1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

[doc-holiday]

Hey Guys,

I'm a newbie here, had a friend tell me that this was an excellent place to learn about boat restorations. I just picked up a '77 Holiday this weekend and I couldn't be more excited about getting it around to use next spring.

The boat is pretty solid, the seats are ok, as well as the electronics. Really the overall condition isn't bad, just really needs to be cleaned up and organized. Only real big issue so far is the transom. It looks like it could be the original transom. So that will have to be replaced. I seen a few transom posts already, and that will be helpful. Is there any tricks or books that would also be helpful in the process?? I will try and post some pics soon. Thanks for the help!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Welcome Doc, your friend was correct. This is the resto thread, but take a look at the Starcraft thread too. You will find a wealth of information including how to take care of the transom. Pics are the main requirement so be expecting a lot of requests Take care & good luck.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Hey Doc, your friend was right! There are a bunch of guys around here that are really helpful when it comes to rebuilding these old rigs. No better place to be than than right here man!

We have tons of info on your transom but it would be great if we could take a look at it. Shoot us some photos when you have a sec, eh!

Here is a big welcome to ya, Cheers!

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

I'm sure that boat will look vaguely familiar

 

[v8mgbal]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

What's up Doc, sorry I could not resist. welcome to the starcraft club. I am also a newbie and believe me this is the place to be as there is a ton of info and guys who know how to do just about anything you want to do to a boat

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

I'm sure that boat will look vaguely familiar

Do tell......

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Thanks for the information, yea i'm pretty excited to get started on this. I've always worked on cars and trucks, so a boat is def. going to be a change of pace.

Here is what the boat looks like, along with a side view of the transom and a front view. The motor is a 140hp Merc, and it runs pretty good. I just hope that a new transom can hold that large of a motor. I'll have to do some research on here and see what everyone likes to do for transom rebuilds. Time to get acquainted

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

I was wondering what the ouboard version of my boat looked like. Keep the pics coming.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Welcome! As you've probably noticed given the people who have thus far responded to your thread.....you have stumbled on probably the largest collection so of SC enthusiasts on the 'net. That's a real sharp boat. It's going to be a rocket with that 140. I'm running an 18' SS with a hopped-up 90 on it and see 40MPH. If you'd like, update your profile with your location. We SC guys like to see where everyone is from. Definitely check out the Starcraft section of this site. There's a link there to all the SC restoration projects that are going on or been completed.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Rocket is right, that boat should fly! She looks really sharp, nice find!!

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Thanks, I will be sure to fill out the rest on the information. I agree I think it will be plenty fast with a 140hp on the back. I'm not that concerned with speed, I just want a reliable boat that I can take out fishing and possibly cruise and ski behind on some weekends. Hopefully it will be a good project, I dont think the boat is in that bad of shape as to where it would be a rough restoration. I'll try and post some more pictures of the interior later just to give you an idea of what it looks like. Not sure if i'm going to keep it that way yet or not, but we will have to see.

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Hey Guys,

I am looking to get started on pulling my transom and building a new one, but I just want to make sure I have a good understanding on what to do from doing research on here.

1. Attached is a picture of the sandwich construction I will use. Would it be beneficial to put an aluminum plate in here also or no?

2. When sealing the whole new transom, do I encapsulate the whole transom and then install it into the boat? Or do I seal it once the new transom is in the boat?

3. Also when installing the new transom, do I use an epoxy to seal the wood up against the aluminum piece of the boat? Or is it ok to just use the current bolt locations to secure it?


Thanks for the help guys,

Doc

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Laminate the two pieces with epoxy. Completely seal it, then install it into the boat. No epoxy bonding with the boat necessary. If you want to add some aluminum to the exposed wood area go ahead. I just left mine epoxied and painted. Actually before sealing it, dry fit it into the boat and (over)drill all your bolt and engine mounting holes. Then these can be sealed with epoxy.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2586.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2591.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/New Boat/DSCF2640.jpg

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Thanks for the clarification E.

Im looking forward to the project. I'm a plastics engineer by trade, so the logic behind the resin and glass should be a cake walk. Lets just hope my skills will quickly follow suite! Hopefully I will be able to start getting the old transom out this weekend and start purchasing my materials. I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on the progress.

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Hey Guys,

So my project is officially underway. I was able to gut the interior last weekend and have most it out of the boat. I am close to pulling the transom now, and it is pretty much shot. I?m really glad that I?m going to take the time to rebuild this as well as the floor. Hopefully I can get the floor out this weekend as well and see what kind of shape the stringers and foam are in.

Also how hard would it be to remove the side panels on the inside of the boat? It looks like it is just riveted to the boat. Just hoping that I do not hurt anything by drilling them out. I would really like to replace my control cables and I need to pull the panel in order to get access to the cables.

Here are some pics of the transom, I?ll have to post some ?before? pics of the interior when I get a chance to do so. So far, it?s been a pretty fun project!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Doc those side panels will have to come out anyway if you are going to pull the floor. Its not hard, just some rivets and screws and taa-daa it comes right out. I'm sure you notice the gunwhales sticking out over the transom wood just enough to be in the way. Most guys cut that little bit off because the caps cover it anyway, but a few have removed the rivets and trim for a few feet to hold it out of the way. Your choice. Review a few restoration threads and you will see how to remove all this stuff. Good Luck and keep going.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Yup, that transom is about due eh! Side panels are no biggie. Besides, as long as you are tearing everything apart, now would be the time to do them.

Have fun!

 

[doc-holiday]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Thanks for the information guys. I was able to pull out my transom last weekend, and boy was it in rough shape. I can't believe it actually held that 140 horse on there. I was also able to rip up one section of the floor just to see what i'm dealing with, and just as I thought....it is trashed. The wood just is totally wet and soaked Its fine though, would rather do the work now and make it a good solid boat right from the start.

So i'm looking to get my wood and epoxy soon so the wood can begin drying. My question right now is with that 140hp outboard on the back, would I be ok with just using an epoxy to bond the two pieces of plywood together and to seal the whole transom in epoxy? Or should I try to lay some glass in there for some reinforcement? If I should add the glass, where on the transom and how much should I add?

I have seen posts that have used glass and others that haven't used glass. I just wondered if there was a general rule or something that I was missing. Thanks for the help guys, I'm really digging this project. Spring can't get here fast enough now.


Doc

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

Doc, check out EZ's and HA's thread. They used epoxy and I think a layer of glass to bullet proof it. I'm going to do the same when I get to that point.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 18' Starcraft Holiday Restoration

I just used epoxy. Some glass would make it bulletproof.