1983 Blue Fin 16’ Resto

[83bluefin]

Picked up a definite project boat off Faceplant Marketplace. Boat, 50HP Johnson, and Calkins trailer package. Probably one of the sketchiest things I’ve done and that’s saying alot. Wife and kids along for the ride and 2 hr ride home with unknown trailer. Kids have a memory at least!

Haven’t looked up the motor info as of yet. From the hood decals appears to be 70’s vintage, manual trim. My experience with other outboards is that you should be able to spin the prop in neutral….yeah can’t do that. I was told it was running last season and judging by moving the manual choke on the motor and smelling gas it’s probably correct.

Boat is a total project. Previous owner ripped up the floor and replaced it with what he termed “plastic” screwed down. I’m not impressed as it’s slippery, can’t anchor the pedestal seats that the boys want to it, and being honest I didn’t do it so questionable as to what is underneath. That and I want to do a coat or two of Coat-It or Fasco epoxy…still in the air on that…looking for a cost savings over Gluvit.

Beauty panels are ripped out to unknown locations and electrical is a mess.

Will post pics soon.

 

[83bluefin]

Started the other night on the trailer. Redneck heaven I swear. Connections with wire nuts, duct tape, and spade connections. It’s a wonder the tail lights worked…I had brought a Harbor Freight wiring harness with me on pickup just in case.

Ran wiring down the drivers side rail of the trailer and added brackets for marker lights. Going full LED with home runs to ground on each light. Not trusting a bolted trailer to give me good grounds.

Going to have to replace the tires as they’re unknown vintage.

 

[83bluefin]

 

[roscoe]

Congrats on the new adventure.

That hull was made by StarCraft- sylvan-smokercraft. It should be a good one.

16’ or 18’ - ???

ALSO—- Go to the StarCraft forum for detailed information on your project.

Starcraft Boats

forums.iboats.com

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

From your description of the floor, I would guess it rotted out and that was his "fix". I would first plan on a total floor and transom replacement. Lucky for you it's an aluminum hull, so no wood stringers.

 

[redneck joe]

And some, or hundreds, of rivets.


If you want to get this thread to the starcracft area, just ask a mod to move it.

 

[83bluefin]

Right now I think the transom is OK. It ends above the floor and after yanking on the outboard with the tilt locked in the upright position the transom showed no movement whatsoever. I’ll let the marina make a final decision once I get to the point where I’m ready to be concerned about a motor. Worst case…I’ll get some Seacast and pour a new one. I really only want to do this once.

Learned the motor is a 71…50ESL. From reading I’m doing the motor has to be spinning to shift gears and defaults to F when power is cut. Since that’s the case, I have 0 interest in finding out if it runs. With at least 2 Bubba’s worth of electrical hacks, I have no interest in putting power to this before I rewire. Trade in fodder unless I get overly ambitious and pull it off the transom myself at which point it’d go up on FB marketplace. This is a purely no-smoking section. Yammie or possibly Honda if the boat can carry the extra weight…have yet to find a capacity plate. I’ve seen similar vintage boats with up to 90 Rudes on them.

It’s a 16’ and I may have tracked down a full 3 piece window for $40. Trying to pick that up tomorrow.

Floor was getting ripped up as it’s not right. It looks shimmed up from the stringers based off a small section we pulled up. Also looks like there was a tie piece between the faces of the stringers which isn’t there now…rivets are still in the holes suggesting structure was removed. I’ll add some back when I’m ready to do the floor. May explain the leak we found in the front of the boat.

Focus has been on the trailer so I can move it. Tires are all dry rotted. Man I dodged a bullet there. By all means they should have exploded on the trip home.

Weather should be nice enough tomorrow to bang out the wiring so I have tail lights again.

 

[83bluefin]

May not look like it but left turn signal/brake, 3/4” marker in front of the tire, and marker up near the winch stand are wire in. Ran out of day light so couldn’t get to the other side.

My youngest isn’t a fan of the 3/4” marker. When I tested it he asked if I was trying to blind him as it was soooo bright! I told him that was the point so other drivers could see the trailer.

Need to get over the wiring hump to get back to painting the trailer and then getting the new fenders installed. You might see them behind the boat…aluminum diamond plate from Runnings. Only local place that had a set.

Still need to address the keel rollers. Front most one…cap was off and pin is partially out of the bracket. Last one is partially split as well. New caps, one pin, and all new keel rollers on hand for swap.

 

[airshot]

This boat is a 1983, some 45 years old. The wood in the transom was never sealed at the factory, so.....if you created a good plywood transom that is sealed.....are you going to have that boat for another 45 years ? Probably not, so why go thru making a cast transom ? Many folks doing a restore want it to last forever, but as we all know, life changes! Odds are this boat will be replaced long before a new transom fails.

 

[redneck joe]

What is a 3/4 marker?

My 82 transom is factory, I've taken an ice pick all over it and it is solid.

 

[airshot]

What is a 3/4 marker?

My 82 transom is factory, I've taken an ice pick all over it and it is solid.

I believe be he was referring to the side marker lights on the trailer. Floors are easy, glad the transom is solid !