22' 1968 Starcraft Islander

[evildocrsx]

My initial post was long and boring, so i'm writing a new first post.

I'm gonna attempt to convert this into a Center Console witha T-Top.

I'm gonna raise the floor to make it better suitable for fishing.

I'll try to have everything under the deck, fishbox, batteries, fuel tank ect.

I still don't know if I will convert it into an outboard yet. I'll probalby try out the i/o that it has to have a feel as to how it's balanced. If I find a good engine before I finish the project then i'll go ahead and do it. But if not, I'll just keep the i/o for a while. It has a mercruiser 160 inline 6 as of now.

Here are pictures of the boat. I just bought this boat for $500 yesterday.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

The paint is in pretty bad shape. I think i need to strip it. What do I use to strip it. I went to Home Depot and looked for a paint stripper, but it doesn't say that I can use it on aluminum. So, I didn't buy it because I don't want to ruin the boat.

I either suck as searching or can't find what to use to strip the paint.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

cool boat. I just dug up this info from an older thread for another Starcraft owner:

Another Starcraft member used a stripper on his boat and it worked awesome I just found the info in his thread for you:

The stripper that i used is:

BIX TUFF-JOB REMOVER.

I bought it at home depot. It is a great product. It is made for Aircraft-Auto-Epoxy-Marine.... I will swear by this stuff till the day i die. Here is the bix website.

http://www.bixmfg.com/

listed under removers.. Good luck...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=298292

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I went to Home Depot, but I did not find anything that was for automotive or aircraft. So I went to Lowe's and I found one called Peel Away 6. It says it removes marine paint, but did not mention if it was safe for aluminum use. I got it anyways and will test it on a little portion and see how it goes.

I'm thinking I have remove alot of parts from the boat before I strip it, but I'll see. I'm also thinking of suspending the boat up in the air so I can remove the trailer and have more space to work on. I'll see what I can figure out.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I wanted to suspend the boat in the air so I could strip the paint off the hull but, I didn't know if the paint stripper would work. I decided to hold off on the boat suspension and test out the paint stripper.

I applied the first coat of paint stripper with a brush. I read from other members on here that the paint stripper really burns if it touches skin. So I decided not to find out for myself and wore eye protection and gloves.

Then I used a pressure washer to remove the paint sripper and paint. I think I waited like about 2 hours before taking it off. Here's how it turned out ofter the first coat.

I decided to apply another coat and see if it would take off the remainder of the paint.

It really didn't do much. I waited for 2 more hours before taking it off with the pressure washer. It almost looks the same.

I think I'm gonna stop by the automotive paint store on my way back from work tomorrow and see if they have one that will remove all the paint down to the aluminum. I couldn't find the one that was suggested from the previous post at HD or Lowe's. We'll see tomorrow.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Ohh! BTW. here's my helper.

Here's my helper an hour later.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I had trouble removing the interior from the boat. First was the side thingies. I don't even know what they are called. What are they called?

I had trouble removing the screws it has. They would just turn and turn, but would not come out.

As it turns out, it has a nut in the back that has to be held in order for the screw to come out.

This is what's holding the thingy in place.

Finally, that thing came out.

Then the other side.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I then proceeded to remove the deck. It had a combinaion of philips and flat hed screws. I had to be switching tips all the time.
The first piece from the deck came out. It doesn't look too bad down there.

Then the 2nd piece of deck came out.

I was using a philips tip trying to remove the screws but they just wouldn't come out. I tried serveral but nothing. I thought that it couldn't be possible that ll the screws were strippes, so i looked a little closer. They were not even screws, they were rivets!

I was staring at the deck trying to figure out how I would take it out. I considered drilling all the rivets out but was afraid to drill a hole through the hull.

So, I resorted to taking a crow bar and ripping it out.

Finally after some elbow grease, most of the deck was out.

Things are looking good so far.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I just realized that smilies and pictures are included in the 6 images allowed in the post.

Anyways, back to the boat.
I then tried to remove the cuddy cabin walls but was having alot of trouble doing so. I couldn't get them out. I tried kicking it out first, but I just bounced back. So I decided take the moldings off.

I then took out all the screws that I could see, but still I could not get the cuddy wall out. It turns out that there were 3 hidden screws that were holding the wall in place.

After I took them out, I was able to slide the port side cuddy wall off.

I then moved on to the starboard side. I took off the molding and all the screws. There were no hidden screws on this side. I had to bang it a few times to get it loose but it then slid right out.

I took the final piece of deck out and was finally done. It was already dark so the pictures didn't come out very good. I didn't have any light neither, just a little head lamp.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

This is what I have waiting for me tomorrow to get rid off.

One thing that I noticed but don't know how reliable it is. The hours on the meter show 384hrs on it. That's not too bad for a 40 year old boat.

I'll continue tomorrow with cleaning the boat and trying to strip the paint on the hull.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Looks like you're moving right along. Make sure you hang on to any pieces in good enough shape to serve as a template for the new pieces.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

I was just thinking of measuring everything, but you bring up a good point. I'll hold on to whatever I can. Thanks.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Nice big ol Starcraft..

If the paint is halfway decent, simply sanding her down enough to scuff up the old surface is fine...
You really don't need to strip her down to bare tin..
If you do, then you will need a zinc chromate type primer to lay down on top of the bare alum.

Making her a CC is cool..if the little cuddy is of no use to you, and like you said you want a fishing machine..(How's the tuna bite going down at Fisherman's landing in San Diego?)

One thing I think you may want to reconsider is converting her to an Outboard....It really messes with the handling and balance of the boat.
It can be done..it is by no means an easy task.


Welcome to the insanity of Starcraft boats!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

if you are going to convert her to a CC, consider trying to keep all the metal/glass cuddy pieces intact. Someone on here may be very interested in it to convert an open or closed bow to a cuddy.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Nice rig evildoc That is one heck of a deal you got I hope you are aware of that. There are folks like me just waiting for a deal on a SC as good as yours(I'm looking for one that will barely fit in my garage...15-16ft).

That big tin can will serve you well for fishing.

As far as attaching an outboard...that is tough like Kev stated...but you could do something like this...

http://www.starcraftboats.ca/starcraftaluminum/boats9.html

I can't promise you it'd be cheap but that is one way to skin the cat. The stern area would be absolutely wide open and leave plenty of room for fishing with the outboard(or consider adding two for big water fishing...redundancy is your friend when you are not within sight of land) mounted outside of the hull.

Dual 115's would be killer on your rig Just wouldn't leave enough room for a trolling kicker if you need one for what you're doing.

Welcome to the home of shade tree tin can engineers

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Doc good lookin Rig there and looks like your moving right along on it . I will recomend you go back to Lowes or Homie Desperate and get a couple jugs of Citristrip it wont hurt the aluminum but it will hurt the paint it is also biodegradable so safe to remove with a pressure washer .


Rick

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Nice big ol Starcraft..

If the paint is halfway decent, simply sanding her down enough to scuff up the old surface is fine...
You really don't need to strip her down to bare tin..
If you do, then you will need a zinc chromate type primer to lay down on top of the bare alum.

Making her a CC is cool..if the little cuddy is of no use to you, and like you said you want a fishing machine..(How's the tuna bite going down at Fisherman's landing in San Diego?)

One thing I think you may want to reconsider is converting her to an Outboard....It really messes with the handling and balance of the boat.
It can be done..it is by no means an easy task.


Welcome to the insanity of Starcraft boats!!

The paint is really messed up, at least in my opinion. But if it doesn't come off with the aircraft stripper, I'll just scuff up what's left. I really don't mind having to put down a zinc chromate coat on it.

One thing that I'm still pondering about is how to convert it to an outboard. How does it mess up the handling and balance? Can you elaborate more on it please?

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

if you are going to convert her to a CC, consider trying to keep all the metal/glass cuddy pieces intact. Someone on here may be very interested in it to convert an open or closed bow to a cuddy.

If anyone needs any of the stuff I take off, feel free to ask me. Who ever wants anything can take it for free if they pick it up or pay for shipping.

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Re: 22' 1968 Starcraft

Nice rig evildoc That is one heck of a deal you got I hope you are aware of that. There are folks like me just waiting for a deal on a SC as good as yours(I'm looking for one that will barely fit in my garage...15-16ft).

That big tin can will serve you well for fishing.

As far as attaching an outboard...that is tough like Kev stated...but you could do something like this...

http://www.starcraftboats.ca/starcraftaluminum/boats9.html

I can't promise you it'd be cheap but that is one way to skin the cat. The stern area would be absolutely wide open and leave plenty of room for fishing with the outboard(or consider adding two for big water fishing...redundancy is your friend when you are not within sight of land) mounted outside of the hull.

Dual 115's would be killer on your rig Just wouldn't leave enough room for a trolling kicker if you need one for what you're doing.

Welcome to the home of shade tree tin can engineers

I love that idea of an outboard motor mount. I wonder if I could buy one or if I would have to fabricate one. Another thing, how would I make the transom strong enough for the outboard mount, steel plates?