'86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

SKDave

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Are you going to have a compatible trolling motor for the ilink? Do you fish bodies of water that have mapping support so you would be able to take advantage of following a contour line?
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

I am getting a minnkota st55 to strap the ilink on if I go with humminbird. I do not live in lakemaster areas but I'm not stressing the follow the contour aspect. Plus they are workiń on lakemaster for my area as of right now. No telling when they'll be done though.

Anyways I love the humminbirds ease of use and that they have an amazing support forum online. The lowrance has lots more fancy features that honestly would probably be more confusing to me than anything else. Still torn between though. Hard to let $12-$1700 slip out of the pocket without extensive research...
 

GA_Boater

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Hey - Sutor - One of the things I've noticed about Lowrance, the one I have anyway. Their instructions are poor. They show and tell how to install pretty good, then it's turn in on and figure it out. I had an Eagle made by Navico, parent of Lowrance and was replaced under warranty with a Lowrance. Virtually the same unit, but the Eagle instructions were outstanding. HBs have good set-up instructions too.
 

dozerII

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

My Bro has the Ipilot on his Minnkotta and absolutely loves it, spot lock on a windy day make the whole purchase worth it he says. I just put the Terrova 80 Ipilot on the SS, and am looking forward to some bottom bouncing this summer.
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Thanks for the feedback guys. Always good to hear you guys opinions. GA, glad to hear that about HB. We are here to boat and fish, not figure out new computer programs, you know?
 

GA_Boater

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Thanks for the feedback guys. Always good to hear you guys opinions. GA, glad to hear that about HB. We are here to boat and fish, not figure out new computer programs, you know?

You got that right. I haven't caught many fish wearing coke bottle glasses and pocket protectors. Lately. :lol:
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

You got that right. I haven't caught many fish wearing coke bottle glasses and pocket protectors. Lately. :lol:

Heard that!! Im just hoping that the money for side imaging pays off.
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Guys what a beautiful weekend!! I got a fat check from a side job I've been doing an went ahead and ordered a humminbird 898. Then, I got this done!

 

jbcurt00

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Nice work, really nice work.
 

jigngrub

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Paint looks great Pete!... and it'll look even better with Catfish slime on it!:watermelon:
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Thanks fellas. Motors going on this weekend. I didn't bother painting below the waterline. Ill just clean and polish the aluminum.
 

dozerII

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Real good looking paint job.
 

ezmobee

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Looks great!

I didn't bother painting below the waterline. Ill just clean and polish the aluminum.

Good plan. Paint on the bottom is more trouble than it's worth.
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Good plan. Paint on the bottom is more trouble than it's worth.
glad to hear that others with more experience than me agree. I am just glad it didn't have paint on it to start with. The bottom is a little hinged and banged up under the bow but that just means I won't cringe when I pull up onto a pebbly, sandy shoreline!
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Oh and this is Majic's Tractor and Implement paint from Tractor supply. I bought gallons, but all I would have needed was a quart of primer, a quart of topcoat, and a pint of reducer. Can be had for around $30. Hard to believe that you can get these type of results with that little bit of cash. I used an el cheapo sprayer from sears. A little patience and a lot of practice cardboard goes a long way. I sprayed about 11-12 really thin layers of topcoat to make sure I didnt have any runs.
 

Watermann

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Just found your thread sutor, some very fine work you've done on your Star. Good work on the paint even using a cheap sprayer great results come from surface prep.
 

sutor623

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

Just found your thread sutor, some very fine work you've done on your Star. Good work on the paint even using a cheap sprayer great results come from surface prep.
Thanks man!! She's not perfect but I'm real happy wit her. Paint is nice and dry but is a bit gooey. I can push my fingernail into it pretty easily. It's been two days. Ou Gus think this is normal for alkyd (oil) based paints?
 

GA_Boater

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Re: '86 Aluminum Starcraft Restoration

If you didn't use hardener it takes a while to dry. What are you temps? Cooler weather adds time until it gets good and hard.
 
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