1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

[wappycat696]

Hello,
Just picked up a 1979 Starcraft Islander. Project boat. It doesn't have a cabin door. I was wondering if somebody that might have done a center console conversion would still have the old cabin door. Thanks, Rick

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Hey Rick, welcome to iboats man!

Have ya got a photo of your new rig? We'd love to check out what you are working on there

A cabin door will be a tough find I'm afraid. Moreover, I think if you do actually find one it'll likely be in pretty rough shape.

I know I sent my crummy one to a fella in the southwest part of the country. Shipping alone was like $75 I think.

Cheers man!

By the way, I happen to think Starcraft Islanders are the best boats on the planet. Maybe even the galaxy! Though I may be a bit bias (probably not)

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

I'm making a new bifold for my Chieftain. Some 1 x 3s piano hinges and smoked polycarbonate. Easy as pie...PYE

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Try PMing horiconduckerr from this thread. He turned an Islander into an open fishing boat and still shows up on iboats, He might still have some parts.

Almost forgot to welcome you to the crowd,wappy. Welcome aboard.

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

posting pics is not the easiest thing to do on here but I managed.
Hey , thanks so much for the welcome and suggestions . I think I'll try the louver doors but I wondered about rain getting in. Thanks again.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Great rig man, lots of potential there!

Yah, posting pics through Photobucket is really the easiest way.

Before you go building new doors and such, how's the condition of the deck, cabin bulkheads, transom, yada, yada

What kind of driveline have ya got in there? Mine came with one that was less than appealing.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

man are you in luck !

one of our mods......bond-o, might be scrapping his islander.......look at this very recent thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=469592

please keep in mind......any transactions between any two members of the forum MUST be done via PM.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

man are you in luck !

one of our mods......bond-o, might be scrapping his islander.......look at this very recent thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=469592

please keep in mind......any transactions between any two members of the forum MUST be done via PM.

Ayuh,... I took the cabin door off, back when I bought the barge,...
It was in my way, 'n I replaced it with a snap-in curtain...

I've still got the door, 'n frame, in original condition... I'll be waitin' for a pm....

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Call me duh but I'm not sure what PM means.

It has a merc 470 in it. The previous owner said it sounded like a rod knocking. But a sound like a rod knocking could be a half dozen other things . I have the boat all tarped up for the winter and will start on it in the spring. But I plan on gutting it and starting by filling it up with water to check for leaks. That is after I repair what I already know to be bad. It took a hit on the lower part of the hull which put a small dent in it and a tiny crack about 12 inches above the dent. So I know I have to take care of that before I even think about water testing it. I'm not taking any chances on the transom. I'm just planning on replacing it and the floor while everything else is out. So I've got my work cut out for me. I have read that the hull repair is a lot easier that it looks. We shall see. I've been warned not to weld the crack. A plate is much more reliable. Do you guys agree or disagree?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

PM = Personal Message

Bad 470? Now's the time to upgrade! A nice 3.0, Inline 6, or 4.3 V6 would be great!

Yah, I wouldn't be worrying about that door at the moment. You have looooot's of time to think about that.

I have some thoughts on your crack but it would be cool to see a few photos so we can see what we need to get going eh?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

I'm not taking any chances on the transom. I'm just planning on replacing it and the floor while everything else is out. So I've got my work cut out for me.

Ayuh,... Mine's a '74,...
I replaced Every single piece of wood in it, but the side panels of the cockpit...

The Deck, Transom, 'n all 3 bulkheads...

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

The one pic is the dent with the crack above it and the other pic is the crack. It's about three inches long.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Ugh, that looks a little rough. That crack is in kind of a bad spot too, rats. I know there are guys way smarter and more experienced than I with metal fab work, but if it were me...

First, I'll drill out at the ends of the crack in hopes that it wouldn't go further. Then I'd see what I could do to gently bump out that dent as best I could. Then I'd think about taking it to an accomplished welder AND/OR laying up some sections of alum patches inside/outside all slobbered up with 5200 and riveted in place.

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

yeah, that's what I read on some blogs by experienced aluminum boat people. They said they would not weld alumunum cracks. The welds more than likely would crack again. They said to use stainless steel screws with bolts and nylon washers, goop it up with 5200 and tighten it all up. ?????

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

which is better, a mercruiser 470 or a straight line 6 cylinder. I've heard (not necessarily reliable) that the 470's had more guts than the 6 cylinders. No?
Also, I've never had an I/O. If you change out a 4 cylinder to a 6 cylinder , will it hook up to what's already there?

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Oh man, I6 vs. the 470? Ah yah, I6 all day long. Head over to the Merc Section and start reading, you'll quickly see why

 

[wappycat696]

Re: 1979 Starcraft Islander - looking for a cabin door

Thanks, I was wondering about that because I've also heard about a lot of issues with the 470 on a good day.