1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

[Azonic]

So here are the specifics of the boat...

1968 - 16' Starcraft Mariner V

1953 Home built trailer

1978 - Evinrude 35 HP (lever shift)

Bought the middle of the summer (09) for $400.

Motor had not been run for 5 years...

Did some work on the motor to make sure it was safe to turn over,
turned her over to make sure starter and switch and all worked,
once she turned over, did work to make sure she was safe to start,
put water to the lower unit, fuel tank hook up, and started first crank...

Had to make minor adjustments to tune, replace a spark plug wire and all was good.

Took her out several time to the lake with the kids to fish and really enjoyed the boat.

After the first couple trips, none of us really liked the consoles and seats. And the storage in the boat was significant, but not very usable. Started planning for a rebuild.

While towing to go fishing one day I found the captains seat laying over. Come to find out, as I suspected, the floor was bad. I men bad bad. The screws that held down the seat had pulled out of there rotten base.

The rebuild is on!!

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

So here are a few pictures of what I have to work with...

Just an idea of the start..

If I remember, I will take pictures for similar angles when I am done to see the difference..

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Here is the visual of what I said I found on the seat...

Nothing was sealed in anyway...

Just painted at some point...

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

These pictures show some detail of the trailer I am working with..

It also shows a few more angles of the boat..
As you can see, someone made a good attempt at wind screens out of plexiglass at one point, but they are so cloudy now, they can not be saved...

Notice my helper on the bow...

The trailer as stated was built and inspected for title in 1953.
Was built out of pipe it looks like. The hitch is a 1 7/8" which I want to change. The tongue could stand to be longer too. Not sure if I will use this trailer in the long run. However, it does have a really nice "Retro" look that goes with the boat.

And I love the fenders!!

I will have to see if she is worth saving. Notice the fun in store for me at the rear of the trailer.. Rats nest anyone?!

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

And here is a close up of my helper..

If I am working on the boat he is out there...

One of the little Toms we are going to keep from our last litter...

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Here is the motor...

nice running 1978 35 HP Evinrude....

Oh man.. The PURPLE has to go!!


And here is a shot of the little 1968 Johnson 3 HP I was thinking of using as a kicker. She runs super smooth.. And super simple. No gears no nothing. When you pull her to start you are turning the prop. New ignition on this, new water pump, and she purrs... and spews water better than the 35 does!!

Give me your ideas on using her as a kicker. I am very open to suggestions.

Right now, all I have is a good ole trolling motor (came off my 2 man pond scamp) I hope to replace it with a nice bow mount foot control..

Just as a side note... I never ran the boat in the water with all that mounted on the transom!

 

[Azonic]

The Fun begins!! - Initial Tear Down

The Fun begins!! - Initial Tear Down

not to hard to tear apart a boat that is this soft...

Back bench was soft, but still had solid wood...

Seat came up easy....

The consoles were build on top of an old aluminum frame. (maybe original?)
It was taken out with a little more care ( meaning I did not use the 3lb sledge)

Here is the mess....

Deck is coming out this weekend...

I am going to drill the rivets, and try to save the individual pieces so I can use them as templates....

What a mess.. And it stinks... yuck...

 

[MidnightSpeedKC]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Do you take your boat to Table Rock? Pomme De Terre?


I live up in Kansas City, and we take our little 14' runabout out on the Missouri River.

Good to see another Missourian!

 

[Azonic]

Some of what I found...

Some of what I found...

Here is the transom without the motors...

Does the wood on the back have to be there?
I assume it is the prevent damage to the hull from motors?
How do you treat it so it stays nicer longer?

Also, that knee id going to be fun to deal with!! The wood on the transom is SOFT. Not like black rotten yet, just soft. I can compress it with the motor clamps more than I would like...

Here is the tab like the ones the bench was build into...
This tab is riveted to the hull...
There is another pair like it in the front...
Not sure what to do with them yet...

Then there is the hull plate... It was under the controls!!
Looks like it had more than one set of controls placed there in the past, since only one of those holes was from the controls I took off...

45HP rated... my 35 does good. If I can sell a running 35HP for good money, and pick up a 45HP that needs a little TLC I might. However, I do not want to mess with lower units, power head rebuilds, etc....

 

[MidnightSpeedKC]

Re: Some of what I found...

Re: Some of what I found...

45HP rated... my 35 does good. If I can sell a running 35HP for good money, and pick up a 45HP that needs a little TLC I might. However, I do not want to mess with lower units, power head rebuilds, etc....

There are a couple motors on Craigslist up here in Kasnas City that seem to be in good running shape. I think there's a 50hp for $275?

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Do you take your boat to Table Rock? Pomme De Terre?


I live up in Kansas City, and we take our little 14' runabout out on the Missouri River.

Good to see another Missourian!

We run to Stockton lake mostly...
I can leave the house and be in the water in less than 45 mins up there...

I am going to try out Pomme De Terre next year though...
It is not to much further way, and could be a nice change..

I avoid Table Rock these days. To many people, with to much money, piloting boats with to much power, at to high rate of speed.

Good to see you are around too!!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Azonic, nice rig buddy! This resto is going to be a real transformation I can tell already. Good luck with the project...I can't wait to see the results.

 

[Azonic]

Re: Some of what I found...

Re: Some of what I found...

There are a couple motors on Craigslist up here in Kasnas City that seem to be in good running shape. I think there's a 50hp for $275?

That is the price range I am comfortable with too...

I will look and see what I find. Thanks for the head up!!

 

[MidnightSpeedKC]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

We run to Stockton lake mostly...
I can leave the house and be in the water in less than 45 mins up there...

I am going to try out Pomme De Terre next year though...
It is not to much further way, and could be a nice change..

I avoid Table Rock these days. To many people, with to much money, piloting boats with to much power, at to high rate of speed.

Good to see you are around too!!

I completely understand you on that! We've got Smithville Lake up here, and I will NEVER take my boat out there. I stick to the Missouri River for a few reasons:

-Dont have to pay to put your boat on the water. (It's $25 or something at Smithville!!!!)
-There isnt any Water Patrol
-Fishing is just as good, if not better.
-We can take our Shotguns and go camp out the sandbars and not worry about making anyone mad

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Azonic, nice rig buddy! This resto is going to be a real transformation I can tell already. Good luck with the project...I can't wait to see the results.

Thanks Angler...

I hope I can do as good a job as I have seen in your work progress!

I will post the layout plans pretty soon.

Have to get her torn down all the way first...

Wonder if I will find any foam in the hull. And just how wet and nasty is it going to be??!!?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Some of what I found...

Re: Some of what I found...

Here is the transom without the motors...

Does the wood on the back have to be there?
I assume it is the prevent damage to the hull from motors?
How do you treat it so it stays nicer longer?

Also, that knee id going to be fun to deal with!! The wood on the transom is SOFT. Not like black rotten yet, just soft. I can compress it with the motor clamps more than I would like...

The wood is to prevent the aluminum from bending. It takes the stress and also is the right width for the clamps like you said.

Sounds like you will need to remove all the old rotten wood and bolt in some new plywood. I used spar varnish to seal my ply on my 12' boat but epoxy resin would be more waterproof.

Most folks use stainless bolts and coat them with 5200 to seal.

Check out some restoration threads, there are quite a few pretty similar to yours in there as far as the transom rebuild.

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Gotcha!

I will only use stainless bolts on the rebuild..
I plan on the whole epoxy approach to the wood on this boat.

I think I may even do a full glassed in deck... maybe?

Got the deck out tonight!!

Will post pictures after dinner......

 

[Captmills]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

I have several little helpers like yours around hey, I hope you kept the 110 outlet in the boat! might come in handy??? Looks like your having a blast. Hope you could salvage some of that deck for a template. Keep us posted, Steven

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Sorry, the 110V came out first thing...

I gutted the wiring as soon as I got it and scabbed in the minimum to get her on the water. Lights, horn, ignition....

I did manage to save the floor!! It was and is very soft in some areas, I can grab a hand full and pull it apart....

Noticed I did have foam in the hull... but way wrong kind !!!

I need to check and see why there was water still in the bilge area...

It has been dry here for along time, boat was tilted up at the bow at a steep angle, and I have had the boat in the shop for a week or more...

Note how big that deck board is!! that is an 8' door it is against...

 

[Azonic]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Mariner V - Winter rebuild

Here is what the hull looks like with no foam or deck...

I noticed that was still standing water between the bulk heads...

This concerns me! Not for what condition the boat was in, rather what condition it will be in after I finsh with a rebuild...

I know there is NO WAY to prevent and keep water out of there, however, there needs to be a better way to drain it?

Goal for today is to take her out of the shop and

1: pressure wash the inside
2: See if she fits another trailer I have
3: start prepping her for paint...(sanding, taking off rub rails, etc)
4: If I get the chance, take out the current transom...

Still need input on the Kicker...

Thanks