1965 Jet Star restoration

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

TM - I forgot to offer congrats on the splash. I'm slightly jealous of the new Merc, too. Have fun with that nice Jet Star, buddy.

 

[CraigBarnard]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

the water level was down 45+ feet. Almond landing was a ghost town, so we drove over to the public ramp at Tsali park. There were 8 or 10 die hard fanatics on the water as evidenced by their empty trailers. By the bye, they were all parked on or adjacent to the ramp and would have been under thirty or more feet of water a couple of months ago.

.

Okay I gotta ask.
Why the water depth fluctuation?
What causes such a huge change in the water levels?

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Every fall the TVA draws the lake down to prepare for winter rain and snow melt, and to balance water needs with other generating facilities. They do that with several lakes in their system. Google "Fontana drawdown" and read all about it.

You guys are skeptical of my speed estimate huh? More like jealous, I think.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Greetings gentlemen,

It has been a month since my last report mainly because nothing has happened since last time. Until now that is. My lovely bride, who likes the little yacht as much as I do, and for whom she is named--"Wee Bonnie Jean"-- was pleased to purchase new rub rail for the old girl. I had been talking with Wefco Rubber in Canoga Park California about their item number 0101-G which I thought was a pretty close to spot on match for the original. I ordered 50 feet of it last Tuesday, and it was sitting on the porch when I came home today.

Winter has not come to the mountains yet (if you don't count 18 degree mornings) so I thought , "Go for it!". The end cap screws were severely corroded so, seeing nothing to be gained by subtlety, I just twisted them off. The channel only required a fast and light brushing with a stainless toothbrush. Ninety minutes later it's all done, and it looks like a million bucks. I think I mentioned that my digital camera crapped out, so I don't have pictures, but I'm here to tell you that if there is a better match to original I have no idea where it is.

Fifty feet is way more than enough. I have a 6.5' length left over, and some smaller trim-off pieces. If any of you Starnuts would like a short length to try in your channel all it takes is a 5 x 7 SASE. I think 61 cents postage is probably exact, but to be safe put a buck on it. PM me your details. ATTN ADMIN! I ain't selling anything here, just offering to help the faithful.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Say, Craig, where are you in Ontario? I'm from Belleville.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

....Wefco Rubber in Canoga Park California about their item number 0101-G...

Hey TM-1, congrats on the rub rail insert discovery. It might be helpful if you also post your findings over in the Official Starcraft Rubrail thread too:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=501999

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

When I spoke to the man at Wefco he said that when printed out the image would be exactly 100%. In the case of the 0101G that is 1". The channel actually measures a little over 1 1/16, and the Wefco part is precisely 1". When matched to a piece of the old rail the width is the same.

I posted the info over at the rubrail thread as you suggested.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Hey everybody. It's been a while. My digicam is still broken so no pics right now, but we have been to Fontana a couple of times in the last two weeks. I've added a Humminbird 365i chartplotter and put a guage cluster on the dash forward of the helm. Trimmed just right, and with 400 pounds of passengers the old girl leans into the wind at 31 mph. I guess I was a little optimistic or maybe it was wishful thinking. Anyway, that is plenty fast enough for the little yacht.

I've had a rash of other stuff wear out/break/crash or otherwise go on the fritz including my home computer. Once I get caught up I'll get another camera and show you guys the finished (yeah, right) product.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Glad to see you show up, been a while. Best of all is you and the Jet Star are having fun. When you post the "I'm all done & finished" pics I'm calling the Truth Squad. Keep us up to date and having FUN, TM.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

It's been awhile. Broken camera, kaput computer, life's trials. But here we are again with a new camera and computer, and more work done on the yacht. The bench locker in the third picture proved too bulky, so I cut it in twain and turned it into two side lockers. Much better use of deck space.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Here are a few more pics.



The Captain



45 steps up and down got old fast.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Wow, some great work! I notice the battle injury on your right hand, standard fare for boat work. I love all your woodwork. Nice shot at the dock too.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

Looks great!

How is it going with out a splashwell?
The extra space looks nice

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

How is it going with out a splashwell?

I wonder about that too, just curious.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

I wonder about that too, just curious.

In about 100 miles in everything from flat calm to moderate chop (and a few serious wake jumps), I have yet to ship any water over the transom. In the picture below notice the sonar transducer. With me in the stern the water line is right at the cable penetration.



Originally the transom was about three inches lower than it is now. If that was still the case I don't think there is any doubt that a splash well would be required. But dry as she is I'm going to leave it alone for now. Besides, if I put in a splash well I'm going to loose some valuable stowage space.

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

I wasn't thinking so much about water coming over the stern, although I'm sure the taller transom cuts way down on the chances of that. Not a worry on mine either. I was wondering more about the stiffness or flex of the boat overall.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

I think my biggest need for the splashwell is in relation to my old merc

when locked in the up position it drains the carbs out into the splashwell...

 

[lakelover]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

One of the two sweet fragrances of two-stroke outboarding!

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

I was wondering more about the stiffness or flex of the boat overall.

Ah. I have not noticed any unusual flexing/torsion or the like. There was an annoying vibration at idle in the port inner gunwale. That was fixed by installing aluminum angles joining the wales to the transom. I appreciate you mentioning the possibility of flexing. I will be alert to it.

 

[TM-1(ss)]

Re: 1965 Jet Star restoration

I think my biggest need for the splashwell is in relation to my old merc

when locked in the up position it drains the carbs out into the splashwell...

That is one of the really nice things about a fuel injected four stroke: no drip.