1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

[cdavid202]

Ok, i have come to the conclusion with some help from some people here that my boat i got is definitely a starcraft jupiter with the closed bow cut out (so its open). I have a few questions as i am getting into this thing and finding ore work then what i expected. There is a few ?'s i have done research but i am a COMPLETE newbie to boat re-finishing so bare with me please lol.....

Is the boat gonna be less structurally sound with the bow cut out like that?

I have to replace the transom, Do they sell the proper wood for that already made or do i have to make one?

If i take the splash back off do i just drill and bust the rivets out then re-rivet it after to put it back on?

If i remove the trim so that its not into the boat 6" on each side and i got more room, will it make the boat loose structural strength?

whats my best bet to get this thing ready for paint quick and what type of paint should i use? (i dont want to spend massive amounts of money but i would like to do it right)

this is going to be a custom fishing boat i am building out of it so its not going to shows but i would like to make it as nice as i can. I will be carpeting it and putting livewells exc.. into it if the weight cap of the boat will allow me with having 2-3 people in ti as well

Thanks in advance for any help it is much appreciated

Cole

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Hey Cole, welcome to the iboats dry dock and the Starcraft Brohood!

Is the boat gonna be less structurally sound with the bow cut out like that?

Yes, you'll want to rebuild it with structure in mind as it's no good as is. With some careful planning, a bit of imagination and some skill you can make it super solid again. The challenge with this task is to build it strong, and functional but at the same time looks good.

I have to replace the transom, Do they sell the proper wood for that already made or do i have to make one?

Yup, you'll need to build one. One of the easiest jobs to do on an aluminum boat.

If i take the splash back off do i just drill and bust the rivets out then re-rivet it after to put it back on?

Yup, a few more steps than that but you certainly have the gist of it.

If i remove the trim so that its not into the boat 6" on each side and i got more room, will it make the boat loose structural strength?

I think by "trim" you mean gunwale, eh? If that's the case, I wouldn't do it. That gunwale serves as very important structure component for your boat. Not only do you not want to take it out but you want to beef it up where you can, especially at the bow.

whats my best bet to get this thing ready for paint quick and what type of paint should i use? (i dont want to spend massive amounts of money but i would like to do it right)

Paint probably should be pretty low on the list for you. Structure should be top priority with no bow in that boat. But, many of the fellas around here use Rustoleum with great results.

____________________________________________

Check out the "Jet Star" link in my signature for a look at how to rebuild your bow. It was a ton of work for me but in the end the whole setup was super strong/rigid and functional. There are a lot of details in there.

Check out the Starcraft Rebuilds link and you'll be reading for the rest of the summer on how to put these ol boats back together, everything you'll ever want to know is in those threads.

Hey, post up some photos so the guys can see what you are working on and chip in with help along the way. Great group of boat builders here!

Have fun!

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Jas thank you for the reply, good info. For the bow i plan making it a raised flat bow to stand on and put a seat on with storage and a livewell there, which i would think would make it much stronger again like having it capped as a closed bow would. Idk if it is called the gunwale or not but im guessing u know what iom talking about. But by looking at th eboat it does not seem it owuld give much support to anyting.

thanks again for the reply

Cole

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

well after 2 hours i finally got the old transom out in pieces and the splash guard off (holy rivets) and the triler sand blasted, and i am painting that tomorrow. Got all my colors picked out for everything which are gonna be The trailer = black, Entire boat = Dark forest green, inside of boat will be black, splash guard will be bash.

My next step is to strip the boat and get it cleaned up and painted then onto the transom and while that sets im gonna do the floor in the boat! I will post some pics through the whole project if anyone would like

C

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

i do have one other ? if anyone can help me out here i plan on putting gluvit all over the hull of the boat bottom to sides should i put it inside the boat or outside the boat? i would like to put it inside if i can so i can just cover it over with the floor but idk if that is the correct way to do it or not...

thanks

c

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

i do have one other ? if anyone can help me out here i plan on putting gluvit all over the hull of the boat bottom to sides should i put it inside the boat or outside the boat? i would like to put it inside if i can so i can just cover it over with the floor but idk if that is the correct way to do it or not...

thanks

c

Gluvit works best on the inside, but if it's exposed to sunlight it needs to be painted over.

It gets runny/drippy on the outside and doesn't look that sporty without some sanding before the paint.

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Gluvit works best on the inside, but if it's exposed to sunlight it needs to be painted over.

It gets runny/drippy on the outside and doesn't look that sporty without some sanding before the paint.

excellent that's what i was hoping for cause its all gonna be covered after i use it by flooring and carpet.

thank you

c

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Welcome to iboats!!

Starcraft!! We have more starcraft info then anywhere else on the internet.......... ask and read!! Just about anything you can think of has been dealt with here.

Post pictures!! Starcraft people are picture junkies!

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

another 2 ?'s i got are do i need to put some foam noodles or something under the deck? and should i add cross members to screw to for extra support for the flooring other then the bow to transom spine support?

thanks

c

 

[Part-time]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Definately put foam... I like to use high density (the pink or blue stuff for house construction).
My father has a '66 Jupiter with the deck cut out and he has no isues with it.
Sunday I'll be going to his place and I'll take pics, I'm sure you'll like his layout.

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Definately put foam... I like to use high density (the pink or blue stuff for house construction).
My father has a '66 Jupiter with the deck cut out and he has no isues with it.
Sunday I'll be going to his place and I'll take pics, I'm sure you'll like his layout.

that would be great, im putting in some aluminum support at the bow today with cross bracing. Then im strip the outside paint and clean er up real good for a re-paint!

 

[Brenn]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

still no pics? wheres Jas when you need him

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

pictures of the boat as is after i took the transom out and the before and after of the trailer


I will be stripping and zinging the boat to as clean as possible today, do i HAVE to alodine the boar before ZC spraying it or cna i just strip it, clean it up good with zing cleaner, scotch bright it, prime then paint it?

c

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

still no pics? wheres Jas when you need him

Well that spooked out a few photos. I was just sharpening up my pitchfork too

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

hey jas what would you suggest i do on the inside trim for the bow so i can make that look nice, i kinda got screwed on someone else cutting the bow out before i bought it rather than being myself able to do so. idk, i might just run a nice aluminum trim like u did on your 15' jet star to were it ends in the photos there then figure something out with wood or something to blend it all.

progress = 3 people sttripping the bottom last night, took 7 hours and still isnt perfect but were its gonna stay then acid washed once and acid washing again wih brushing sometime today.

C

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

and more pictures after yesterdays and todays work. Just and FYI i dont like stripping paint after this one lol there was like 4 layers of paint primer ZC and some kind of copper stuff on it. 7 hours with 3 guys working consistent. Here they are,

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Looks like you're making good progress.

I'd do a leak test after all the stripping is done and fix/replace any leaking rivets... then do the Gluvit thing.

Since you're doing the fishing boat thing you may want to consider a casting deck up front where the closed bow was removed. This would replace the lost strength and is a good place to put storage compartments, a livewell, and bow mount trolling motor.

 

[cdavid202]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

Looks like you're making good progress.

I'd do a leak test after all the stripping is done and fix/replace any leaking rivets... then do the Gluvit thing.

Since you're doing the fishing boat thing you may want to consider a casting deck up front where the closed bow was removed. This would replace the lost strength and is a good place to put storage compartments, a livewell, and bow mount trolling motor.

yea thats what i was planning on doing witht he front was a raised deck. I took it to work yesterday and welded an aluminum support upfront for more since the bow was removed already. When i get the boat primed and painted and all i will flip it back over and then take a pic of what i welded there. If a gal of gluvit will cover the whole boat i was thinking about just gluvitting the whole inside of it just to be sure, i figured it at least couldn't hurt! i got some holes i gotta fill with rivits and such and still make my transom and all but its going good i think. im hoping to be complete by mid to end of august lol.

thanks

c

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1966 16' aluminum starcraft Jupiter

hey jas what would you suggest

Well, I used stock thickness alum sheet for the inner gunwales and alum angle to match what was already there. Lots of bends and rivets for strength!