A lttle rant - Well two rants!

[GA_Boater]

Part I Did the Starcraft factory buyer in the 60's get a deal on railroad cars full of surplus hardware he couldn't pass up? Every screw I've removed from my Nassau is at least two times or more longer than needed. What's up with that? It's just a little boat!:facepalm:

Part II Is the steering wheel always rusted tight on the shaft? I'm having a wicked time because I'm trying to save it cause my wheel looks like rope on the rim and I think it's real neat. In my mind I already have it re-painted, if I can get it off.

Rant over.

An interesting sidebar - since Sept 1, we have had 10 or 11 new Starcrafts show up here in the Starmada. I didn't even try to figure out how many signed up in August, but it was a bunch. A mess of splashing going on too. I'll believe the next CL ad I see about the rare SC tinny because we're buying them all up. A lot of out there. To all the new members - Welcome to the Starmada and enjoy your new SCs. To the ones that have been around awhile - Keep up the good work. Have fun boys and girls.

 

[64osby]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

GA - When I took the ladder off the Hurricane it had 3" machine screws attaching it to a 1/2" panel.

Steering wheel - lots of pb blaster or other penatrating oil for a week or more and then still lots of force and it may come off, have fun.

About the new members - I am new to starmada an August guy- but it was all the great info provided by the members that sold me before I bought one - Thanks

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

My wheel is soaking right now. I just don't want to break it. I haven't tried heat, but it's probably next.

You're enjoying your new SC, keep it up.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

Agreed GA...

I replaced my 10' long nuts/bolts with reasonably sized rivets instead. Made my life a lil easier there.

I didn't even attempt to save my rope steering wheel even though it was in good condition. I knew it would be a giant pain to get off.

And ya, new Starcrafters everywhere! I think EZ, CBK and a few of the guys who have been around here a long time had a world domination plan of some sort? They are kinda quiet about it but I think it's working.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

YEs and Yes - I have done 2 SC's and I always found it interesting to see how they are built - I believe I had the same comment on the length of the machine screws used.....just tell whoever is under the bow to hold on a little longer - how about the screws that hold the cleat on at the stern? Those are a *****!! Also - they MUSt have put the dash wood piece in before in before the topsides - and yes - you have to cut it to get it out

 

[CBGale2]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

You may have tried this on the wheel but get a pry bar behind it, put the nut on the end of the shaft so you dont damage the threads, but dont tighten it at all. Apply as much preasure to the the pry bar as you can (just like your trying to pry it off) and whack the end of the nut/shaft with a hammer.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

And ya, new Starcrafters everywhere! I think EZ, CBK and a few of the guys who have been around here a long time had a world domination plan of some sort? They are kinda quiet about it but I think it's working.

Sssshhhhhhh...we've kept it under wraps for 3+ years...

GA, we are glad to have you on board.

 

[64osby]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

And ya, new Starcrafters everywhere! I think EZ, CBK and a few of the guys who have been around here a long time had a world domination plan of some sort? They are kinda quiet about it but I think it's working.

I think it's a pyramid scheme, they are out to rid the world of FG boats and the guys at the top are getting a spiff on each sale, I just have to get about 20 members under me and then I can retire.

I tried the hammer trick and ended up bending the shaft and damaging threads on one I took off. In hindsite I might have hit it a little too hard or had too big 'a hammer, but it did come off.

 

[CBGale2]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

I tried the hammer trick and ended up bending the shaft and damaging threads on one I took off. In hindsite I might have hit it a little too hard or had too big 'a hammer, but it did come off.

I have a picture in my head of you taking a full swing with a sledge hammer. LOL

 

[64osby]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

When in doubt use a bigger hammer. And I do have a 5lb maul on a 2' handle.

 

[bunker108]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

You have me worried about the steering wheel now. My winter projects are to paint the top of the boat and replace the dash...or maybe just paint.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

It's still soaking in Pb blaster. And still hanging tough. Easy does it, I think. I will persevere, I hope. As far as the looong fasteners, I have to live with those until they are removed the first time.

I looked at the dash arrangement. It looks like if I drill the rivets holding the dash tray and drop the tray, the wood should come out after pulling the screws/nuts and bolts. Is this wishful thinking? It seems the dash wood is the part SC hung from the ceiling and built the boat around. I don't know if my dash wood is original, but it looks like cedar, about 3/4 inch. Am I all wet?

I'm starting to feel the pain of those who have gone before me.

 

[lakelover]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

I didn't see any way to get my dash out of the Jet Star without cutting, so I gave in to it & laminated. It seems everything is behind something else, which is behind another thing.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

When I was pulling mine out I was thinking...

"Man am I glad I don't have to put this back in!"

It was kinda tough to get out even using the hack and slash method!

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

Over the years I've had a few dozen or so SC's apart, I always figured that the extra long screws were used so things couldn't loosen up and fall off. If the screws were just long enough, those that loosened up under rough conditions would just fall off, rather than becoming loose first.
I just got done re-attaching the upper cap on an older glass model, the original screws were 2.5" long #10 machine screws made from plain steel. Every one had to be cut off due to severe rust.
I put it back with all 1/4" stainless screws, washers, and Nylock nuts. It took all afternoon to get the cap refitted but its better than new now.

Something that always amazed me was how few rivets held the deck down in an aluminum SC.
No matter how they're put together though, it seems to have worked for many years.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

Over the years I've had a few dozen or so SC's apart, I always figured that the extra long screws were used so things couldn't loosen up and fall off. If the screws were just long enough, those that loosened up under rough conditions would just fall off, rather than becoming loose first.

+1 on the long screw thoughts. I agree completely.

On a side note, I find it interesting to observe the "colorful" variety of fasteners on my boat that the previous owners have used. When I took the console dash panels off my 72 SS it took #1 phillips, #2 phillips, #3 phillips, 3/16 flat blade, 1/4 flat blade, 1/4" nutdriver, 3/16 drill bit for a rivet, unk size allen wrench, a 7/16 socket for a carriage bolt, an angle grinder for one bolt that wouldn't budge, and a torx driver just to remove about 20 fasteners. It's like the previous owners grabbed whatever they could find from under the workbench and slapped them on. What a pain.

[/rant]

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

It's still soaking in Pb blaster. And still hanging tough. Easy does it, I think. I will persevere, I hope. As far as the looong fasteners, I have to live with those until they are removed the first time.

I looked at the dash arrangement. It looks like if I drill the rivets holding the dash tray and drop the tray, the wood should come out after pulling the screws/nuts and bolts. Is this wishful thinking? It seems the dash wood is the part SC hung from the ceiling and built the boat around. I don't know if my dash wood is original, but it looks like cedar, about 3/4 inch. Am I all wet?

I'm starting to feel the pain of those who have gone before me.

If you cut the ends of the dash piece off by about an inch - on each end - you can wrestle it out and get it back in - still using the clips riveted to the hulls - other than that....gotta take the top off:facepalm:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

I didn't want to hear that. Well I'll think some more. Gonna take a week off to spend time with the better half up in the North GA mountains. Planned long before the boat arrived, but I'll be thinking about her (both). Hope I come back to read about a few splashes.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

I think it's a pyramid scheme, they are out to rid the world of FG boats and the guys at the top are getting a spiff on each sale, I just have to get about 20 members under me and then I can retire.

I tried the hammer trick and ended up bending the shaft and damaging threads on one I took off. In hindsite I might have hit it a little too hard or had too big 'a hammer, but it did come off.

When I'm done with the FG's, I'm comin' for the I/O's

 

[64osby]

Re: A lttle rant - Well two rants!

When I'm done with the FG's, I'm comin' for the I/O's

You and other's already sold me on no more FG, I want in at the top when the I/O pyramid starts.


GA - Have a great trip and don't think to hard.