"Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

tracker01

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Mar 28, 2011
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So to being with I know there is a lack of photos for this thread. I will be posting them tomorrow due to some issues getting it home (read post to hear the story so far).

My weekend started out nicely expecting to be able to get my uncle's boat in the water for a test before bringing it home. When and got it out of storage and the first thing I see is a tag "winterized '07". Hadn't realized it had been that long since my uncle had the boat out on the water, though all weekend long we was saying that he was sad to see it go.

Well we grab it out of storage and had a few small fixes to make it trailerable and get it home. The wife and I did a small trip about 50 miles with no problem with the boat in tow. Now onto the fun part, had about a 3:30 hour trip to get the new boat home everything was going well. We had made a few stops along the way and checked the hubs not to bad and everything was checking out well. Until we got about 10 miles from the house when a tire blows.

Had to leave it on the side of the road and went to a couple stores near the house in which only one had the right tire. So I unloaded a bit of camping gear from the weekend and went back to the boat. When I got there the rim was a 4 post rim and I need a 5 post rim. So tomorrow I need to get the right rim and finish bringing home my boat.

Then at that time there will be photos posted to this thread. The boat by the way is a 18' Mariner from '74 (was told this by my uncle though not seeing it in the brochure) with a 50hp evinrude.
 

CheapboatKev

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Well Welcome Aboard anyway!
Lucky you were that close and not on the first hour of your trip!
But then again my boat flew into a cow pasture 6 miles from my house..lol

Just a thought..

Are the lug bolts screwed into the drum? Could you use vice grips to unscrew one and fit the 4 lug? Just monkey engineering, but a thought..Hey dont blame me, the monkey told me to type it
 

Bamaman1

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May 15, 2011
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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Join the club.

Last time I went 100 miles, I fried a bearing--spindle and all. I had to get a new axle and hub kits--and replace it in a farm hand's back yard. It was nice he had a compressor, as it make quick work of the job.

FYI: WalMart carries different sizes of trailer tires, and they're open 24 hours in many locations.

While your at it, spend $49 for a water pump impeller kit--and change the lower unit oil. It may simplify your first outing on the lake. Rubber just doesn't last forever.
 

Bighoss

Petty Officer 1st Class
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May 24, 2010
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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Ahh the Eastern UP. Meet us in Detour we'll head to the 4 corners on the Island. The Northwood has temporarily fixed many of Hoss' boat issues...
 

Huron Angler

Admiral
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Apr 7, 2009
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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Good luck tracker, hope you can tow the rig home safely:)

Nice area up there in the eastern UP, great place to own a boat:D
 

tracker01

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Mar 28, 2011
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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Well like I said, I would get photos of "Lucky" up today when I got it in the driveway. And here they are (https://picasaweb.google.com/117885...authkey=Gv1sRgCN2C4tyW6-f0mAE&feat=directlink), after a change of a tire and a slower easier ride home this morning hoping that the other tire didn't decide to go as well (next purchase a new tire to replace the other one and a spare tire with mount.)

Need to get it registered in my name and all the licenses before I can hit the water with it but will hopefully be there soon with it. I hear some of the fish in the area are biting pretty good. The goal is to hope the floor will make it through the summer and then put in a new floor over the winter. The front and back seats need a little cleaning but are in good shape while the captains chair will need to be replaced soon.
 

jasoutside

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2009
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13,269
Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Hey tracker! Welcome to iboats and to the Starcraft brohood! We don't get to see a lot of Mariners around here, yours is awesome:)
 

GLG fishing

Chief Petty Officer
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Dec 25, 2009
Messages
456
Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Glad everything turned out and you and the boat are home safe. Nice looking boat, you have a gem there. Welcome and good hunting (fishing).
GLG
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Hey tracker! Welcome to iboats and to the Starcraft brohood! We don't get to see a lot of Mariners around here, yours is awesome:)

Thanks, I know I haven't seen many in the searches that I have done.

The boat has a pretty interesting life, I think anyways. Apparently it started off as a fire fighting boat (I believe to refuel other boats). Then my uncle bought 1 - $10 raffle ticket and won it. He had about $1000 worth of work done on the paint (there are is one large spot that has come off and then a few small spots) and seating (which is evident by that fact that then are in good shape just need to be cleaned). I believe he has had the boat nearly 20 yrs, I feel somewhat bad for buying it from him because he kept saying he didn't want to sell it but the boss was saying it had to go. So it gets to stay within the family, and gets to have a new life.

The plan is to keep the front as is with seating and storage. The flooring may end up being compsite decking and then a new captains chair with a possible livewell underneath it and then replacing the 2 back seats with pedestal seats for ease of fishing within the boat. The motor is a bit undersized, but will get me from point A to B and back. And when the time presents itself there will be an upgrade.
 

Pugetsound

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Lucky is right That me and a few friends did not find that sitting overnight along a highway ( Weee Free Boat. ) LOL looks like a nice future projct that could spend this summer as is.
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Lucky is right That me and a few friends did not find that sitting overnight along a highway ( Weee Free Boat. ) LOL looks like a nice future projct that could spend this summer as is.

Well I was banking on the lock keeping the honest people honest and the missing tire with the trailer jacked up to deter anyone else from the potential of the gem in the rough.
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Ahh the Eastern UP. Meet us in Detour we'll head to the 4 corners on the Island. The Northwood has temporarily fixed many of Hoss' boat issues...

When she is registered (end of this coming week) let me know I have a high interest to learn that area, along with the Les Cheneaux area.
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Spent the last couple afternoons working on "Lucky". The wife and I spent a while cleaning the the seats that were covered in dirt and mildew (anyone got a good way to remove mildew?) Then I wiped down the splash well and top which all cleaned up fairly well. I replaced the trailer winch with a new one I had on hand from a different project.

Then I moved to the motor, wanted to see if it would start up on muffs. Hooked up the batteries and had lights and horn, but no power to the motor. With the help of my neighbor did some work with the starter switch and started getting power to the motor. Plugs are sparking, and added a bit of starter fluid. Just not enough to crank over the motor and start. Hooked up the jumper cables from the truck still wouldn't start.

Going to get a new battery (not sure what size kind to get, will need to start motor, run night running lights, and anchor winch, Any suggestions?)

Any suggestions on why motor wouldn't stop (I know this isn't the section for it but putting it out there and have a thread going in the evinrude section.

Tracker
 

ezmobee

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Mar 26, 2007
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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

I've heard Magic Erasers work wonder on seats.

Don't use starting fluid on 2 strokes. It strips away ALL the lubrication. If you must spray stuff, put some mixed gas in a spray bottle. Pretty much any Marine Starting battery will work for you. I bought a gigantic one for mine cuz it was on sale at BassPro and it turns my motor over with a quickness! These motors need to be cranked at a certain RPM (I forget what it is) in order to even consider starting.
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Well, haven't been able to do much on getting Lucky in the water, busy work schedule and honey-do-list.

But what I am wondering is what kind of value would people put on parts motor that is the exact same year, size, model. 1972 evinrude 50hp. The owner says it runs but will not go into reverse. It is currently on a boat and trailer, but I would just want the motor.
 

Pugetsound

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Here comes a dumb question but it has happened to many. On the controll for the motor is there a button on the side that can either be pushed in or most likley pulled out? If there is this is a safty factor and if the pin is not pulld out and a clip holding it open the motor WILL NOT START this is a man over board feature if the cord to it is connected to the operator One of my best friends had a New Arima and out on the Pacific Ocean it would not start, tried everything so Coast Guard called an asssist vessel to tow him 4 miles back to the launch. The guy who pulled said wait a min. whats this red cord to and it had been pulled accidently from the motor control. Snaped it in place and turn the key and a perfect running motor. worth looking at. if you have not . some controlls had the some not they are all required to have them on new outboards.
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Well some great news for Lucky, was finally able to get a new battery for the boat yesterday. I hooked it up and gave it a few trys, then a few more, let it set for a little while then came back just before the rain started and it started up. Let it run for a bit on the muffs then shut it off. I had to make sure it wasn't just a one time thing and started it a couple more times and it then started like a champ. Hoping to do a water test soon, but it may take a bit since I found out I will probably be working 12+ hrs a day for a while (not complaining too much, I know there are worse things out there, but I want to get the boat in the water)
 

tracker01

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

Well, Splashed the boat finally today!!! Spent an hour and a half on the water with no problems. The wife and pup had a good time and talking about heading out again tomorrow to do some fishing and take the other pup to see how he handles it. Had top speed of 25.5 mph and slow speed of 5 mph. Which is fast enough for me, but could use a bit slower speed for trolling. Here are a few photos from the ride. https://picasaweb.google.com/117885...authkey=Gv1sRgCN2C4tyW6-f0mAE&feat=directlink
 

Pugetsound

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Re: "Lucky" The new-to-me starcraft

????????? when it would not start Any reason why????
 
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