Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

[antichris83]

I picked this 1974 Starcraft 18' SS up for really cheap. Now I'm starting to see that there is no such thing as a cheap boat.

It looks like the previous owner fiberglassed the whole bottom side of the boat. The rivets on the keel are not even visable. He also fiberglassed in pieces of wood near the back.

Is this boat gonna be worth the work? I think she would look great next to my 16' '62 Lonestar (when its done; its halfway there now) but if its junk, then i will just part it out.

Thanks for your help. Now lets see if i can figure out how to post pictures.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Get to it with an angle grinder and you will be able to remove the existing deck. The boat will be plenty lighter after that is out too

These old aluminum hulls are easily restored...so I vote to keep her

 

[antichris83]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Get to it with an angle grinder and you will be able to remove the existing deck. The boat will be plenty lighter after that is out too

These old aluminum hulls are easily restored...so I vote to keep her

the glass is on the outside. I think i got the pictures to work so you can get a better idea of what i mean. Someone went crazy on this thing!

 

[wilkboater]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

It looks too far gone to me. Meet me at Little Rock and I'll save you all of that grinding.........

 

[CapnD]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

I also vote restore. I have a 70 SS and i love it. Just got new seats for it this week. Planning to take out the floor some year and find thast pesky leak! Otherwise, the bioat has held up great doing eveyrhting from pulling skiers to hauling firewood.

 

[antichris83]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

what would be the best method of removing all the fiberglass? Hammer and chisel?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Now that's a serious keel reinforcement job!

Looks like lots of work to remove all that glass. I'd be careful grinding it since you'd be liable to cut right thru the aluminum hull that's hiding in there somewhere

Not sure how to tackle that challenge

BTW that massive bow railing looks sweet, probably off a Starcraft Islander or Chieftain.

 

[jspano]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

i would remove some wood decking and any foam to see the inside of the hull and try to find out what the po was trying to hide.

 

[antichris83]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

I broke a few chunks of fiberglass off on a couple of spots. The hull and rivets were fine. I'm not sure what the po was doing, but there is even wood added and fiberglassed over on the bottom towards the back. You can see it in one of the pics.

Is there any chemical that will dissolve the resin?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

HOLY SHAMOLY!!! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY, I AM SO CONFUSED!

Was he desperate? A giant hole maybe?

I am not one to give up easy but I wouldn't get too deep into this one.

All the best man!

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

The PO must have been really mad at that tin hull.

The idea to begin with a tearing out of some of the interior is a good idea. it will give you an internal look at what you can't see from the outside. Then if it looks salvageable figure out the best way to remove the glass. If you get to that point one of those new vibrating tools like Dremel multi max or Fein makes along with the scraping blade might work.

It looks like it is worth a serious try to decide if it is salvageable.

Albert

 

[sprintst]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Looks like he was trying to fit in with the glass boat crowd. It would be interesting to know what the he** he was thinking. Heavy drinker? Crystal meth tweaker?

You could spend some time chipping away to see what under there first. He might have had a couple of leaky rivets where some Gluvit might have done.

Obviously he couldn't find the forum

 

[PaulyV]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Looks like he was trying to fit in with the glass boat crowd. It would be interesting to know what the he** he was thinking. Heavy drinker? Crystal meth tweaker?

You could spend some time chipping away to see what under there first. He might have had a couple of leaky rivets where some Gluvit might have done.

Obviously he couldn't find the forum

Wow...I go with the crystal meth scenario...this guy had time on his hands..and a large sak of candy...

 

[Fiftyfivefloater]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

what would be the best method of removing all the fiberglass? Hammer and chisel?

Nice job on posting those pics! They do tell a strange tale don't they? Looks to me like someone had only one tool in their toolbox and unfortunately it wasn't aluminum rivets.

One of those little high frequency osicillating power tools might work....but there would be a whole lotta surface staring back at you for a long time.

I would try using something like that..carefully..to see what if any progress could be made. Depending on the surface grip of the glass/resin on the aluminum(or painted alum) you may be able to work it off in sections. That would only be true if you were able to 'create' sections that could be worked free...if they release at all. Man... it looks like a porcupine to me.

Hopefully someone on this forum (and there are some very helpful folks here) has delt with such porcupines in their past and can give you some advice.

Good find on the boat, hope you can save it without donating too much blood.

Maybe there is a mad chemist out there who knows what it would take. But then the next question is.....would it be legal ....or safe for your neighborhood?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Heat gun will soften the resin in no time, a scraper will strip it right off .
Clean it up with acetone when it cools.

Considering its on metal I'd probably just use propane torch ..carefully.
Don't waste your time grinding.

Those tinny's are great boats, junk the other glass hull and keep that one.
My next one is definately gonna be a tin hull.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

i would remove some wood decking and any foam to see the inside of the hull and try to find out what the po was trying to hide.

I agree. Start from the inside. It may have been just leaking badly or there is a gash under that fiberglass. Remove the deck and then decide what to do.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft...Restore or Scrap?

Yeah what they said^^^^ We have seen some serious corrosion on some SC hulls so maybe that's that he was trying to fix. If the inside looks good then get out your scraper. Good luck.