1977 Starcraft restore

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

The mounting pattern for my motor was different from the original bolting pattern so I stuck my finger in there and felt around. It seemed fine so I tried to scrape some out with a knife and it was still too hard to pull out any wood. Still not convinced, I drilled a tiny hole and inspected the shavings which were light and dry. Hoping thats the way to do it?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

In my first post I indicated how to check your foam. To REALLY KNOW about the stringers and transom you will need to drill into the stringers and the transom from the INSIDE of the boat and down LOW as you can. IF you core sample the Foam AND it is NOT WET then you are probably correct. IF the discoloration on the transom was algae and there are not cracks etc then you are also correct. Just LOOKED bad at first sight. You really should sample the foam from the bottom up and back by the transom when you get the deck removed. With the deck being that bad it is evident that WATER has been in the boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Yep. Sounds like you hit the lottery as far as rot is concerned.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

First off THANKS EVERYONE, i had no idea i'd get this much help so quickly!

Yeah.. it definitely was Algae, I just pressure washed the rest of it off and drilled into the transom lower down... it still seems good and dry? There;s also ZERO flex with the motor on so it seems like that is less of a concern... I'll check the stringers when I get the floor off, but I'm not quite sure if the boat has stringers. I think it might just rest on fiberglass, is that possible? there definitely is NO center stringer, i looked all around teh center open area and couldnt find a stringer or evidence of a rotted stringer. I'll keep looking on the sides once I get the floor up. Should I use a circular saw to get through the fiberglass?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Some boats ARE Stringerless. They use the foam to support the Deck and the HULL. YOu can use a C Saw. Just set the depth a fraction less than the depth of the deck and cut away. You can use a 4 1/2 Grinder to grind off the remaining lip.
We're gunna need more PICS doncha Know!!!!

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

I actually don't own a grinder... I'm 19 and relatively new to this and on a tight budget, but would that be a worth-while investment? i thought my dremel would do but it got FRIED! I'll try to upload more tonight... I cut away the fiberglass with medical scissors around the hold in the center and it goes into a big fiberglass bunk which leads me to believe that it is stringerless, but I'll upload more pics tonight and let the experts tell me!!

PS -- what type of blade should I use with a C saw? something with small teeth to get through the fiberglasss, right?

 

[emoney]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby? If so, you can pick up inexpensive power tools, like the grinder or circular saw, for a lot less there.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby? If so, you can pick up inexpensive power tools, like the grinder or circular saw, for a lot less there.

HF has an angle grinder for literally like $20.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Yeah, I have one close enough.. I need to ratchet straps too. How do you replace foam if I do have to that..? Can I just use like home depot spray in foam?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

No. No spray foam. For your fiberglass boat, I would stick with the pourable 2 part foam. You can order it from U.S. Composites

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Thanks. I'll continue looking into the foam issue...

What kind of blade is best for cutting the floor with a circ saw?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

A rip Blade 24tooth

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Great, I'll pick one up at HF tomorrow.. How about the floor. I guess I need to start tracing it? I'd like to redo it in two pieces... I have 3 4x8 sheets, Will upload pix of the floor soon.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

PICS!!!!

Just a shot of the hull and my brick house of a trailer... and my homemade engine hoist... yes I have banged my head on that winch many times.

The gas tank looks bad -- but I'm hoping and thinking it is air tight. I FILLED it with water yesterday and a ton of old bad gas spurted out of the vent and no water leaked into the hull so I'm thinking the tank should be good. Thoughts everyone?

THE FLOOR. That giant hole is a compartment that I want to keep when I redo the floor.

THE MONEY SHOT. up close, you can see part of the fiberglass structure supporting the rest of the floor. To teh sides of the compartment, the floor feels solid, but I know it is rotten and must be replaced. Hwoever, since it is rotten but still feels solid, I believe it is supported by either fiberglass or foam... Thoguhts?

I need to replace the blue carpeted piece unbder the off white hull. It is rotten and causes this portion of the boat to sag... I plan to trace the dimensions, remove the piece and cut a new one to prevent sagging...

ANY THOUGHTS AND HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! I'm most concerned about getting the floor in. I intend to pull the old floor tomorrow if my co owner stops being lazy

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

I just posted a bunch of PICS on the second page... thanks again everyone

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

I plan to start cutting the floor tomorrow morning... Any tips? should I trace it first?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Nope, just MAKE SURE to set the depth a little shy of the depth of the floor and cut as close as you can get.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Will do. Almost time to start cutting!

1) what are people's thoughts on the gas tank?

2) If I wanted to put a new floor in the bow area too, would I have to pull the deck cap entirely? or could I just cut a new floor in that shape?

Zak

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Will do. Almost time to start cutting!

1) what are people's thoughts on the gas tank?

2) If I wanted to put a new floor in the bow area too, would I have to pull the deck cap entirely? or could I just cut a new floor in that shape?

Zak

Wow a StarCraft build out of Fiberglass....I guess there are a few good engineers at that company....

Anyway...personally I'd pull the cap before I ever started with the deck and stringers.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1977 Starcraft restore

Hmm.. I think I can get around it. I just pulled up half of the floor. The stringers are fine... I sampled them. The foam is done for... I need to replace that. I know someone told me before to use a US composites pour in foam.. what would be the drawbacks of spray foam or pool noodles or something cheaper?

Zak