'80 18' Starcraft SS restore

[86 century]

I picked this up back in November for $900 as a running and usable rig. It had a good running 70hp merc that I sold and got most of my money back so I am in to this thing for $250.

Those seats are sweet right out of that '70s show. I think he just knocked the wheels of and screwed them down.

It came with 10 yards of that lovely yellow vinyl. Now for the bad it has a pt plywood transom and deck so the next thing on the list is to get them out of there and correct any damage that was done.

 

[wilkboater]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I'll give you your money back! Where do you guys find these things? I'm jealous, and look forward to watching the restoration.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Check out the Starcraft section as well. You will get a ton of help and advice. Awesome group of people.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I'll give you your money back! Where do you guys find these things? I'm jealous, and look forward to watching the restoration.

These things are all over around here. As you can see in the one pic he had $1800 on it at one time. Look on Craig's list for adds with misspelled words for some reason I have great luck that way.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Check out the Starcraft section as well. You will get a ton of help and advice. Awesome group of people.

I have been following ezmobee and huron angler's threads(along with half a dozen others) to help me along. I am going in little different direction with my build. We are going to see if this old hunk of tin will be worth a hoot as a ski/wakeboard and tube towing rig.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

These things are all over around here. As you can see in the one pic he had $1800 on it at one time. Look on Craig's list for adds with misspelled words for some reason I have great luck that way.

I got my SS from a badly described ad with little information and no pictures. Took a bit of a gamble driving an hour and a half to check it out but man was I happy when I got there.

Those are some seats you got in there 86

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Nice huh! A pair of these will replace them in the near future.

I am starting to get it torn apart. The hull is in great shape next to no dents or dings. The paint is in bad shape but who cares it's yellow and hast to go.

She has a lot of that white open cell foam water logged of coarse. I am going to use noodles for flotation witch bring the first question. Did you fellows put them under the side panels as my fuel and ballast tanks will be under the center of the deck thus taking up most of the room.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Now who would want one of those yellow starcraft's?!?

One year newer and two feet longer than my rig. She should be a nice ski/tube rig for ya once you get her repowered

Is she rated for 150hp?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I'll give you your money back! Where do you guys find these things? I'm jealous, and look forward to watching the restoration.

One secret about Starcraft's...they were all built in Indiana

I've kidded with wrfalpacas about this too since he's in NW Indy. We do have just as many here in Michigan though.

Check out our thread "starcrafts on craigslist" to keep your finger on the pulse of the used tin can market

 

[backlashed]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Hello everyone.
I just joined the site a couple of days ago, and this is my first post.
I just bought a 1974 18' SS, basket case, and I'm just kinda looking around for ideas, tip, & tricks. It already has the floor and transom stripped out, and a new transom ready to go in. I'm just kinda waiting on warmer weather to get in the middle of it. My intentions are to build myself a rough water fishing boat, and I'm contemplating converting it to a center console. If anyone has any insight on such a conversion, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for anything you may have to share.

Ray

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Now who would want one of those yellow starcraft's?!? One year newer and two feet longer than my rig. She should be a nice ski/tube rig for ya once you get her re powered

Is she rated for 150hp?

[/I] I hope it will. The repower(or over power)is under way. I just can't make up my mind witch one.

Before you guys start yelling at me about hp rating and weight both of these are v6's and the same over all weight as the 150hp from the same era.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Hello everyone.
I just joined the site a couple of days ago, and this is my first post.
I just bought a 1974 18' SS, basket case, and I'm just kinda looking around for ideas, tip, & tricks. It already has the floor and transom stripped out, and a new transom ready to go in. I'm just kinda waiting on warmer weather to get in the middle of it. My intentions are to build myself a rough water fishing boat, and I'm contemplating converting it to a center console. If anyone has any insight on such a conversion, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for anything you may have to share.

Ray

Welcome to Iboats. And to the starcraft cult/club(as soon as we see some pics anyway). I have been told that if you do the flotation correctly these things are hard to sink. If you look around there are a couple of poeple making ss center consoles. Those crazy starcraft people will do all most anything with an ss.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I just bought a 1974 18' SS, basket case, and I'm just kinda looking around for ideas, tip, & tricks.

Welcome! You may get a few ideas from the link to my ongoing SS project in my signature below.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I got a little more done today. All the old foam and transom out and in the trash.

................ Test fit of the new to this me fuel tank.

............... JB weld to fill the holes from the rail an my Swiss cheese transom skin.

................ I am thinking of this for access to the bilge area so the plug can go in from the inside. Any thoughts I don't think it will make any structural difference.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I like that idea for the access panel. I may copy that as well...200hp..holy muther father..will you be installing seatbelts?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I hit 39 MPH with 3 adults in the boat and only 90HP. I really don't think you should hang a 200 on there. A lot more goes into determining the max HP rating than just weight and even transom strength. Mine is also rated to 150 and I'm honestly thinking I wouldn't want a 150 on it because I don't want the weight of a V6. I think my optimum motor would be a V4 140HP.

It's awesome that you found a belly tank for it. I wanted one but they are too expensive. I'll have an above tank in mine back under the splashwell.

On the JB Weld....max sure you smear some on the back side of those holes as well. I used it to fill some holes in the transom of my Jupiter and applied it just from the outside and sanded it smooth. After about a month I could see where the "plugs" were cracked under the paint. Just not enough to grab onto. However if there's some on the underside you should be good. Sorry if this is obvious advice.

The access plate in the splash well is a good idea and is OEM on lots of boats.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

I hit 39 MPH with 3 adults in the boat and only 90HP. I really don't think you should hang a 200 on there. A lot more goes into determining the max HP rating than just weight and even transom strength. Mine is also rated to 150 and I'm honestly thinking I wouldn't want a 150 on it because I don't want the weight of a V6. I think my optimum motor would be a V4 140HP.

On the JB Weld....max sure you smear some on the back side of those holes as well. I used it to fill some holes in the transom of my Jupiter and applied it just from the outside and sanded it smooth. After about a month I could see where the "plugs" were cracked under the paint. Just not enough to grab onto. However if there's some on the underside you should be good. Sorry if this is obvious advice.

I agree about the hp rating. I think it goes beyond the over all power and weight it's the speed. I am sure that it is a big factor in the rating along with liability and insurance. With that being said my plan is to prop it to run near 50mph. I made sure that the jb weld was coming out on both sides for just that reason but thanks anyway ez.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

It's awesome that you found a belly tank for it. I wanted one but they are too expensive. I'll have an above tank in mine back under the splashwell.

The access plate in the splash well is a good idea and is OEM on lots of boats.[/QUOTE]

Ez that tank is out of 18' '77 imperial trihull. I picked up the boat with that 200 rude for $300. I have seen that access plate on some big fishing rig. Thats where i got the idea. Now on with the fun stuff.

I got the deck cut and laid in place for a test fit.

And the start of the rear seat. Note the hinges so the whole thing will flip forward for access to the batteries and rear fuel tank if I put it in.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Looking good 86, how big a stretch will that be, across the back of the seat when tilted? I like the Idea but I'm not as limber as I used to be.

 

[86 century]

Re: '80 18' Starcraft SS restore

Looking good 86, how big a stretch will that be, across the back of the seat when tilted? I like the Idea but I'm not as limber as I used to be.

My first idea was to have it tilt up but it will be to heavy to hold up. It's 25" tall so It will be accessible on the water although not that pleasant to get to.