1980 starcraft SS restoraton

[Keithwpg]

hey guys, i haven't posted here for a while. i recently picked up this 1980 starcraft SS. bought it full on knowing it needed alot of work and i intend to turn it into a fishing boat. so decided to make this thread to follow my progress and ask questions! this is the second boat i am restoring. i am currently selling my aroliner that i put a new transom and floors and seats in, as well as all new controls.

heres some pics of what it looked like when i bought it

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

heres some pics of the transom rot that i didn't anticipate. i tossed around in my head if i wanted to rebuild the transom or not, then when i started ripping the splashwell out i realized i have no choice!!

the genius that owned the boat before decided to "reinforce" the transom with some angle iron, better yet he decided to use self tapping sheet metal screw to attach the angle iron to the wood!

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

stripped to the consoles, once i started getting more and more out i realized the rot was way worse than anticipated. the floor was very spongy

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

i stripped it down to aluminum tonight and figured out where my leaks are, ill get pics tomorrow when it's lighter out. i have a few question.

1. what is a good product to seal the rivets and seams?

2. what is my best course of action to seal the plywood for the floor and still allow the glue for the carpet to stick?

thats all i can think of for now

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

i stripped it down to aluminum tonight and figured out where my leaks are, ill get pics tomorrow when it's lighter out. i have a few question.

1. what is a good product to seal the rivets and seams?

2. what is my best course of action to seal the plywood for the floor and still allow the glue for the carpet to stick?

thats all i can think of for now

Welcome aboard Keith, nice project you've got there

I have a '79 SS, they are great boats. I like the looks of that 75hp, what brand is it?

To seal rivets and seams you will want to use Gluvit, available here at iboats.

Epoxy resin from us composites or clarkcraft will protect the wood. I glued vinyl to the plywood after 3 coats of resin and it adhered well.

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

its actually a 70 hp johnson. the previous owner said he cracked the hood and was only able to get a 75 hp hood at the time. i don't mind, lets people think its a 75 hp haha

i had the boat out only once just to check the motor and such and i love the way it sits in the water and how stable it is, they are nice boats for sure, i just need to modify the interior setup for my own needs. im planning on a livewell and maybe a bait well, since im a plumber by trade you know its gonna have a nice plumbing setup lol. i should have the motor off in the next few days, i just have to borrow a chain hoist from work to make life easier

i'll get more pics up soon.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

Nice boat Keith, welcome to the Starmada. My SS resto thread may be a source of some ideas. I'm pretty pleased with how my fishing setup turned out (with the exception of some bow deck strength issues I have to address).

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

Bummer about that angle iron there. Ah well, no matter rebuilding the whole rig is the way to go anyway.

Welcome to the Starcraft Brohood and the iboats dry dock.

Cheers

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

I have a little PO angle iron experience myself However my PO used some HARD CORE stuff. It was like 3/8" thick! Not sure if this pic shows it well but it's there http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Transom Repair/8.jpg

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

thanks guys, ill be looking at all your threads for ideas. heres a few more pics of how it sits now. i want to cut out my plywood and treat it before winter so i can work on it slowly while its cold out all i have to do is grind out the rivets that didn't pop when i pulled up the floor. not sure on my color scheme so im gonna buy carpet later as i decide what i want (read as when the GF pics colors )

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

im applying gluvit to all the rivets and seams, any tips/tricks that may help? never used the stuff before

also the drain location on these boats is terrible. i when it sits in my driveway and i pull the plug there is still 2 inches of water in the boat, no wonder the back was so rotten. thats my only complaint with the boat, other than that it seems solid

 

[djpeters]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

im applying gluvit to all the rivets and seams, any tips/tricks that may help? never used the stuff before

also the drain location on these boats is terrible. i when it sits in my driveway and i pull the plug there is still 2 inches of water in the boat, no wonder the back was so rotten. thats my only complaint with the boat, other than that it seems solid

Pretty much just mix it right and brush it on. Good work!

 

[richardlee]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

On your seats out pic, what is the material along the side? I was thinking of using plywood and maybe covering with vinyl. I have what the registration calls a 1987 SS, but I think it is probably 1978. Mine was completely stripped, with all the parts laying in the boat. Your pictures have helped me figure out where some of the parts go. I may not have everything, but enough to get it up and running. I will need to replace my transom, but mine is not as bad as yours.

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

it was plywood with some wood print vinyl wrapped around it. it was completely rotten. if you need and pictured or a are wondering about where anything goes with your boat i am pretty thorough when i take stuff apart and mark everything.

 

[richardlee]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

Thanks. I hope to get a good start in putting it back together next week. Here is a picture of the parts. I have most identified. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

1-run along and attach to the floor, holds up the wood that was wrapped in vinyl you were asking about
2-attach at the rear to the same peice of wood
3-looks like the battery tray under the splash well, mine had 2 J hooks attached to it
4-fit under and attached to the original seats
5-cant see how thin they are but if they are really thin they are the pieces that join the sheets of plywood from the underside




hope that helps, i have some more pics of my progress coming

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

Hey Richard -

#1 - your 2 stringers
#2 - If it's looks like 2 channels, it's the track slides for the transom doors. Hard to tell in the pic
#3 - No idea
#4 - legs for the rear facing lounge seat. Holds up the cushion when made up into a bunk.
#5 - Those strips are used to connect the floor sections. They go from side to side under each floor joint.

Hope this helps.

I was replying to Keith's response. I'm a dolt sometimes.

 

[richardlee]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

Thanks, Keith. I have been out of town so this is the first time I have had to respond. I had seen some of the pieces from your pics so I had figured them out. I hope to get a good start on putting things back together this weekend. I will post some pics as I go along. Also, it looked like you had some kind of floor support in the bow of your boat. I couldn't tell by the picture, but it looked like a center stringer. Is that correct? I don't have one and I haven't seen where one might attach.

 

[Keithwpg]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

yes there is a short center stringer.


what is the best repair manual for a 79 johnson 70 hp motor? i drained my lower unit today and it is very very very thick and white (eek) i wanna take a look at that over the winter


i was looking at this one

http://www.iboats.com/1979-Johnson-...0113287--**********.449019347--view_id.440668

 

[mark1961]

Re: 1980 starcraft SS restoraton

what is the best repair manual for a 79 johnson 70 hp motor? i drained my lower unit today and it is very very very thick and white (eek) i wanna take a look at that over the winter


i was looking at this one

http://www.iboats.com/1979-Johnson-...0113287--**********.449019347--view_id.440668

That one should be fine, Ken Cook published the original OEM manuals for OMC and that appears to be one......stay away from clymer and seloc.