1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Have a great holiday season & a safe/happy new year!

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Short update, I know its been awhile. I bought my seats and put them together. They are not installed on the deck yet, but I'm hoping to get working on it soon. I ended up buying the wise back to back lounge seats from Walmart.com (free shipping and the best price I could find).

We have had a really cold winter, so I am installing a natural gas heater in the garage. We did the vent work last weekend now I just need to run the gas pipe and do some minor electrical.

I am still lurking around here in the forums several times a week, but I just haven't had anything to add. I'll be updating this soon, but I want to have something to say first.

 

[adamd1357]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

I am about in the same place as you as far as my supersport rebuilt. We have had quite a bit of snow here in PA and I was down in Haiti for the last week doing some mission work. Can you post the model number of the seats you bought? I am looking at seats now...

That will be sweet to have a heated garage to work in! I have a very un heated carport.

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

These are the ones that I got, they were on sale for $169 last month.

Wise Ski Boat 10" Base Lounge - Walmart.com

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Short update: Garage heater done (a couple weeks ago), but a wind storm blew the latch and a large section of wood off the front of my side gate. I ended up blocking together for a temporary fix, and then rebuilding it with the help of a friend. I now have no excuses to get working on the boat, so expect something soon. First day of spring gets the wheels turning,

I still need to:

Mount the seats
Bleed the hydraulics for the TnT.
Replace Fuel lines inside the Merc (they are dry rotted)
Install Battery, cut off switch and wire the lights/horn.
Replace water pump impeller and change the fluids.
Put on the new(er) prop.

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Here are a couple shots from the weekend, I hooked up the boat and drove over to the carwash (gratuitous tow rig shot), and Kyle helping me measure seating location. Also, they are now bolted in!! I didn't get much done, but it was nice to actually have the boat in the garage for the weekend doing some cleaning and such.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Nice long tongue on the trailer, 850. A nice complete, matching rig. :thumb:

 

[adamd1357]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Nice work 850! I am not too far behind you, I need to get the seats out of the living room and into the boat, and mount the controls.
What year is that Ford? What is the name of your vessel? I can't make it out.

 

[adamd1357]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Also, which cover did you buy? Are you happy with it and is it trailer-able?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Roseless must have a story.

Great seeing the 1st mate at the helm I bet.

Have a good weekend.

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Hey Adam, The Ford F250 is a 1995, its a 460 w/ an automatic so I could drag around a much bigger boat than this. I bought from a guy in the mountains for $3200 last spring. I've changed every fluid I can find, fixed the brakes (warped rotors) and put a new exhaust on it recently. The truck only had 117K when I picked it up, I assume because it gets about 12 MPG on the highway.

The name of the boat is Roseless, The PO and his wife were Rose and Less so they just combined em (from what I understand). I'm probably going to rename it, but I've heard there is some kind of ceremony associated with this? I'm not sure it needs a name... I'm curious what the consenting opinion is on this?

The cover is from Cabella's and I really like it. Its very thick and Trailerable too. I did however break one of the clips trying to snug it down too tight, I need to pick up a replacement.

Thanks for the reply, do you have a thread for your boat?

 

[850Merc]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Thanks JB, It was nice to have my helper. I can't wait to see him catch a fish this summer!

 

[adamd1357]

Re: 1976 Starcraft Supersport 16'

Nice, I had a 1993 F150, picked it up 6 years ago, just sold it last fall. It had about 161,000 when I got it. It was the 302 automatic. Mileage wasn't much better, maybe 18 highway. I had to rebuild the front end (ball joints and brakes) pretty much all the brake lines, exhaust. I think that is about it. I loved having it, but it wasn't getting used much any more and was costing too much to just have it sit around.

I think it is bad luck to have a boat with no name, but I am a little superstitious: How to Rename Your Boat - A Ceremony Steeped With Tradition and Lore! - BoatingHowTo.com

I have a thread that I have been neglecting:http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...76-starcraft-supersport-rebuild-627872-2.html

 

[850Merc]

I haven't posted on here for awhile because I haven't made any real progress... But rest assured the boat is on my mind all the time.

Replaced the water pump impeller and I'm waiting for a small rubber seal to come in the mail. On top of the impeller housing there is a rubber grommet that acts as a seal for the drive shaft. It was split so it's pretty much useless.

I still need to change the lower end fluid, and I was wondering if anyone has any genius ideas for standing this thing up? I don't have a vice and working on this thing (off the motor) is unwieldy to say the least.

Once I get the lower back on the motor, the fuel lines to be replaced and then it can be fired up. (minus battery hook up and TnT bleeding)

I have a few odds and ends left to do, but for some reason I have been having trouble finding any sort of momentum this summer...

The boat has been sitting patiently while I try to find time to get to it.

 

[Watermann]

Take 2 portable tables and drop the gear case between them and shove the tables together resting the LU on the AV plate. A piece or 2 of scrap ply and a couple clamps to make sure they don't open back up accidentally. Or 2 saw horses and 2 piece of ply, cut a slot to fit the LU above the gear case, slide one piece of ply on one direction and the other from the opposite. It will hang from the AV plate. Clamp them together and to the saw horses. With either you also have a work bench to put all your parts and tools on then.

I use a workmate vice bench that I'm able to open, drop the gear case through and then clamp shut enough to have it hang using the the AV plate.

 

[850Merc]

Thanks Watermann, Scrap ply, clamps and saw horses. Sounds great. I'm also toying with the idea of hanging it from a rafter in the garage?

 

[850Merc]

I bought a new battery box for my Group size 24 battery, should be here today. Hopefully my seal shows up too (fingers crossed). It should be a nice weekend for this sort of thing. I'll try to snag some pictures and post them up on Monday. Happy Friday, Moving the boat to the garage for the weekend seems to get things started for me, so that will happen bright and early tomorrow morning.

 

[Watermann]

Good luck, hope all goes smoothly for you. Not sure how you could keep the LU from swinging around just roped to the rafters :lol:

God forbid it fell on the concrete

 

[Woodonglass]

Hey 850, I just did the LU on my motor and I built a simple yet effective Stand for it using scrap 1x4's. It took me about 30 minutes to make it. I'll try and post a pic tomorrow. It really worked great.

 

[850Merc]

I was not able to get anything done this weekend, but not for motivational reasons. I ordered a part (for the second time) that arrived on Saturday only to be the wrong part.

Does anyone have a good parts diagram for a 1976 Mercury 850 Thunderbolt? I replaced the water pump impeller, but in the process discovered that the rubber gasket/o-ring that sits on top of the water pump housing was split. Even just a part number would do me wonders.

Hanging the LU does sound a little scary now that you mention it!! WOG I'd like to see your stand if you have a picture!