1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

[barato2]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

my point was that even if it was replaced, the visible evidence of the std of workmanship is not inspiring.....the Q is not whether it was "replaced" but whether it's "strong", ja?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

I 100% agree, B2. I wouldn't think twice about putting in a new transom.

My wood was replaced and was good and strong, but it had two problems. I have a short chunk of wood, so the PO used dimensional lumber (2X12) instead of sandwiched plywood. I could live with that. Number two was the use of a PT 2X12.

I was just offering evidence of prior replacement, which sometimes makes the next R&R a wee bit easier.

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

The knee brace is nbd, can have a shop fab one up in an hour if you don't have a metal brake. Your transom has been wet it needs to be replaced I can see the water staining in the pic above the livewell or bilge pump, it may not be rotten now but its a matter of time you have the boat apart, do the transom too.

To pull the motor.

Start by unbolting the following.




First off Unbolt the cable from the

Thanks for the help Sig. This is what i am looking for. You ended your sentence a few words early?? Unbolt cable from??? Sorry to seem like such a novice on this. But I can't find the service manual. This really does help.

Once I have the motor pulled, should I be hooking the throttle and cables back on once it is on the stand so I can work on it? I have seen this a lot in the threads here.

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

After looking at a few threads, I have yet to see any with that extra piece of metal that is on mine. I am guessing that this was a bad patch hub.

I will check to see if the splash well is cracked anywhere. I have noticed that there seems to be some caulk cracking in the edges but that's all.

The wood definitely looks newer than the floor. Got to get the motor off to check!!

Thanks again guys. Keep the help and ideas coming! I really appreciate it!

So I found a thread by Astor and it looks like he had the same issue that I do with my knee brace. Even the aluminum patch on his transom. Maybe this was how it was recommended to be fixed?!?!

I am going to PM Astor and see if he has any suggestions.

Thanks again for the thoughts. I have a break at work so no worries there. Just wanted to be sure.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

damage to the knee brace like you have is common to many of these boats once the transom starts to deteriorate and the owner keeps using it. lots of ways to fix em. but if your knee brace has cracks where the diagonal portion meets the "plate" on transom, merely reinforcing the area behind that won't solve the problem.

 

[astor]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

So I found a thread by Astor and it looks like he had the same issue that I do with my knee brace. Even the aluminum patch on his transom. Maybe this was how it was recommended to be fixed?!?!

I am going to PM Astor and see if he has any suggestions.

Thanks again for the thoughts. I have a break at work so no worries there. Just wanted to be sure.

Yes that piece of aluminum pop riveted to the transom is factory on my 87 SS. Its just a spacer that makes up the thickness of the Z-bracket the transom sits in.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Sorry i was typing that as i was leaving work last night. Its really straight forward. Unbolt the cables from the linkages and mounting block. When the nuts are removed just slide the cables off. After the cables are off put thenuts back on the mounting studs to prevent losing them. Slide the cables out of the lower engine tray. Then disconnect the battery cables from the battery, and remove the electrical from the engine. Then unbolt the motor from the transom. Unbolt the steering connecting rod from the engine. SLOWLY begin to lift the engine off of the boat while lifting slide the steering tube out of the engine.

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Yes that piece of aluminum pop riveted to the transom is factory on my 87 SS. Its just a spacer that makes up the thickness of the Z-bracket the transom sits in.

Thanks Astor-

I am going to pretty much follow what you ended doing on your SS. Not sure I am going to be able to do as nice of a job, but we will see!!

building stand tomorrow and then going to get the motor lifted sometime next week. Borrowing an engine lift sometime next week. We will see how it goes. Thanks again for everyone's help here.

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Sorry i was typing that as i was leaving work last night. Its really straight forward. Unbolt the cables from the linkages and mounting block. When the nuts are removed just slide the cables off. After the cables are off put thenuts back on the mounting studs to prevent losing them. Slide the cables out of the lower engine tray. Then disconnect the battery cables from the battery, and remove the electrical from the engine. Then unbolt the motor from the transom. Unbolt the steering connecting rod from the engine. SLOWLY begin to lift the engine off of the boat while lifting slide the steering tube out of the engine.

Thanks again Sig. I will let you know how it goes!!

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Hey Everyone-
Sorry that I have been MIA lately. I coach high school softball and the season has started so along with that and a 7week old baby boy, its been a little tough getting time in the garage! But did finally get a chance to get the motor pulled off the boat!! Was pretty easy to do, just have to not be afraid and go for it! Thanks for all the advice! Working on getting the transom caps off, but it looks like I have some rivets to drill out as the middle cap is one piece tied into the splash well. here are some pics. Hopefully going to get the floor pulled up this week!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Congrats on a new crewman & getting the OB pulled!

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Now that you got the rude off there your all in the clear to get a good start on the tear down.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Hey, the Rude went to flight school and soloed! I think some real tear down is coming shortly.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

I like that strap idea for hangin the outboard. one i'll have to steal when I reinstall the dorm fridge.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Yeah just go ahead and pull the splashwell it makes replacement a TON easier I had to do it on my 18' I haven't done it on the 16' but wish I would have just bit the bullet and done it. Its basically just a few blind rivets to drill.

It makes painting the splashwell easier as well hope the advice helped on the outboard.

Transom doesn't really look that bad YET, but you sir are saving yourself a ton of headache in the future by doing it now.

Are you going to Epoxy or Spar Varnish the new stuff?

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Well don't get the torches out yet, but I think that I am going to be use spar on everything. Feeling very pressed with time at the moment and really need to be able to slap a few coats on here and there. Planning on at least 3 or 4 coats, with 6 to 8 on all edges.

What do most people use to replace the blind rivets that they end up drilling out of the splash well? Go back in with blind rivets again or something else??

Also, Major help on the engine Sig, so I appreciate it.

As for the strap on the engine, I will get some better pictures of the eye hook I ended up rigging up. Found the link on here somewhere, and it worked really well. Hopefully going to be able to put a few hours in this Sunday.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

Before making the decision on Epoxy vs Spar

How are you going to store the boat?
How long do you plan on keeping the boat?

If the boat is stored outside either covered or uncovered go epoxy.
If this is going to be a long term boat go epoxy.

Just replace the drilled rivets with new blind rivets.

You can put on three coats of spar with a gallon or so of spar.

On my 16' resell boat I used spar and I sprayed it out of my HVLP gun.

On my 18' I used US Composites 4:1 epoxy resin and it is GREAT stuff, I would absolutely use it again. I almost wish I had done it on the flip boat.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

I've used spar on the wood in my boats, why use the 80 - 90 a gallon resin that you then have to use spar or paint to protect it from the sun. Doesn't make sense to me.

I would use blind rivets again if that's what came out of the holes. Deck screws always seem to work loose pretty fast. If it's an area of high stress and you can get to both sides, go with machine bolts and nylocs.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

There is a difference between epoxy and polyester resin. Epoxy is stronger and stiffer, meaning it is more likely to crack. Polyester resin costs less. Epoxy will yellow when exposed to the sun.

Waterman, do you thin the first coat for better penetration ? Do you add any "preservatives" like tung or linseed oil to your spar ? Typical number of coats ?

 

[CaptainRev]

Re: 1986 18' Starcraft SS restore

The boat is always stored in the garage, and when I transport it, it has a cover. I also plan to cover it if it is left in the water for a week while vacationing. So the only time it will get wet is when we are fishing in the rain. So for me, the spar is going to be fine. I still need to finish the rest of the demo and get the old deck out. Hopefully this weekend will give me a few hours!