74 Starcraft Holiday resto

[dozerII]

Just be happy you only have 1 windshield to deal with. :lol: Don't sweat the windshield it will come out just fine.

Most the guys are pretty silent on the AL decking ideas that come along. Not sure where you're at that ply is so expensive but here 3 sheets of 1/2" marine ply is $165.00 and the cost of sealing it depends on what you use, spar would be less than 40 with epoxy around 80?. Covering is a wash because if you don't put something on that AL deck you're going to have the equivalent to a roasting pan for a boat out on the lake in the mid day sun. The next issue is supporting the AL deck, you'll need to add supports every foot to keep it from being like a trampoline. AL is tough to cut too, trust me I know. The AL DP is heavy, 1/4" weighs in over 110# a sheet and 3/4" ply is 75#.

The only positive I can see is AL doesn't rot if neglected like wood will.

I agree with Rob, I put aluminum checker plate on the ski locker in my Holiday and even with socks on you better be light on your feet if you step on it in the hot sun, I'm sure bare footed would be an instant burn.

 

[SkidRowBill]

Thank you for your feed back... these are all interesting facts that I need to contemplate... The aluminum is attractive to me because I will not worry about it ever again... here three sheets of 1/2 inch Merranti A/B BS 1088 costs $300.00 plus another hundred transport... the spar varnish or epoxy will need care over the years if it is going to last even ten years from what I have read on this and other forums... even glass will not hold up to 20 plus years... I will carpet the aluminum floor and just forget about it... I prefer to spend my time in a "retired state of mind" but that still leaves the transom, I have axed the liquid transom idea due to weight... it is very dense and weighs more than concrete and I just do not feel comfortable with the product... now carbon fiber is another idea... light weight, incredibly tuff and strong... but when it fails it is explosive... I would prefer to pay twice the cost to replace the transom in a permanent fassion... two sheets of the 3/4 Merranti costs $240.00, I would do it if I could enclose it to last 60 plus years(also thinking of my daughter when I am gone)... I have plenty to do and can leave the transom to last... I still have to re-engineer the trailor... 86 the rolls except for one in the rear and front, Decide on what bunks and where, lights and reflectors... replace the winch with electric... my truck has daul batteries with a power plug at both ends... The dash needs attention... sand and paint boat, wirering... what have I got myself into... I know, a labor of love... their is no doubt that I am enjoying everything I am doing and when it is finished I will continue to enjoy her until something goes wrong... I hope to eleaviate any future problems by keeping things as simple as I can... you guys are a great insperation and I could not get this done without you... point in support, when I was reading the "Tore My Transom" with the Canadian he too just set out to do a "Fix"... After youall began to support him I was surprised that the captian stopped him from painting the boat... as he did, I mean to make you proud to be a vintage Starcraft owner... Thanks for listening... All My Best... Bill from Maine...

 

[laurentide]

I used 5/8" ACX for my deck and I've been very happy with it. I coated it with epoxy and wrapped it in nautolex. I certainly don't remember it costing close to as much as your marine ply estimate. Maybe $400 tops at the end of the day.

Another thing about treadplate is that it'll still be pretty slick when it's wet, even with the tread pattern. This is one subject where the conventional wisdom may be the best choice. Just my $0.02.

 

[SkidRowBill]

You guys are great... Hey Glen... that is some sweet ride... I have found another supplier and it looks like I can get 1/4 inch diamond plate at less than $650.00... as you can see I am still in the "I'm not sure what to do" stage... but I must tell you that maintanance is a pain in the $#@&%(* to me... this alone will sway my opinion... todays money is small compared to tomorrows money... not to mention the maintanance... I live in maine... I have shopped around and some 250 miles south of me(Boston area) is the best price that I can get for good quality material... $300.00 just for the plywood... not to mention delivery and preperation... In my opinion longevety is my key to happyness... from april first to december first this boat is on the road or on the water... otherwise it will winter in the garage... I live on a lake that has 10 plus LB browns... on a fly rod with sewed bait it seldoms gets any better, with the house right here I mean... but the salmon fishing is out of this world in lakes like Sebago, Rangely, Moosehead, the Grand lakes, on and on... we call it "Gods Country" ... so many of the views are breath taking... for me, watching the sun rise in the east and looking at the Kenebago mountians to the west while trolling Rangeley is just plain and simple Heaven... when I kick the bucket, I pray its in this boat... The wife will retire soon... she loves fishing but has never realy had a great fish on the rod... once she lands an 8 LB salmon she will live to fish as I do... I am on the down hill slope... I run 3 businesses... I have only one daughter and she has zero interest in my work... My intention is to coast to the finish line... tell me... can I be burried in a boat???... all my best... Bill from Maine... windshield comes off this weekend... pics to follow...

 

[SkidRowBill]

Okay... so here I am.. I have removed the inner and outer rub rail... the nose plate along with the end gunwhale/transom corner plates... I have removed the starboard side windshield... so far it has been the dreaded nightmare... rivets, bolts, screws... it is 10 pm EST, in my terms O DARK 30... I started at 10AM.. I will do photo's tomorrow... it appears that the gasket for the windshield is aluminum... and has been sandwiched between the inner and outer windshield frames... I have applied the Kroil oil and will wait till tomorrow to see if I can get the screws that hold the inner and outer frames together out... the gasket appears to be aluminum and wedged between the rails that hold the glass... all in all I am happy that I have torn this baby apart... it is or soon will be ready for paint... I have never painted anything other than my truck frame and undercaridge with rustolium spray cans... I will look for one of my many friends who know how to paint and don't want to get rich doing so... from me anyway... this labor of love has put undue pressure on me today... at the end of the day I feel confident that I have acomplished a great deal... Damn I love this Boat... more to come... all my best... Bill from Maine...

 

[hayko1971]

Way to make progress Bill! For me it was all blood sweat and tears, but worth every second and every dime poured into it.

 

[SkidRowBill]

I read and commented on your resto... I also followed the link to the stripping and polishing of the hull... Now I am realy confused as to what I want to do... I am even second guessing the flooring that I want to use... will you give me your thoughts on your decision to do your hull bare polished aluminum... both pre and post doing it... we are supposed to have rain for the next 3 days... it is pouring today... what a drag... but it is giving me time to think and learn... I need to disassemble that windshield without destroying it... I have already twisted the head off of one of the 3 screws that hold the inner and outer frame together... it appears that these 3 screws also hold the aluminum gasket in place... when the rain stops I will take pictures and get back to the resto... Its just the wife and I and I am still wondering how I will remove the boat from the trailor and flip it over... without damaging something... I am really impresed with your resto Rob... as I am with many here on this site... but I can relate to your way of thinking... all but the bass thing... you should be going after those 20 pound brook trout that I hear so much about in Canada... I live near east central Maine(about 20 miles from the coast,mid way up the state) every year my mom goes to Quebec just to buy maple whoopie pies for all the children and grand kids... she has been doing it for as long as I can remember...

 

[Grandad]

Hi Bill. I think how you plan to use the boat should determine what floor material you use. If it's strictly for fishing while wearing shoes or boots, maybe aluminum is practical. If it's gonna be used in bare feet, you better rethink, but note that wood may need some form of floor covering for appearance such as Nautolex which adds more cost too.
On another point; I noticed something strange looking in one of your pictures above. It looks like one of the ribs may not be tight to the aluminum skin. Maybe it's just one of those obstacle delusions, but if it's not, better address that before covering things up to avoid a leak later. - Grandad

 

[SkidRowBill]

Thanks Grandad... there are a couple rivits that did not even hit the rib but is beside it, I will take some pics... I need to blow everthing out with air at some point... The end caps on the exterior lower side rub rail... I have searched everywhere, I called atwood and they stopped making them and shipped there last ones in March of this year... they could see the inventory of their dealers and gave me a handful of numbers to call... Nada, not a one... I use a local machine shop and will get a price... I wonder if others might be interested(I hope that I am not breaking forum rules for addressing this in this manner... here is what mine look like and this is the best one...

 

[SkidRowBill]

I am glad that you said that about the Aluminum flooring... I was thinking that it might be a bad Idea... or the forum would prefer that people keep their boats near OEM... I will paint it if I have to and put carpet over it ... I just do not want to do this again... I feel the same way about the transome... but I think that metal in the transome may not be a good idea due to vibration... I think that if wood is stil used it must be for a structural reason... what say you on this subject please... everyone should comment if they have possible info... You guys are the best... all my best... Bill in Maine...

 

[Grandad]

I am glad that you said that about the Aluminum flooring... I was thinking that it might be a bad Idea... or the forum would prefer that people keep their boats near OEM... I will paint it if I have to and put carpet over it ... I just do not want to do this again... I feel the same way about the transome... but I think that metal in the transome may not be a good idea due to vibration... I think that if wood is stil used it must be for a structural reason... what say you on this subject please... everyone should comment if they have possible info... You guys are the best... all my best... Bill in Maine...

I think a transom structured from aluminum would be a challenge. Yes, it can be done, but as you mentioned, there's vibration to consider. I think there is a dampening effect with a wood structure that may, in a sense, absorb the "energy pulses" (?) of the engine and the wave slamming action. Though wood can split and delaminate if improperly installed, it never work hardens and cracks like metal. If you used all aluminum, I think you'd need a relatively heavy plate both inside and outside of a thick sandwich just to adequately spread the forces. Plywood has this covered. That said, I don't think there's a forum bias toward keeping things original. I say make her your own. Add hydrofoils or whatever, experiment and have fun being inventive. - Grandad

 

[SkidRowBill]

Thanks Grandad... good advice... I can get 1 inch Merranti A/B 1088 for $55.00 more than the 3/4... one sheet will do the entire transom even if I need 2 X 3/4 pieces... thought that 2 out side skins of 1/4 diamond plate turned face in and seal the edges with some sort of glass, maybe even plexi glass... or even 1/4 inch plexi-glass skins... just brain storming... let me know what you think of these ideas... If I could incase the plywood in a permanent, sealed fashiom then maybe without maintainance it might last 20 plus years... Hmmm... I put 1/4 plexi-glass over my screened in porch windows for the winter... when the sun hits it I can see it expand and warp, but these are 4'X 6' and 8' 1/4" panels... the lower part of the transom is 12"X72" under the gunwhales it is 20"... probably not a good idea... if I rounded the edges of the diamond plate I could seal them in fiberglass... yes...no... there just has to be a way to make a transom last longer... I have a diamond plate deck that I put on my pick-up to seal the box and still haul toys like 4 wheelers and sleds... I do not remember it ever getting hot in the sun...

 

[Watermann]

Your 40+ year old boat will last another 40 and if you keep it garaged or covered it will be like new in 20 years. If not everything inside it will be deteriorated and ruined in just a few years. Leave it out under a tree uncovered, bow down with the plug in it and a sprinkler running on it.

Sorry when I see guys wanting impervious boats that will last forever my mind always moves towards the guy who wants to leave the boat parked in the elements without concern like I see so many times.

 

[Grandad]

I agree with Watermann. Sometimes we go to extremes for little benefit. When I replaced my transom, I made absolutely certain of thickness and other dimensions, then covered all faces and edges of the plywood with Formica plastic laminate just like a kitchen countertop. This required flat machined edges to ensure a good waterproof seal with the contact cement. The curved cut-out area for the I/O couldn't be covered in laminate, so I used a layer of 5200 to totally seal that. I made the 1/2" thick "horsecollar" shim for my Merc I/O out of some scrap solid plastic signboard material. I haven't heard of anyone else doing it this way, but sometimes we try what we know from experience has worked. My method probably cost more for little future benefit (for someone my age), but the outcome was predictable. Each to his own. - Grandad

 

[SkidRowBill]

Fantastic... you guys are fantastic... the flomica will work perfectly... is the 5200 an adhesive also... I think so... I have a 50X60 garage... it is always full of everybodies crap... but when i need to make room I make a phone call and warn them that its time to remove there crap... this is a pic or two of the Aluminum deck that I made for my truck... to the right is my hunting camper and the left, my truck...

 

[SkidRowBill]

Now here is a pic of my worst nightmare... please someone tell me that they have worked with this configuration before...

 

[SkidRowBill]

I am not only haveing a problem with photobucket but also my camera... when I push the button it beggins to beep... and after 10 seconds or so it takes a picture... it is a cannon rebel... the wife is at here mothers so I am sunk...

 

[dozerII]

That windshield frame looks like someone after the factory was at it. The slot in bottom side of the picture looks to be where the t bolts should be. As far as making these boats last. Just keep them out of the weather, my first 'SS was a 1972 all original ply I sold it to my BIL 3 years ago the floor is still good and it is 43 year old Un sealed 1/2" ply. If you use good quality ply seal it with spar and look after the boat 60 years should be no problem

 

[hayko1971]

Hey Bill, I agree with Glen, it looks like you can remove that aluminum strip and just insert some t bolts in the channel. I went bare aluminum because that's what was always in my mind for a restore. Would I do it again? Yup, I like the look.

 

[SkidRowBill]

the camper is a 1960, four aces... I purchased it in 1968... I ripped it clean apart and reconfigured it the way that I needed it to hunt... when I retired, 98, I reconfigured it again... with a bench under the window over the new heater... now I hunt in sub zero temps where it is 65 degrees... I set up 2 dummy deer at 650 yards on Caribou mountian... zero my rifle to the deer and wate(this spelling does not look right)... I used to pile them up like cod wood... but now they want to put you in jail for such things... the truck is a 1975 F-250 I paid $6500.00 with a plow brand new... it has less than 40,000 miles on it today... I have put near $30,000.00 in the motor alone... much of it is custom... every nut, bolt, and screw, and oem piece that I removed is upstairs in the garage... even the exhaust... anyone who knows me will tell you that I have never abandon my friends... and I care for the things and people close to me with recklus abandon... you do not have to worry that I might not give propper attention to the things and people that I love, and all good things in general... and you can rest assured that I love this boat... it is my future(unless I find an 18ft OB)... all my best... Bill from maine... this may confuse you but here it is anyway... I know that writing things online just do not come out to everyone the way you mean it... let me tell you that I am very beholdin to you all... what you are doing for me is very important to me... the last thing that I would like to do is offend any of you... Please understand... I may open up more at another time... having said that this is what my dinning table looks like... as you can see it has been some time since we have had a sit down meal at this table... everyday of my life has been just like this... I hope that you understand...