hit
with hammer...took alittle practice...but washers are cheap too

You are lucky the rest of the family wants to be involved in the project...
Hmmm ...where do you keep the spare tire for the trailer?
I saw a tire without the rim in the boat.....
keep the pics coming...

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Not sure about the trailer, although I would suspect that it is original to the boat. Yes it is a 18 footer. SC16SS your dash is very nicely done. I am torn between the more modern look or the classic look. My wife would prefer that things stay as close to original as possible. Since it is her Grandfather's boat, I will defer to her.

EZ, until I found this sight the coal region was a distant memory. Sure could go for some bleenies... although my doc would recommend I didn't.

As for the gas tank, I like the idea of a tank below deck, that would free up a bunch of space in the rear. I'll have to save up for that...

 

[wvmedic]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Congrats on the SS, looking good.

Jeff

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

EZ, until I found this sight the coal region was a distant memory. Sure could go for some bleenies... although my doc would recommend I didn't.

My in-laws are from Minersville and of Polish/Lithuanian descent. My mother-in-law makes ALL the good food from up there: halupkies, city chicken, bleenies, bean soup, etc. Wonderful stuff.

As for the gas tank, I like the idea of a tank below deck, that would free up a bunch of space in the rear. I'll have to save up for that...

I've been looking for a belly tank that will fit completely under the floor and between the stringers but I haven't located anything yet. I did find some belly tanks but most of them were huge and expensive. If you happen to find anything, let me know.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Since it's been 6 years, I wouldn't worry about it. If feel like it, you could change the lower unit lube.

It is amazing how exactly the same our boats are and we're currently in the same project phase. A good bit of my foam was wet. I'm throwing it all out. I think I'm going to replace it all with pool noodles. If yours is dry, I would reuse it. If you do though, I would definitely do the Gluvit application and make sure you keep your boat covered. You don't want it to get waterlogged. I'm ditching the steel gas tank. In fact I currently have it listed on Craigslist for free hoping someone takes it off my hands so I don't have to figure out how to dispose of it. Mine only had about 5 gallons of gas in it. I have it in a portable tank now and will probably just put a little of it at a time in my older pickup. I'm going to replace it with an 18 gallon plastic tank that will fit between the stringers. It will be too tall to fit completely below the floor but I plan on building a casting deck back there and it will be covered by that.

i would replace the foam anyways. that older stuff WILL hold water if given the chance. i would spend a few bucks on some sheets of 2" foam instead.

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

OK had another nice day yesterday. Took my 3 y/o out to "help." We removed the last piece of decking and moved the fuel tank to the bow. I will need to drain the tank inorder to get it completely out of the boat. After the deck was out we got the power washer and added some simple green to the reservoir and sprayed away. Lot of little metal shavings and what I can only assume are pieces of rivet material left over from Starcraft. Anyway here are the pics.

Clean Bow

Clean Stern

Super thick sealer from Starcraft?

Nearly full gas tank

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

More pics with a few scary spots.

Transom

Knee brace close up #1

Knee brace close up #2

Surface rust?

I assume the surface rust will be easy to fix. Little nervous about the knee brace though.

 

[mikastorm]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Rust? Sure there wasn,t a steel bolt or nut laying there for years.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Looking good Pap's I wouldnt worry to much about the rust as aluminum doesnt rust ( at least not in the same way steel does ) . The surface stuff up in the bow area most likely came from non stainless fasteners on the trim pieces . The knee brace area could be from several places including the steel gas tank or it could be sealer you are seeing hard to tell for sure in those pictures .



Rick

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Every one of those pictures could have been taken in my boat. IDENTICAL. Same stuff in the bow, same around the knee brace, same around the bow area fasteners.

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Yeah, I know tinnies don't rust. Sorry for posting that. The stuff at the bow was from the staples that held the vinyl on the trim pieces. The stuff at the knee brace will need some more investigation. I was pulling rusted chunks out just don't know the source? It could be sealer with steal shavings rusting...who knows???

EZ, didn't you realize I was always posting after you? This way I could photoshop your pics and make them look like mine.

One nice thing about this project has been my wife asking, what's next? What can we do when we can't work outside? She is totally stoked about this project!

 

[PaulyV]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Not to be a broken record..but I have the same exact "rust" and sealent on my boat. Not to worry..

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Breaking tradition here. I bought the Coat-it epoxy sealer to apply to the boat. Came in the mail yesterday, Saturday is supposed to be in the 50's so we will give it a shot. Great price ~$40 for 4lbs worth, not sure how it compares to Gluvit, but felt we needed a second option.

 

[JimbC]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Pap's SuperSport Looks real nice y'all doing a good job too. I had the same in mine(rust spots) I figure it was from nuts,bolts, and hooks and what not that got down under the deck. I even had to dig a lot out from under the ribs drain area(down the middle) as there were some that were completely stopped up.

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Didn't get to the coat-it this weekend. I was able to get the gas tank out, with the help of the tractor. I did spill some fuel so I power washed her again.

This time I was careful not to get any water outside the boat so that I could check for leaks. Low and behold there was the smallest of leaks right below where all this goops is.

Do y'all think the sealer will be up to the task? Should I completely remove this stuff and replace with a similar product and then coat-it? (gluvit)

Might have to think about moving the boat into the garage and moving my wifes car outside.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

If it's a tiny leak, the gluvit-type product should be more than capable of taking care of it.

 

[5speedhemi]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Your flat getting after it aren't you! Man I'm jellous! I have to finish a Xmas float before I can play with my boat toy. Are any of the rivets loose? I know I have a couple dozen rivets or so that I need to remove and rivet some solids back in. I use a product called Chemseal B 1 that is used on pressurized aircraft to seal rivets and joints and even fuel tanks, It does cost a little more that Gluvit but I know that it will last well beyond my life time.

5 speed

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Well things have certainly slowed down on my end with this colder weather. Yesterday was in the low 50's so I attempted to put down the Coat-it. (gluvit competitor) I used the kerosene heater to try to warm the hull. Not sure I would say it was a success?
I was able to get most of the rivits covered, but it was too cold for this product to work as I expected. It was really thick. The parts of the hull that were warm, this product thinned out nicely and spread super easy. Only problem now is cure time. ~36hours at 45degs. I ended up using an entire can and covered about 2/3 of the boat. Like I said though, if the product was warmer, it would have easliy done the entire boat. I have another can, but I will wait until we get some warmer weather to proceed with that application. I'll post pics later.

 

[ryand895]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Boat is looking great. Like everyone else, I wish my progress was going as fast as yours. Like you, I am thinking of using the Coat-it on my hull when I get there.

I have a 72 holiday that I am converting to an open bow (to match the SS). Your pictures are very helpful.

Check out my pics sometime if you want. I am behind you and EZ, but maybe the kids and I will make some good progress this weekend.

http://s922.photobucket.com/albums/ad66/Ryand895/72 Starcraft restoration/

Keep up the good work!

 

[Pap's SuperSport]

Re: 1972 Starcraft Supersport

Ryan,

I am jealous of all who continue to work on their boats right now. Right now my boat is covered with snow. No work has been done since my last post. My wife and I were discussing the next steps yesterday. So when we finally start to warm up a bit here, I will need to get cracking on the decking and getting the boat flipped for paint. Now she just sits and waits for warmer weather.....

BTW, it looks like you are just slightly behind me, maybe even a bit ahead if you got the transom out. Good work!