1968 Starcraft 18' or?

[jigngrub]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

A new impeller (water pump) will be worth it's weight in gold installed in that motor, lots of vids on youtube to show you how if you don't already know.

I'd remove the old decking, this will give you a chance to leak test the hull and fix any leaks. You'll also be able to inspect your floatation foam or the lack of and replace/install new foam.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

90 hp on a 10 gallon tank....my suggestion is....don't go too far from the dock if you run at 80% of WOT your gas level will be going as fast as your boat is moving or at least it does with my 24 ft. pontoon...it sucks the fuel. But since we're talking about a V bottom which can get on plane, you probably won't use as much fuel as I do since mine plows through the water. Just be careful and keep tabs on your throttle usesage vs tank level, you'll get an idea on just how far you can travel on a 10 gallon tank and make it back to the dock.
Good luck with your new tinny.
Replace the following before running it on muffs:
1. impellar
2. lower unit lube
3. clean fuel tank out
4. Add some sea foam to the fuel before cranking it. Might even want to spray some fogger in the spark plug holes a day or two before cranking it.
5. Check spark plug gaps and inspect for unusual color, oil or if they're dry (dry isn't a good sign on a 2 cycle)
AND
6. If you take it to the ramp to test it..... make sure the plug is in the bottom of the boat, you have life jackets, a paddle, a cell phone and a fire extinguisher onboard.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

Might order the entire water pump assembly, not just the impeller. But for sure a new impeller. $900 w/ a running motor & a rolling trailer is a screaming deal, IMHO, soft deck, rotten carpet & all........

Iboats carries lots of OB parts, an '82 Evinrude should be easy to find maintenance parts, wear parts shouldn't be hard to find either. I find the parts diagrams here, very useful.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

Sounds like you got a decent Holiday with the all important paperwork. As an ex-Texan I can tell you without all the papers you would have had a pile of parts. If you don't know, TX Parks and Wildlife do the boat and motor regos while your local county Tax Collector (same place you go for cars) does the trailer.

Do the lower unit maintenance, impeller/oil replacement. Check the trailer bearings and seals, it sounds like she may have been sitting for a while. Look closely at the tires for signs of dry rot. That not Texas sun does a number on exposed rubber.

As long as your feet don't sink through the floors you can probably run her for a while and work up a plan for your resto.

:welcome: to the Starmada and have some fun!

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

Nice score!

 

[64osby]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

Great Deal.

Love the Tow RV, the Montana would have worked fine. That shouldn't be over 1800 lbs fully rigged and ready to go.

Congrats and have lots of fun checking it over and fixing her up.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I don't really care but I do have tinny-itis bad!

EXCELLENT!!!!:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

 

[starmate]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I'm pretty excited and actually I thought I was buying a huge resto project, but it just keeps getting better.
The guy told me that the water pump was replaced a few years ago.
It hasn't been registered since 2008, and I have a State of Texas, Certificate of number for a vessel dated 5/2008

I ripped out all the carpet and removed the seats and then vacuumed up alle dust and fuzz from carpet.
The decking was in better than expected shape, but I do plan to pull it up because it is a little springy and I'm not sure what is supporting it. I weigh 250lbs and didn't feel like I was going to fall through.

Here's a picture of the decking although the seats are just setting in and block view.
Also a picture of the back splash deck? I can't believe he glued carpet down to the splash area and around the fuel filler.

Can anyone tell me what the 1' diameter clear hose is (looks brown in picture) it comes up from the bottom of boat and goes up through the center of the splash area. The end of hose is laying in front of outboard and has a threaded plastic fitting on it.

Did I mention it has a swim platform?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I can tell you exactly why the deck is springy.

1. In your 3rd pic the piece of decking closet to the camera is turned the wrong way, the grain should be running from port to starboard and not fore to aft.

2. The deck framing in those boats leaves a lot to be desired and the decking is supported largely by the foam underneath, if there isn't any foam under there the deck will be springy.

3. The decking is only 1/2" thick.

The plastic hose is another reason to lift the deck, it may be the fuel tank vent... if it is, you'll want to fix that.

You should check your transom for rot, that motor pad on the back looks a little large and suspicious.

The life span for an impeller is 3 years, sooner if the motor has been sitting idle for a while. A lot of people change them every year because it's pretty easy to do when you learn how, they're cheap ($20) and it's cheap insurance.

 

[starmate]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I can tell you exactly why the deck is springy.

1. In your 3rd pic the piece of decking closet to the camera is turned the wrong way, the grain should be running from port to starboard and not fore to aft.

2. The deck framing in those boats leaves a lot to be desired and the decking is supported largely by the foam underneath, if there isn't any foam under there the deck will be springy.

3. The decking is only 1/2" thick.

The plastic hose is another reason to lift the deck, it may be the fuel tank vent... if it is, you'll want to fix that.

You are really good. thanks.

That rear section is the only area that seems springy, it also doesn't seem to match the other decking so I suspect someone replaced it. They also may have used a cheaper standard grade of plywood. It is splintering all over that sheet.

Did I mention it came with a free fish net shown in that picture?

 

[starmate]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

90 hp on a 10 gallon tank....my suggestion is....don't go too far from the dock if you run at 80% of WOT your gas level will be going as fast as your boat is moving or at least it does with my 24 ft. pontoon...it sucks the fuel. But since we're talking about a V bottom which can get on plane, you probably won't use as much fuel as I do since mine plows through the water. Just be careful and keep tabs on your throttle usesage vs tank level, you'll get an idea on just how far you can travel on a 10 gallon tank and make it back to the dock

I also have (2) two 5 gallon spare tanks.
Point well taken though.
It would be nice to have at least a 20 gallon tank.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I edited my above post #29, don't know if you read it all.

With that decking being weathered like it is, I wouldn't spend money on putting new carpet back on it. The carpeting will still be good when the deck is rotten. It'll last through the summer though if you want to wait to replace it, maybe just slap some cheap non-slip paint on it or something... or more cheapo indoor/outdoor carpet.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

JnG ir right on about the deck. It should last the summer. Put some cheap indoor/outdoor carpet down for non-slip.

I'm wondering if that hose might be for the bilge pump. Is the current tank removable to fill? If so it would have a built in vent. Just guessing since I can't see under the splashwell or into the bilge. Kinda makes for some fun "could it be" guesses..

It looks like the back to back seats are coming apart. The seat plywood in those like to rot. Had the same thing go wrong in my original back to backs.

Like Jig said, check out the transom. The ply on the stern is way over-sized as well as thick. It seems POs think a larger chunk of ply will fix up a weak transom. Who on Gods green earth puts carpet in the splashwell. Good grief, Charley Brown! :facepalm:

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

What part of central TX Starmate? What lakes are you planning on fishing? I didn't do a lot of south of Dallas fishing when I lived there, I was a East section fisherman...from Grapevine Lake to Caddo. Probably the farthest south I went fishing was Richland Chambers.

By the way, if you haven't pulled the carpet out of the splash well.....do it...it was a terrible idea to have carpet there. What you want is for water to leave that area asap, not stick around soaked in carpet and that type of carpet really soaks in the water.

Congrats on your "new" boat and I look forward to hearing the updates on any work you do to it to improve it.

 

[starmate]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

I'm in Austin and will make the rounds on Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake Georgetown, Canyon Lake and may even make it down to the Texas Gulf Coast. Maybe Port Aransas.
Yes the carpet was even partially blocking the 2 weep/drain holes.
I already pulled it out and it is really ugly now with leftover carpet and glue. That brown stuff in picture isn't rust it's carpet glue. In some places the paint came off with the carpet and it looks like the splash well is Galvanized.

I still plan to pull up the rear deck and replace with good stuff. I just have to see underneath.
I want to either rebuild the falling apart seats, or find some used swivel seats.
Also would like to find a cruiser canvas top.
Any recommendation on what battery to use?
Also looks like I need a battery box or at least a battery hold down.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

The transom wood looks to have seen better days....

But w/ the carpet blocking the splashwell drains, it's not surprising. Acetone may help w/ the carpet glue.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

The transom wood looks to have seen better days....

I agree...I think I'd be checking that transom for water damage.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1968 Starcraft 18' or?

+3 on checking that transom.

Love the fish de-liar on the splash well.

 

[starmate]

I took the Holiday for a shakedown leak test and it turned into a nice test drive. We were sitting on Rubbermaid step stools and the only floor in the boat was a 4 foot section in the helm. No leaks and that 90 hp Evinrude performed flawlessly and purred like a kitten.
Here's my maiden voyage.
https://youtu.be/BcpzXTKk_XA

 

[starmate]

No Title

I did spot a potential problem at the bow where it meets the deck. I'm afraid rough water or large wake could enter there. It appears something is missing?