Is my boat rare?

[TheKodiakWay]

I just picked up a 1974 Starcraft Sprint 15, according to the title, and plate on the hull. I've searched around this forum, and the internet, and haven't found much info on it (hardly any). I've just finished the tear down of the floors, transom, etc.. and would like to know if I should restore it, or continue with my plans to turn it into "my" boat. I'll post up some pics for reference.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Welcome Aboard...
No I don't think Sprints are that rare...Heck make it your own no mater what!
Looking forward to pics

 

[barato2]

Re: Is my boat rare?

nother vote for "turn it into YOUR boat". these are old tin boats, not Ferraris, even if they are well built old tin boats. no collector value unless you had something like a Nova (probably not even those) or something from mid50s back. and since many of us have to rip out the existing "stuff" from the hull anyway for resto, makes sense to put back in what you need and where you need it.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Thanks guys! I'd just feel bad taking a low number boat, and changing it into something completely different. I guess I'll just turn this into my build thread

Plans are to just get it out on the water this summer with the outboard. I'm doing 5/8 dry ply for the floors, covered in vinyl.

This winter I'll pull it in the shop, and strip/re-paint. I'm going polished aluminum for the majority of the bottom, and something along the lines of dodges metallic orange for the top. I'll be fabbing up a 5piece front windshield, and the consoles this winter also. I'll build and throw the aluminum belly tank in, and re-do the trailer.

Over the summer I'm hoping to get the frame for a canvas cover and the canvas on. But mostly just enjoy some times on the water with my family.

The following winter is when I'll pull the outboard, and make it a jet drive. I haven't decided on if I'm going with mercury's set up, or salvaging some parts off a jetski or two.

I'm from the pacific northwest, and have grown up around the jetboats out there, so this is LARGELY following their style. I won't see the big flows we have there, so I think this is a nice compromise. A mid-west riveted boat, with my northwest style thrown at it.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Here's some from the night we picked her up, and the tags from the next morning.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

The next morning.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

And the tear down begins!

The rear 4' of the deck was paper. A previous owner put ice and water across the whole deck, and metal flashing along all the seams.


A couple critters had made the foam a nice home at some point.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

After everything was removed, and a nice hose down.


Some stripper to the old glue, scraped with a plastic scraper.


After drilling out a couple rivets, I've gained some deck space!

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Figuring out seat spacing and arrangement. With this set up I'll have 4ft of deck behind the cooler seats.


The last couple evenings have been more stripping. glue, and paint up in the bow. Called it an early day at work yesterday, and I got the transom out. I'll put some pics up when I'm done with that whole process, and the new one is in. I'm changing out the splash well design a bit, and only making it 6" deep. Just enough to run the controls through, and keep it clean. I haven't seen anything like I'm thinking, so it should be interesting!

 

[North Beach]

Re: Is my boat rare?

TKW,
Good job on the demo. Make sure you save the flat peices of aluminum that ran along the seams of the plywood. Are you going to fill with water and check rivets for leaks? What about Gluvit on the inside? Even tho it's smaller, this hull is identical to mine. nice looking boat and I'm sure it will be awesome when you get it finished.

And btw, welcome to iBoats....

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Quick ? to NB my 22 holiday had a very faint label on the dash that said Skimaster was that a owner add on, or something i never found on the info I had. it was a 1975 22 ft holiday. Sorry just had to ask . pugetsound

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Great looking hull there. Good luck on your project.

 

[TheKodiakWay]

Re: Is my boat rare?

Well, instead of posting up pics of the transom repair, I just kept working along. I took it out on the water this last week, (the 28th, EXACTLY one month from the day I hooked it to my truck to bring her home) to find out I need to rebuild the carbs. I'll post up the pics I took along the way tonight.

I floated the boat before putting the floor in, and had no leaks. I thought about the gluvit, or line-x; but figure it's lasted this long without any issues. Plus I plan on cutting into the hull at some point to go inboard jet drive.

I found 3/4" dryply on sale at home depot for $18/sheet (now it's $13) and did the transon, floor, and seat boxes with it. I'm looking for suggestions on floor covering. I'm between marine vinyl, and rubber coating.

The motor wouldn't shift out of F, so I took the lower unit off, and adjusted the cam. I now have F-N-R. Cleaned globs of sand out of the water system, and have everything flowing great. The motor started up second turn of the key, and ran fine on the muffs. Once out on the water, it would die as soon as I put it in gear. I've run some seafoam through it now, and it keeps idleing while in gear, but dies if I give it throttle. I took the front cover off, to find fuel running out of the top carb. So I'm now into uncharted territory with a carb rebuild happening soon as the parts come in.