18' 1981 starcraft SS

[Rikkie]

Water leak?

I have a starcraft 18' AS she leaks pretty bad when she is in the water,I have put water at home I see like one drip any thoughts? She is 1981 and has rivets:grumpy:

 

[Rikkie]

I have been doing a lot of work on her I changed motor from merc to Johnson 120hp and 6hp kicker just installed lowrance radio vhf to elec. Downriggers I like to post pic but I am a new b so I'll try making some post,ps I resealed transom it seems to be in good shape thanks for listening rikkie

 

[jbcurt00]

Read GA_boater's replies to your pix posting questions in a new topic
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/other/iboats-forum-and-website-issues/10838760-can-t-post-pix

Asking questions in someone else's topic is considered a hijack, esp when your question is totally unrelated to the topic you asked in

Pix help GA was referring to
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/forum-rules-and-guidelines/10524592-photo-tutorial-dec-2017-update

 

[Rikkie]

[No message]

 

[southkogs]

Take it to a lake / river / launch where there isn't a lot of activity, and get it floating - if you can keep it on the trailer that's fine ... if not, float out a bit.

Get your head into the bilge and watch for the water. Use mirrors, flashlight and cell phone to see where it is coming in. If it's coming from up front, then you'll have to start examining the hull. from the exterior.

Welcome aboard.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

In 81' i could run like a Deer. Not so much 39 years latter, walking is tough today. Your boat is very old and the rivets are leaking. Tring to determine exactly which exact vivets are leaking by looking into the bilge is next to impossible. Plus it many be leaking through the transom, that is much easier to determine. It may be both transom and rivets leaking. Do a transom test. I don't want to be the Grim Reaper but the old girl is 39 years old no matter what. 3 or 4 grand of materials around where I am as well as a few hundred hours of labour will get that hull in new shape. Hope you got it cheap.

Also never, ever fill your boat with water while it sits on a trailer level. Maybe if you lift the bow as high as you can get it to see if the bilge is leaking is OK, once. Take the transom saver off, tilt the engine up 100%, lift the trailer to the max until the skeg hits the ground then put some water into the bilge area. Watch for transom leaks. Best of luck.

 

[Rikkie]

Thanks for the help,I can use all I can get,I don't know if I am ready to pull motor back off and take the floor out,it's hard to see much through the one hole in floor I think for ski storage,there is to small holes in TOP of metal on top of the transom,all rivits look to be tight and all there,has anyone tyres filling the ribs? On the bottom hull with foam as there's is holes in them or is that a bad idea again thanks for all and any help rikkie

 

[82rude]

I have a 16 foot ss StarCraft.If you were to take the floor out you will be amazed at how little foam is actually there.Mine was a leaker also and because I boat on lake superior it can take a pounding.Look very closely underneath and make sure you do not have a missing rivet or 2 .Mine had a new transom but a punky floor .I replaced the floor but before I installed it I did the smartest thing I could by buying a gallon of Fasco Steelflex which is a cheaper but just as good version of Gluvit.I coated the inside of the hull with it and also as much as I could of the bottom.2 years going on 3 and not a drop gets in now.https://fascoepoxies.com/FASCO-9XN-Steel-Flex-Epoxy-Coating-Neutral.html

 

[Rikkie]

82rude,did you use just one gal.or more,and how hard to get floor out from under drivers and passengers side and did you go same size rivets

 

[82rude]

I believe i used 3/16th blind rivets (aluminum).I will double check later.I drilled out the rivets that hold the console to the floor and just simply ripped up the floor as it was pretty rotten.I hated those back to back seats so I went with simple fishing seats (swivel).

 

[82rude]

I f you do a search there are tons of StarCraft rebuilds on here.

 

[Rikkie]

Thanks for the help,did it take just one gal.of Costco proxies or more?,My floor seem to be in good shape,will that make harder to get the floor out.thanks again 82rude

 

[Rikkie]

Floor removal

I have a 1981starcraft 18'SS that leaks bad,so I guest the floor has to come out to find leak or to add fosco epoxy how much work are I am looking at,and what steps should take,the floor seem to be in good shape,does that make it harder

 

[GA_Boater]

#1 Don't start new threads for every little thing. Ask your questions in this thread so we don't have to chase you all over the forum.

#2 This is now in the Starcraft section, the source for all things Starcraft.

 

[82rude]

Before panic sets in take a valium and get relaxed,lol.First thing id do is do a close inspection underneath.I would not be suprised if you have one or 2 rivets missing.When mine started leaking bad that's exactly what happened.2 blind rivets and a coating of fasco it was just like new.Sorry ,I actually replaced several rivets ,if they looked loose or seeped out they went.A gallon of fasco should do your bottom completely I would think.Dont rip up your perfectly good floor .I coated my inside because my floor was gone .

 

[Rikkie]

82rude thanks a lot,I'll take a chill pill and real good inspection i will put bilge pump as soon as run HAS out so l can pull the tank

 

[Rikkie]

I'll take a chill pill and do very good inspection I will put auto bilge pump as soon as run the gas out so l can pull the tank and and do very good inspection of the trmson and seal it in some good paint,mine has the back to back seats not a fan!but there new so I'll live with them for now my boat doesn't have to look grate as long as it fishes grate!thank you again 82rude rikkie

 

[SHSU]

You got any pictures?

SHSU

 

[Rikkie]

[No message]

 

[Rikkie]

I am just looking for some help trying to go get out were this support goes found it in bilge loose just rolling around.its a 1981starcraft ss 18' can anyone tell me were it goes