1977 Starcraft 15'

[c_munkey]

Hi everyone, i am new to the forum and new to restoration of boats. I got this beauty off of craigslist for $500 and am ready to tear into it. the hull seems sound along with the transom but if anyone has some good techniques on haw to check it to make sure let me know. It came with a merc 140 which is to much for it so i want to change it out but that will have to be later on. Well here it is.

By c_munkey, shot with LSI_S5K4AAFA at 2009-06-08

By c_munkey, shot with LSI_S5K4AAFA at 2009-06-08

By c_munkey, shot with LSI_S5K4AAFA at 2009-06-08

So a few questions, I was wanting to take out some hairline cracks in the gelcoat and was thinking about painting it, ive been reading about roll and tip method, thought that sounds easy but, this may be a dumb question, how do you get the boat off the trailer and on to stands to paint the bottom. thanks in advance.

Edit: sorry about the pics i am going to get some new ones soon.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Welcome to iboats!

Wow PLEASE resize your pictures to 640 x 480.

Hmmmm a starcraft.... sesms like there are a couple of them around here

Getting the boat off the trailer is easy.

Fix the flats.

Put the trailer tongue on the ground which will raise the rear of the boat. Install supports (wooden jack stands) that will hold the weight.

Lift the tongue and carefully pull the trailer out from under the boat until you can get some supports under the keel.... conitue easy and you should be able to pull the trailer ou with the entire boat supported.

Not a great job to do alone so recruit a friend

 

[c_munkey]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Welcome to iboats!

Wow PLEASE resize your pictures to 640 x 480.

sorry about that.

thanks for the advice i am just waiting to get a place to do that at. hard to do at the storage lot.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Truth be known.... we are addicted to Starcrafts here...... just not a little but but severely addicted.

Since it's a 77 you need to do some real close inspecting. Sadly the older fiberglass Starcrafts had rot problems. Hmmmm a 15 footer with a 140 I would guess you are exceeding the max hp too.

The small gel coat blemishes can wait..... lets check the transom, check that tower of power too! Impellar? Lower unit oil? The wiring on the older mercs were notoriuos for weather cracking. Great motor that will scream with the correct adjustments.

Lets do the safety and the engine first

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Welcome Aboard!
Cool boat, glad it's a Starcraft..like Bob says...
WE ARE STARCRAFT ADDICTS!

Fiberglass SC's seem a little rare around here (compared to the tinnies) but listen to Bob, the older the glass, the bigger the pain in the...well ya know.

 

[c_munkey]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Yep the max hp is 100.

well whats the best way to check the transom? i have heard tapping on it with a piece of wood and listening for a hollow sound was one way other than that i am lost.

with the engine, i am pretty good with outboards, mostly hondas, but the wiring is already an issue the previous owner did a hack job replacing it. So i already have that to look foward to. Supposedly it was running about a year ago and it just needed a new starter, but the bracket that held the starter is also broken so i am getting one on order.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Do a search here in the restoration section on "core samples" and that is one of the best methods to check.

 

[c_munkey]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Do a search here in the restoration section on "core samples" and that is one of the best methods to check.

Found some good info, i am gonna give that a try today. Thanks.

 

[c_munkey]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 15'

Well i took some "samples" and here is what i came up with.

the first spot i drilled was in the middle centered on the transom and it came out looking dry.

the next two were on the sides centered on the transom and they came out alittle darker and less dry.

so i dont know what that means other than it does seem a bit moist but not saturated. Do you think its time for a replacement? If so how good is this Seacast stuff? or should i just use reg marine plywood.

I do have a pic of the samples but they are blurry so i didnt think they would help.