'66 Starcraft, My first boat!

[French Toast]

Hello friends. I am new to the boating scene, I just picked this up today, it's my first boat. I know it's a 1966 but one of the previous owners put a trolling motor on the back and the clamps tore up the manufacturer's tag.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

not even a spot of dirt on it. great find welcome. your location?

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Ha ha, yeah when I bought it. The truck tends to throw dirt at anything following me though so it might be time to invest in a set of mud flaps. I'm hanging out in the land of 10,000 lakes! Mankato MN.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Wow she's a beaut. Do you know what model it is?

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Thanks, I was hoping someone here could help me determine what model it is.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Is it fiberglass?

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Yes

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

http://s731.photobucket.com/albums/...raft%20brochure/?action=view&current=6615.jpg
Here's a link to the '66 brochures. They are stickied at the top of the Starcraft forum.

Newport maybe? How long is she? Can you read any of the old tag?

Hope this helps.

 

[chuckndiscs]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Welcome!

Sharp looking boat there! What's the low down on it; Does it run? Run well? If so there may be a MN Starcraft Starmada brewing for Sept 23 or 24th!

Chuck

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

I'm going to pick up a battery and oil to mix up some gas tomorrow. I wish I had more time last week to go over it and i may have been able to get it on the lake today but oh well. I have the afternoon off so Hopefully she fires up. I have some oil for the lower unit but not sure what else I should pick up. If she runs good I might be up for meeting with you guys. I am dogwatching for my parents that weekend though so depending on where you guys are planning on going I may have to cut my outing short.

Here is what's left of the tag. After some tweaking in PS I can make out 14 ft and the serial number 65W358. The registration card just says 1966 Starcraft.

 

[barato2]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

not sure what else I should pick up.

a plastic trash can to immerse your lower unit in so you don't cook the water pump impeller?

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

She runs! Not so good right now, but I think a good carb cleaning and a little tuning might be all she needs. Let me know what you think as I don't know how one of these motors should run. The throttle cable doesn't work the greatest and needs to be replaced but these make for some good winter projects. I wasn't sure i would be able to get it on the lake yet this year but if my schedule cooperates I might have the time to get it ready!

 

[barato2]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

should be starting a little easier and runiing smoother than that. your motor is the old OMC "Big Twin", sorta the outboard world's equiv of the small block chevy in the late 50s-60s. super reliable (if thirsty) and many parts are still available. one carb for 2 cyl, so no synch issues. get a carb kit and rebuild it (easier than it sounds, nothing like as complex as automotive carb), and i suspect you'll find that most of your issues vanish. also good idea to do your fuel pump at same time...those rubber diaphragms dry up and crack too. if you plan on keeping this motor, invest $25 or so in this book:
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/media/books/cheap/index.htm. you can also find lots of Max's columns on duckworks....many articles dealing with the Big Twin.

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Thanks Barato2, I figured posting a video would do much more than me trying to explain how the motor was running. Were Johnson and OMC together in 66? Our parts books only go back to 73 so I wasn't sure if they just aren't worrying about supporting as much older parts or not. Awesome help again, thanks guys.

Still trying to figure out what model the boat is. Looks like either a Mustang our Wildcat?

 

[Gibbles]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

French Toast,

Are you on ZR2USA.com?

 

[barato2]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Toast--

yes, OMC built both Johnson and Evinrude. for all years relevant to either of us, the motors were identical except for exterior trim and housing shape....ALL mech parts interchange. OMC also made Gales, which were likewise mechnically almost identical to the contemporary Johnnyrudes, but i think stripped down a bit.

get the Sierra Marine catalog.....Sierra is an aftermkt manufacturer of parts for marine engines etc and makes very good stuff qualitywise....they carry lots more for old OMCs than most outfits. i think iBoats sells their stuff. but you will probably have some issues on major parts for a 66....tuneup parts and carb kits should still be available.

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

HELL-O It looks to ME like it could be the MUSTANG?[that's what i think] I have a 1966 JOHNSON SUPER SEA-HORSE SUPER QUITE ELE. 80 HP WITH CONTROLS AND HARNESS Nice looking boat ENJOY

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Gibbles, I am on ZR2USA, the name's just Toast over there. I take it you are as well.

Again thanks a bunch for all the info. I've got my shop guys looking at what we can order to get the boat running and now I have many more resources if they can't find everything.

 

[paparoof]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

These guys have always treated me right and they seem to have just about everything:

http://www.twincityoutboard.com/

 

[French Toast]

Re: '66 Starcraft, My first boat!

Got the carb taken apart. It looks pretty simple but I think whoever previously rebuilt it lost some parts. One of the springs in the choke assembly replaced by a wire twist tie was an interesting idea. I called Twin Cities Outboard and they only sell carbs, not parts for them so I'll have to figure out if I can properly replace the missing parts, or if it's worth it to just buy a carb from them. Hmmmmm!