1964 Starcraft Bahama - Classic Preservation

[Fcdave]

Ya, i coundn't believe how good, myself..... i had prepared myself for a surprise, like a bad section of floor by the transom,up in the corner under the splash guard under piles of debris.....but nothing! There are only 2 gelcoat bugguars on the entire boat (that are an easy tochup fix)..... and no crazed stress cracks! Ya, if it wasn't for 2 or 3 rip spots on upholstery it would be perfect too. The floor has a mfg original vinyl cover that is in very good shap except for a few stains and a couple of seams on sides at hull angle up forward by under deck. After a good wash, i pulled the inner hull plug in the bilge and no noticeable wetness at all. It has a mfg original bimini & frame, but mice & squirrels enjoyed the fabric too much over the years.....lol!

The floor has 2 rubber mats glued to floor under splash guard that gas tanks were placed on....no hold down straps, just a metal bead gimble forward edge to prevent slipping forward. Does anyone know if these would have been original mfg install ????

 

[Fcdave]

No Title

Here are the only 2 marks on the boat. The deck one is a tiny nick on the edge and the topside is a gouge that past owner fixed with some filler. The steering wheel I haven't clean yet, but no crazed cracks or anything....should clean up ok too. I have the center medallion too...i stuck on in last photo.

 

[Fcdave]

No Title

I cleaned up the motor this morning...it was one big mouse nest......lots of corrosion as I said....will have to replace a bunch of parts and repaint engine....but good news is I fogged the cylinders up and it pull ok....so no sized engine. By looks of plugs terminals, the thing was stored with new plugs...so I'm betting the owner did the proper maintenance before storing for the season...???l

 

[Watermann]

That's a good sign that the motor will turn over freely, another dodged bullet. I hate rodents!

 

[Tnstratofam]

Super nice find. It's amazing there wasn't any damage to the deck after looking at the before cleaned pics.

Hopefully the engine will turn into an easy fixer upper too.

 

[Fcdave]

I know ....i keep pinching myself !!!! ...... i think i really lucked out, as i bought it thinking i might need to do something! ......although it was in a barn and covered too.....which became a dining hall tent for squirrels......but this baby is solid. It just needs detailing & some minor improvements. Over the winter i will order parts, hoses, plug wires, carb kit, wiring, etc for spring overhaul of motor & keep my fingers cross that my luck holds on!!! Those mats were not glued in....just stuck with the screwed gimbled edge holding down the forward end.....i will repace with a full transom width mat and scewed in tie downs for the tanks and battery.

 

[gomopar440]

I have the center medallion too...i stuck on in last photo.

I think I have that same steering wheel and medallion on my 1964 Silver Line Rambler 14'. On mine the clear plastic part says "Atwood" on it. Nice find BTW!

 

[Fcdave]

gomopar... yes, looks exactly alike ! Now i know the correct way to position the medallion....I think I have it upside down in my pic ! Lol! So these wheels look like maybe they were made by Attwood back in the day?

 

[gomopar440]

Could be. They may have supplied parts to the manufacturers back in the day. I still see the Atwood name on aftermarket parts available all over the place today. On mine it looks like there is a nut holding the plastic piece in the medallion. I haven't tried it on mine yet, but I believe it can be removed so you can clean up the chrome better without damaging the plastic piece. I was thinking of putting a LED in the medallion to give it a blue backlight shining through the clear plastic. I could probably tie it into the cabin lights or nav lights power switch. It's just an idea at this point, so I don't know how I'd do something like that quite yet.

 

[Fcdave]

Well, its been a yr and 7 months since I last posted about my Starcraft Bahama.....it sat for well over a yr, while I contemplated the existing motor and its condition, making lists and ordering materials, etc...! I decided to skip the rebuild on the old outboard, as it would take me a lot of time and I wanted a bigger motor too....soooo I went on a search for a later model outboard in the 50-60 hp range....and found it hard to get something decent without spending more than I thought for a used outboard ??? So this year I decided to pull the trigger on a new Tohatsu 50hp 4stroke efi, after almost going with a new Etec!

The boat is at the marina/Dealer now, getting the outboard installed, after I redid all new electrical system, new battery, new seats, new rotary steering system (no feedback type), new trailer lights, wheels, trailer jack, guide posts and making progress with painting trailer and new bunks. Also have a new bimini coming for it !

So, as soon as I get it back with new outboard installed, I will post pictures !!!!

 

[Tnstratofam]

Welcome back. Looking forward to pics of her with her new power. Also looking forward to seeing her splashed.

 

[Fcdave]

Hopefully have boat back in a couple days and put her in for a ride ..... this is the sweet outboard going on..... wanted "White" for the "Bahama" look !!!

 

[Fcdave]

Has anyone any experience gluing down marine vinyl or carpet over existing vinyl on the floor ??? The original vinly overlay on the Bahama is in mostly good condition and well adhered.... except for a few spots where it is ripped, dinged or lifted near corners. After several cleanings, the original vnyl still shows stains and wear in many areas, and now patches where I sealed the holes from old seat frames and screws I removed where previous owner had anchored two rubber mats for gas tanks. I would love to just clean up any loose fabric and just glue down new vinyl or carpet over it all ???? .... any dirt, oil and residue has been well cleaned, and I would think a good wipe down with alcohol prior to glue would be enough.... ???? Perhaps there is a primer for such conditions ? Looking for advice ?

 

[Fcdave]

Vinyl floor before I removed seats ....

 

[archbuilder]

I think there maybe a primer that allows you to do that. Seems like I have ran across that when I was doing some work on my place at the lake.

 

[Watermann]

That sure would be nice to lay over the top, that is if the decking is solid. Ripping up the old stuff is really tough after so many years it may be nearly impossible.

 

[Fcdave]

Yah, the only info I can find is in residential use .... sheet vinyl is often installed over a good condition viny floor with just an embossed leveler....basically an acrylic base floor leveler to smooth out any pattern/embossed texture, because it can read thru over time.... and if there is any shine or urethane coating, it should be roughed up to insure a bond..... and of course a good wash with tsp cleaner to remove any oils, greas and residue..... that said, Most marine vinyl mfg state that any existing vinyl or carpet should be removed, as the glues are for wood or fiberglass substrates ???

 

[Fcdave]

Marina sent me this pic last night....water testing new outboard install ..... ready for me to pick up this weekend !!!! ..... a few things yet for me to do when its back here: Install the new seats, install the new white bimini, install auto bilge switch at dashboard and put the boat guides on the trailer! And then ....a few things remaining on my future wish list: white swim ladder platform, replace vinyl floor cover and ski pole!

 

[buxmj]

Wow, that looks awesome! For you it must be like Christmas Eve knowing what you are getting but having to wait til the morning to get it!

 

[Woodonglass]

Looking forward to seeing her all dressed up and ready for the official SPLASH!!!