1977 Starcraft restore

[zopperman]

Well, I got this boat "free" to replace a boat I had with a busted transom and nonexistent stringers... I didn't know anything about fiberglass but I'm pretty mechanically inclined and had some woodworking experience... and I dove in!!!

Zak

PS -- I thought it was a starcraft but it turns out it's a manatee...

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

deleted

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Hey Zac! Welcome buddy, we need some photos of your rig so we can check it out

I had a buddy suggest to keep the rotten 1/2 inch floor with the fiberglass layer, then lay down a new pressure treated floor... and waterproof it with latex paint and this other boat flooring material that I have from my old boat.

No way man, bad move all the way around!

My original idea was to cut the fiberglass and remove the rotten wood then lay down new wood and paint/waterproof it.

There ya go, now your talking!

In short...

1. Pull everything out, including old nasty foam.
2. Clean, Gluvit.
3. Replace flotation with pink/blue foam board or pool noodles.
4. Seal up exterior grade (or marine grade, or Arauco) plywood with epoxy resin (or porch and floor paint).
5. Install floor.
6. Go boating and have fun!

Click on the "Starcrafts being rebuilt" link in my signature and you'll see the whole process completed on a wide variety of rigs.

Cheers

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Is the boat made of fiberglass or aluminum? This will determine whether or not treated wood should be used or not. jasoutside is assuming it's a metal boat, that's what you see being restored here as far as Starcrafts go.

Welcome aboard, looking forward to seeing some photos so we can help you out

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Is this boat fiberglass or aluminum? Pics?

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Ah thanks guys, but no, it's fiberglass.. I'm pretty sue that the foam is OK. I took a sample of it and it's pretty light and dry, but the floor is pretty rotted. I think that the stringers are really wide or the hull is shaped so that there are no stringers? I'm not really sure, I haven't pulled enough of the floor to see, but from what I have seen the floor is supported by a large fiberglass structure connected to the hull, but the floor is soaked, rotted, and crumbling.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

jasoutside is assuming it's a metal boat

I totally am, whoops!

If it's a glasser my advise is entirely different

Edit: Yup, glasser

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Check out some of the Starcraft brochures, linked in my signature.

You might be able to see some expanded photos that show the structure under the deck.

That might also help you get an ID on which model you've got.

Is it a tri-hull or V-hull? If it's a tri-hull/cathedral hull it's probably a Capri, V-hull would most likely be an American.

Iboats member Chinewalker has restored two Americans and his projects would be helpful to you I'm sure.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Thanks, I'll definitely look into his boats before i start chopping away at the fiberglass...

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Also, no one has really touched on my "cheaping out idea" of just laying a new floor over the old one... thoughts?

I know it's not "right" but what would be the problems with doing this?

Zak

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

If the deck is already rotten, it's holding moisture that will spread into the new deck quickly.

Another problem is the added weight of the wet, rotten deck that needs to be removed...or else the performance of the boat will be lacking, possibly even dangerous if it's too heavy.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

i knew i wouldn't be able to take the easy way out

So I need to re-don the respirator and start cutting the glass floor... what tool do you recommend? It burned out my dremel with a diamond cutting wheel...

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

This pic GLORIFIES the interior... I ripped up the carpet which was doomed and pulled out all the moldy paneling and dashboard and other gross stuff (leaves, bugs, a dead something) and powerwashed a the hull and interior.

I got anxious and Hung the motor late last night I even did the controls and she fired right up and idled better than ever.

but now, what tool do I use to cut the floor fiberglass?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Hopefully one of the glasser guys will be along shortly to give you a hand (they will want photos). The guys who have posted so far are just dumb metal heads (or smart like foxes)

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Oops.. here are the images

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Welcome to the iBoats Dry Dock Zoop!!!

Looks like you've got quite a project there!!! Sorry to say, but there are NO quick fixes here on iBoats. We all believe in "Doin IT Right" and in your case you REALLY need to tear it ALL out. Your last picture makes me REAL nervous about the condition of your Transom the Disoloration is a good indication that it is in bad shape too. I think if you took a core sample of your foam you will find it is going to be saturated with water. You can do this by taking a piece of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe, cutting some teeth in one end and " DRILLING" it down into the foam. Knock out the "Core Sample" and you'll be able to see what the bottom of the foam is holding. I'm pretty sure it won't be good. In the long run you will need to replace the stringers, Transom, Deck and Foam. Your total cost will be some where around $1,000 to $1,500 bucks and about 100 hrs of work. Is it worth it??? Only you can be the judge of that. Lot's of examples here on the forum. Do some searching on "WET FOAM" "STringer Replacement" "Transom Replacement" and you'll see what I'm Talking about.

Welcome Aboard!!!!

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Did my photos work? i thought i posted up 2 of them?

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

I took a sample of the transom last night and it seemed OK... It wasnt mushy or wet... Same with the stringers, I might have lucked out there. I have yet to check the foam, but from what everyone has told me here, I'm definitely going to start getting rid of the old deck.. I have two 3x8 pieces of pressure treated wood that i was going to use for a new deck and some waterproofing material from an old boat floor.. not sure what it is, but it keeps water out very well. I also plan to paint the floor with latex paint..

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

How did you sample the Transom and the Stringers??

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

PS -- Are you talking about the green? I think that's algae stains... came right off with a pressure washer. Does algae indicate rot?