18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

[brobrad]

I'm not sure what the year model of this boat. I bought if from a man and pulled it out of the weeds. I've not even cleaned it out as i am working another boat i'm about to sell. The starcraft is a keeper for sure. I didn't get much help from starcraft on identifying the year model. I'd appreciate any help that could be offered there. I'm starting with a blank hull, but i'd like to go back as close to original as possible. My curved windshield is cracked, but all else is good. I believe the boat used to be an I/O and someone added a trasom/fuel tank. I plan to leave it that way, but reado a protion of it as well. I am considering an aluminum deck verses plywood. With either case i'll use a liner like durbak, line-x, or tuff-coat. Any tips on getting the windshield, prepairing for painting and cabin construction. Anything else i left off that you'd like to share about please let me know. I think i'm gonna enjoy this greatly.

thanks

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Looks like a long road ahead but I think she's worth the time & money.

Alum... floor sounds expensive, would redirect that money somewhere else. Big boat = big $$$$$$$$$ for restore

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Nice Starcheif! I will be happy to help any way I can. I would not reccomend pour in foam, as that blocks the natural drainage path. Use the pink stuff from home depot (waterproof and available in multiple thicknesses. Most of the guys that have done aluminum starcraft restos have used it. Starcraft origanally used foam blocks and a 1/2" floor. I went with 5/8" exposure 1 bc grade ply and am sealing both sides with Epoxy resin (not polyester it's too brittle) Some guys are using thicker or thinner plywood, but you really don't have to spend the extra on marine grade. I am planning on Durabak. I am pretty sure yours is a pre-67 cause that is when they went to a non rounded cabin winshield. What kind of motor are you planning on using?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brobrad..Happy to see you have a thread of your own (finally..lol)

plain old exterior ply sealed in glass is good...no need as said to blow the $$ on marine...Remember NO pressure treated ply in alum boats..think there is a copper chemical in it that reacts badly with alum...


I would NOT use alum sheets as decking material, VERY $$$ and Hot hot hot on the feet...you would have the S.S. Skillet! lol

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

I would consider removing the add on transom as that shifts your weight really far back. If you want to build it as an outboard, you can modify your transom pretty easily (especially scince you need a new one anyhow.)

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Hot hot hot on the feet...you would have the S.S. Skillet! lol

THAT WAS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

I'm here 6 days a week, dark on Sundays..
Try the Veal..And tip your waitress!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Make sure you can register that puppy before you start sinking cash and labor into it!!

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Yes, it was registered here in Mississippi up until 95 when they pushed it off into the weeds.

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

I think i'm gonna mount the motor and controls and see how she does with the extended transom. I've seen in other threads that the bow is kinda heavy. If it doesn't work i cn then remove it. I'm not going to put a lot of $$$ into it until i get it powered out right and see how she rides.

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Thanks,
i was unaware of the reaction. I would have used preasure treated. I just finished my other boat (with exception of repower) and i'm gonna start on this one in a week or two. Thanks to all for your help.

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Nice Starcheif! I will be happy to help any way I can. I would not reccomend pour in foam, as that blocks the natural drainage path. Use the pink stuff from home depot (waterproof and available in multiple thicknesses. Most of the guys that have done aluminum starcraft restos have used it. Starcraft origanally used foam blocks and a 1/2" floor. I went with 5/8" exposure 1 bc grade ply and am sealing both sides with Epoxy resin (not polyester it's too brittle) Some guys are using thicker or thinner plywood, but you really don't have to spend the extra on marine grade. I am planning on Durabak. I am pretty sure yours is a pre-67 cause that is when they went to a non rounded cabin winshield. What kind of motor are you planning on using?

I'll check out the pink stuff. I am considering the durabak, but have also looked at tuffcoat.
As far a power, i have a 115 johnson to put on it. I would SERIOUSLY consider and inboard if i could get a good one without breaking the bank. Any suggestions on what i should do there. I'm sure mine was an I/O because of the transom build. I need to find a windshield as well. Thanks for your help!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Love the Starchief bro brad...I love Islanders almost as much Those older hulls are sweet and almost beg to be restored and put away wet. What are your plans for her...fishing, cruising, diving, all of the above?

Congrats on the new project and good luck

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Love the Starchief bro brad...I love Islanders almost as much Those older hulls are sweet and almost beg to be restored and put away wet. What are your plans for her...fishing, cruising, diving, all of the above?

Congrats on the new project and good luck

Hey Huron Angler,
Thanks for your interest. I love the starchief as well. Yes, it's begging me right now. I just finished another boat that i hope to sell and i'm gonna clean out the starcraft today. Mostly fishing, but a little cruising as well. I keep bouncing back and forth on the engine. I have a 115 Johnson OB, but i'm thinking on a 3.0 Merc. I've got to clean it out, tighten rivets, gluv-it, prime and paint. I hope to have it to the bear hull soon. Thanks again.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Saw a boat just like yours parked in front of a house with a for sale sign on it. I have become a fan of Starcrafts now but I would have to find another place to live (nagging wife) if I brought another project before finishing the one I'm working on now.

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Saw a boat just like yours parked in front of a house with a for sale sign on it. I have become a fan of Starcrafts now but I would have to find another place to live (nagging wife) if I brought another project before finishing the one I'm working on now.

BAAAA HAAAA HAAAA ! Come to the dark side

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Ran across this for sale and thought you may appreciate this older Starcraft

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/1256887879.html

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Ran across this for sale and thought you may appreciate this older Starcraft

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/1256887879.html

I appreciate that. This boat resembles mine a great deal. I think the chieftans are 21 foooters though. No more work on mine. It'll be two weeks before i can even think about looking at it.

Brobrad

 

[brobrad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

TRAGIC NEWS!!! Any Suggestions. I cleaned out the boat and made a horrific discovery. The bottom of the boat is pitted top and bottom. My inclination is to scrap the whole boat. It has holes all the way through in one spot and deep pits in others. I have some pics here. Let me know what you think.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief Restoration

Brad I would say it depends on how wide spread it is . You could put patch panels on her using Aluminum sheet and some 3M 5200 and some closed end rivets . I say this if the damage isnt to wide spread otherwise hulls are relatively cheap to buy.


Rick