1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

[LastDollar]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Did you repair the bad ground cable? I had one break and I used a piece of copper tubing that just fit over the bare wire and soldered it then taped it back with heat shrink tubing.
Don?t forget to put the tubing on first. LOL:redface:

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Did you repair the bad ground cable?

LastDollar, I think i might just get some new ones later on. Just a bit easier for me, and the wire does that in a lot of places so I would loose some flexibility in it. Thanks for stoping by and sharing what you did, that's a really brilliant idea!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

LastDollar, I think i might just get some new ones later on. Just a bit easier for me, and the wire does that in a lot of places so I would loose some flexibility in it. Thanks for stoping by and sharing what you did, that's a really brilliant idea!

I have had excellent results having my ground and power cables made by the local Interstate battery store and they used marine wire. Just keep in mind the location (or future location) of the battery.

Yup, I suspect you will be spending allot of time inside that hull as many a SS owner has done before you!! It really is not hard work...... just a bunch of thinking and attention to detail



BTW IF you use a kerosene heater while you are working....... the chemical fumes from poly resin are flammable but you knew that........ did you know that the kero fumes will leave oil speckles on the hull that will become fish eyes when you go to paint it in the spring!!!

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

I'll check there, that sounds like good place, and I can get them made to the lenght they are now. I will also probally buy the electric heater EZ used in the link above. I read on here about what will happen with the kerosene heater's. Thanks Bob!

Got to the boat tonight. I mainly focused on geting the small things taken off so I won't have too much of a problem geting the floor out soon. Man are those bolts sometimes a pain. One because they're very long, and two because most of them are in the worst place... So here's some pictures.

The bow

The transom area. With the support (don't know correct name) that came off. I will need to re-rivet this.

And some rot. Mainly near the edges of everything, including the consols. Not bad at all though.

More pics in next post...

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

The very stuborn seat post. I can not get these screws to turn at all...

Just for kicks all the screws, bolts, and nuts. Wow there were a lot.

And one more because I got bored with the camera.

I'm moving nice and slow it seems. Maybe someday I can get the floor up...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Hey, progress is progress!

Love that 16 foot SS hull, sweet!

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

I got to taking out the floor!

It came out pretty easy, drilled out the rivets. Then lifted it out. The only totally rotted piece was the one over the bilge. The foam was only waterlogged near the bilge.

Things I noticed.
-The stringers were not attached and there was no sign of rivets.
-There was some flaking near the bow which I later found out was paint dumped from the front.
-I'm missing some rivets in other spots in the center of the hull (don't know correct name) and for the transom support.
-I had noticed this summer when filling up some holes temporary that the center of the hull seemed pulled away a bit, I'm thinking I should be fine, but should I worry about it?

So I know I will be flipping the boat soon, and will strip the paint. I'll feel better when I find out what exactly is happening. I'm going to paint first, and then Gluvit after checking for leaks in the spring before the floor goes in.

Here are some pictures.

The most rotted piece

What the rest looked like

Beautiful foam

More continued...

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

From up near the boat where I thought it was the hull flaking, but is just paint. I think...

Near the bilge. Where most of the damage is...

The transom brace? No rivets here either.

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

So I just hope that everything will be ok. The middle picture of post #28 is the one that scares me a bit because it looks like the hull is smashed up... I will also need to clean out the drains in each rib. They are pretty clogged.

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

On the area you think is pushed up, would there happen to be a trailer roller there? My hull has one slight pushed up spot where the rearmost trailer roller sits. I have been working off and on on replacing some rivets. Not hard to do.

What was that about the stringers??? Not riveted in? You mean they were only attached to the floor and just resting on the hull?

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

\\What was that about the stringers??? Not riveted in? You mean they were only attached to the floor and just resting on the hull?

Yeah they were riveted to the floor, but not to the ribs.

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

BG, before you start worrying about the hull and any damage, get a better look. Clean, vaccum, scrub the hull and clean out the limber holes real good. After that take a look at the rivets, ribs and any dents. The beauty of our boats is they can be repaired fairly easy. Take a lot of pics of the inner hull, then flip it and check the corresponding side and rivets. Often after stripping paint you will find a few more loose/missing rivets. Pay close attention to the knee brace, thats an important support. Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Ok now that I know I will be replacing rivets in the future what tyope should I look for? The regular solid ones since I have access to both sides or should I get closed end pop-rivets? Thanks.

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Ok now that I know I will be replacing rivets in the future what tyope should I look for? The regular solid ones since I have access to both sides or should I get closed end pop-rivets? Thanks.

I am replacing solid ones with solid ones, and blind ones with blind ones. The solid ones are not hard to set. I did buy a 3x rivet gun, but you probably could do it with an air chisel with the right tip. It only takes about a 1 second burst of the trigger to set them. I got all my rivets at

http://www.rivetsonline.com/solid-aluminum-rivets.html

I used brazier head soft alloy (1100F). Almost all mine are 3/16 diameter.

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Thanks for all the help fsh and dj.

I vacumed and scrubed out the hull tonight. I also took a razor scraper to try and get some of the stupid paint that goes all the way back to the bildge. I do not have as much damage as I thought I did. It was just the way the paint made it look. I did find a couple of missing rivets, like I had expected before, those will get replaced.

The thing I don't get is why someone dumped the paint. It just doesn't make much sense. O well it won't take too much it get off. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Looks like it is progressing very nicely

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Well I have been busy and lazy, and since the weather took a nose dive to the teens I won't be geting out to the garage for a while. I want to use the money that I would pay for the heater on something for the boat, so no heat in the garage for me .

I want to flip her soon though since all the family will be around, and I can get some guys to help out. Once I flip I think I will strip the bottom only because that just has slathered on paint, and then I can get a better look at the rivets. The rest I think I can get away with some sanding because the paint is still holding up fine.

I am also contemplating riveting while she is fliped then I will be able to paint everything rather than have to touch up those rivets. What do you guys think? Will I be fine going back and touching up the new rivets or should I just rivet while in turtle mode? Painting won't be happening till we get a couple warm days though, so I have time.

One more question, on the rivets. I am having a hard time finding a tip for an air chisel to set the rivets. I may be looking at the right thing, but am not sure. I want to get this from HF, and then I need the riveting tip for it. Can someone link me to one that will work? I'm really having a hard time. Thanks!

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Nothing against Dj, as I am sure his skills far outway mine but I wouldn't use an air chisel on the boat. I know you wouldn't be using the chisel but rather a different tip, but those bad boys could do some damage if you were to slip off the rivet. Understand I have never used this method, but it does make me nervous. If you have the help, re buck them old style and do it before painting. In the long run it would be faster and easier.

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

Nothing against Dj, as I am sure his skills far outway mine but I wouldn't use an air chisel on the boat. I know you wouldn't be using the chisel but rather a different tip, but those bad boys could do some damage if you were to slip off the rivet. Understand I have never used this method, but it does make me nervous. If you have the help, re buck them old style and do it before painting. In the long run it would be faster and easier.

Totally agree here, the air chisel has to much power for doing rivets and will damage your hull. The air powered rivet guns do not have quit as much power as the chisel. Just my .02 worth here, I am a noob as well and not as smart as a lot on here.

 

[boatguy94]

Re: 1978 16' Starcraft SuperSport Resto

I agree with both of you. I was reading and heard a couple of those things and someone with my n00b skills should definatally not be trying it. So nothing against your advice DJ I just don't think my skills would be up to par to try it without going through the hull , you on the other hand would take care of it fine . I hope you don't take any offence to all of this, you have been a great help geting me on the right track! Thanks!

I'm kinda thinking about picking up a cheap used rivet gun off of ebay or borrowing one if someone I know has one, still trying to figure that one out though. Or I may just go the hammer route, but I do have at least 15 rivets that need replacing that I can tell. So borrowing a rivet gun from a freind who can show me how to use it might be the way to go, and practicing on some scrap before going onto the boat.