1973 Starcraft SuperSport 16ft. restoration questions

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,297
I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimensia issues...not pretty and hard to accept after 50 plus years. Just for your information, I have a 16' Sylvan side console, weight around 1000 plus pounds. I have a 40 hp Merc Classic, the 4 cylinder 2 stroke model, that looks and runs like new. My boat will do 31 plus mph ( gps), so a 70, should make your boat fly !
 

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,297
I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimens
I just had shots in both thumb joints.
Have had those shots in my finger joints....hurt like hell, but did help, far less pain nowadays and not much locking up like they used to do.....
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
I feel for you, my wife us just starting with dimensia issues...not pretty and hard to accept after 50 plus years.

I am so sorry that you and your wife are facing dimentia issues. After 56 years I find my soul shaken to the core from time to time. Embrace each and every good day together and plow through the bad days with sensitivity and compassionate care.

Sounds like your Merc is doing the job for you and that’s a good thing. Have asked lots of questions of boaters within our area and many feel 70 hp is about right for our large inland lakes and Lake Michigan. Won’t need to run it full all the time, however, the extra power could be helpful if I need to get off the water quickly when upcoming bad weather warrants a speedy retreat to the dock.

Safe boating,
Joe
 

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,297
I am so sorry that you and your wife are facing dimentia issues. After 56 years I find my soul shaken to the core from time to time. Embrace each and every good day together and plow through the bad days with sensitivity and compassionate care.

Sounds like your Merc is doing the job for you and that’s a good thing. Have asked lots of questions of boaters within our area and many feel 70 hp is about right for our large inland lakes and Lake Michigan. Won’t need to run it full all the time, however, the extra power could be helpful if I need to get off the water quickly when upcoming bad weather warrants a speedy retreat to the dock.

Safe boating,
Joe
I totally understand the need for extra hp.., but how often can you run wide open near 40 mph when the lake is rough with a storm blowing in ? My point was to show you you could get buy with less to and still have a good performing boat.
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
I totally understand the need for extra hp.., but how often can you run wide open near 40 mph when the lake is rough with a storm blowing in ? My point was to show you you could get buy with less to and still have a good performing boat.

Okay, well you certainly did show me. Have a nice evening, Sir.

Safe boating,
Joe
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
Just a bit of a heads up. After the last session in the boat I found myself with a large and painful open blister on each knee. This despite sweat pants and using a double thickness garden pad to keep my knees off the deck. I should have used a quality set of strap on knee pads. My old set wore out and I thought I’d get a new set later…big mistake! Frankly, it’s going to be a few more days before I kneel on anything or strap on knee pads. The only good thing is being off my feet after getting a Flu and a Covid-19 shot yesterday, as did the Admiral. And onward we go!

Safe boating,
Joe
 

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,297
Can't remember how many times I have punished myself because I thought I would fix the issue soon, yet it got forgotten. Or the old favorite...won't hurt anything just this once ! I feel your pain and have been there many times..
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
It’s been a rough couple of weeks with the Admiral. Kidney stone surgery and an ambulance ride to the ER room at the hospital last Friday evening. About 18 hours of various tests and then she was transferred to a private hospital room due to Dementia confusion problems. I remained with her from Friday until Sunday discharge and did not get much sleep. This afternoon is kidney stent removal time and Monday morning we go to our primary physician for further medical treatment and consultation. Needless to say there has been no further work on the boat. Oh, those large blisters on my knees are still bandage covered and I’m using hospital grade antiseptic ointment to assist with healing. Perhaps next week if the knees cooperate!

Safe boating,
Joe
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
Finishing up a few things on the boat and then will tarp/park it for the upcoming Winter season. Enjoy the holidays. Later…

Safe boating,
Joe
 

piperjoe

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
589
Hi folks,
Hard to believe my last post was made so long ago. Nevertheless, Spring is coming up soon and though we are experiencing near blizzard conditions at the moment with nearly everything shut down due to the road conditions I find myself looking forward towards getting the boat onto the driveway.

Joyce is having a good day and enjoys watching the snowfall. We have a foot or more of fresh snow on the driveway and I have offered to gas up the snow shovel for her….I’m still waiting for her to put her coat and boots on…😄

Hope all is good with everyone! Take care and be safe.

Joe

edit: Forgot to mention that the decision on using the original Johnson outboard is no longer relevant to this restoration project. The engine was smashed/destroyed when the heavily snow covered marine shop storage building roof collapsed earlier onto the area where boat motors had been stored. A very large beam came down onto the top of the motor hitting it dead center…can you say “flattened!”. I’ll be selecting a new replacement later as I really would like to avoid an oar locks addition to the boat.
 
Last edited:

jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,258
Welcome back..

I lost some boat stuff and motors to a garage flood several several years ago...
 

airshot

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
6,297
Hi folks,
Hard to believe my last post was made so long ago. Nevertheless, Spring is coming up soon and though we are experiencing near blizzard conditions at the moment with nearly everything shut down due to the road conditions I find myself looking forward towards getting the boat onto the driveway.

Joyce is having a good day and enjoys watching the snowfall. We have a foot or more of fresh snow on the driveway and I have offered to gas up the snow shovel for her….I’m still waiting for her to put her coat and boots on…😄

Hope all is good with everyone! Take care and be safe.

Joe

edit: Forgot to mention that the decision on using the original Johnson outboard is no longer relevant to this restoration project. The engine was smashed/destroyed when the heavily snow covered marine shop storage building roof collapsed earlier onto the area where boat motors had been stored. A very large beam came down onto the top of the motor hitting it dead center…can you say “flattened!”. I’ll be selecting a new replacement later as I really would like to avoid an oar locks addition to the boat.
Perhaps a good "Omen". use it wisely....
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
14,488
Welcome back. The universe just gave you a reason to splurge on a brand new motor. Seize the day...
 
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