18' Starcraft SS Restoration

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Sorry, not sure what happened with that pic. Here is one of the trailer. Its a tilt trailer but I think it may be too small I decide on that later.
And guess what the nice Fed X man brought to me?

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One is polished and the other is satin finish. I can polish them both to match. Thanks again to Darren (Stratos) for the lead to the new ones.
Anyway, its sanding time, got Gluvit, ZC paint, and time (at least 3 days anyhow) I do have to decide on the knee brace before any painting, I may have to re flip to do inside repair.

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Hey Fshngo. I love the boat. About the knee brace, I had the same issue. I was convinced by a buddy who works with aluminum to remove the brace, put in what he called a strengthening plate (2nd skin) on the inside bottom of the transom/bilge area, repair the brace and then re-attach. I have done that and man is it ever sturdy. I did use an aircraft rivet gun and put in original solid rivets so that nothing but aluminum is below water line. My camera has been on the fritz but I will get a picture up tomorrow if I can't get it tonight. After everything was installed, all of it was coated in Gluvit and is now corrosion proof in the entire bilge/transom area. I hope this helps. My buddys comment to me was, "you only want to do it once, right?"

Oh yeah, between the two layers I used Gluvit and then primed each rivet with gluvit.

Floyd

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Sorry, not sure what happened with that pic. Here is one of the trailer. Its a tilt trailer but I think it may be too small I decide on that later.
And guess what the nice Fed X man brought to me?

[/IMG]
One is polished and the other is satin finish. I can polish them both to match. Thanks again to Darren (Stratos) for the lead to the new ones.
Anyway, its sanding time, got Gluvit, ZC paint, and time (at least 3 days anyhow) I do have to decide on the knee brace before any painting, I may have to re flip to do inside repair.

Fshngho, the polished piece is beautiful. What did you use to polish it with?

Floyd

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Dude, you already have me keeping things from your wife! I am scared now.

I didn't see it but nice job on the flip!

 

[ranger31]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Nice boats guys..I like the one fabricated to accept the bow mount trolling motor..Looks like factory..Definately the way to go..I had a 16ft ss 74 model..The starcraft holiday white though..Really a good boat..Ever want to trade for a 67 wooden classic let me know....Good luck..Hopefully the boat is a 74 or later,if that evinrude matches the years before that it could very well be the electric shift years.If so do not even attempt to start it,just get a good motor for it...See ya Matt

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Fshngho, here is a pic of the plate riveted in and then the knee brace back in and all of it gluvited (new word maybe).

Floyd

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Floyd, the caps were delivered that way. The guy I bought them from told me about it before I bought them, figured I would polish the one to match. I would love to rivet the plate in place with solid rivets, where do I get them and a gun? You have done what I had in mind, including the gluvit. I'm glad it works, I was thinking of an extra brace on each side too.
Jason, no worries, actually it was my cart and I don't need to hide anything from my wife She gives me her blessing and helps when I need it. Well, except flipping the boat. It was 97 degrees that day and she wouldn't come out, so I did it by myself....again. Not bad really when you get your ducks in a row.
Is it my computer or did my thread go on steroids? Twice the size of my monitor.

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

I got the rivet gun on ebay from a laid off aircraft mechanic. A bummer that his situation was bad, but I picked up a gun and whole bag of dies for less than $100. The rivets I got through grainger. The original rivet that starcraft used is a brazier head that grainger sells. I talked to Starcraft and verified not only the rivets but also the correct dies. I enlarged the rivet holes one size in most cases and in some two sizes. This way the holes were exact and the rivets were not swimming in the old holes. When you drill them out it is almost impossible to not enlarge the holes a little. The small rivets that were original are 5/32. I enlarged those to 3/16. Rivets that were 3/16 I enlarged to 1/4. I am amazed at how easy it was. I did go a little crazy though. Once I started I crawled all over the hull and replaced anything that looked bad. I ended up replacing about 250 rivets in 4 or 5 hours. Now she is completely watertight and solid. Any corrosion was covered with gluvit and any weak spots were reinforced with panels from the inside and riveted in place. If you go this route and need part numbers on the rivets or dies, let me know. How close are you to Roanoke, VA?

Floyd

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

About the brace. I was thinking that as well until I got it all together. I am 6'6" and 225. I can bounce up and down on the new transom with a buddy of similar size and the only thing that moves is the bow lifting up off of the trailer. I did have a small crack welded on my knee brace and I riveted another piece to it and then attached all to the transom. It is solid. I decided that the original design was just fine with just the one knee brace.

Floyd

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Thanks Floyd, I am sure I will have more questions
I am in Chesterfield Va, just south of Richmond, maybe 2 hrs from Roanoke.
My boss gave me a sheet of 48 x 120 x 060 aluminum with anything I need to brace and make a sub floor
Life is good

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Sounds great. I will have my resto thread back up and running soon so I am sure we will keep in touch. Chesterfield is just right up the road. I have family in the West End of Richmond so I get up that way every so often.

Floyd

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Golly what a headache. I finally got to spend some time on the boat today and made some headway. With everyone worried about paint I believe I am going with old reliable. I want to try and do this right just once so with the aid of the stripper I got the bottom naked. My wife ( Linda ) was going to join in but she said I looked like I was having too much fun so she left me & the stripper alone. I am very satisfied with the stripper and got off a lot today. I did take precautions (never can be too carefull) and took a few breaks but still got a headache and wore myself out. Yeah I took some pics and will post them tomorrow when I get it all off with the aid of the stripper.

Y'all do know I'm talking about the paint on the boat...right?

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Y'all do know I'm talking about the paint on the boat...right?

Yeah{sigh} there goes the visual I had
Looking forward to seeing it glimmer in all her glory!

 

[North Beach]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Yeah, where's dem pics

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Hope everyone is/has enjoying the holliday. I spent my time with the mistress and a stripper. Ok NB and Kenny put your sunglasses on

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It took two cans of stripper from Wally world, wire brush, razor blades, and about 11 hrs. Much easier than the Starchief I had. Sooooo, anyone have any ZC to spare? Just kidding, I have two spray cans and 1qt rusto alum primer, think that should do me?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Gosh, that looks like it came out really clean! Nice work!!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Thanks Jason. Yeah, the boat did come out pretty well, I am happy. The two things that aren't clean however is myself and my garage
Its all fine though, we're having beautiful weather but I'm glad I'm not in the sun. I still have a few spots to hit, but my back needs a break and I need a coke

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Looking sweet Dale!... Mistress and stripper...some guys have all the luck lol.
If I recall correctly, I used 6 or 7 cans{spray bombs}of the zinc c, from the seam down across the hull bottom...and another 5 or 6 of etching for the rest of the hull{not counting bow deck}. I may have put the ZC on heavier than needed, but I had already bought them....so...

 

[fshngho]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

thanks Kenny. With the Good Lord willing, I plan to keep this 'till I croak.
Like my favorite TV host says " Build it Right the first Time, Mike Holmes.
I am sure I will "overkill" but too much is never enough.

 

[Floyd M]

Re: 18' Starcraft SS Restoration

Nice job. The boat looks awesome! What color scheme are you planning?