Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

[Sc25175]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

I'm doing the research right now on doing this to my 25 foot Chieftain. I called A & J Marine Welding in FL and they quoted me a single engine full width swim platform with full floatation chamber for 1600.00 shipped to my door.

Best price I've seen so far.

 

[WeldZilla]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Well its been almost 2 years for me and my conversion. it was the single best thing I have done to my boat!! A total success. Remember if you do the conversion you must go with a 25 inch shaft on your outboard as this allows you to mount the bracket high enough to keep your motor up and out of the water. Look at pics of boats that were done on a 20 inch leg and you will see their engines half under water when they are just plowing slowly along. This is not good. My combination radar arch, rocket launcher with built in crab davit has also been a great success I have led lights mounted in the arch that work great for night use. The aluminum for the transom bracket cot me just under $400 and the arch aluminum cost about $210. It took about 30 hours to build and install both. I used about $30 dollars of 5356 wire for welding it all together. My Sylvan Offshore is a 1988 model and although it runs in the columbia river right out past buoy 10 which can get scary rough. I run it in
Willipa Bay which is generally pretty calm but it has its moments, and through all of this it does not leak a drop. Every rivet is tight. It has been a terrific boat. I was not shopping for a Sylvan specifically I was just looking for a large aluminum with a cabin. The Sylvan is the one I found. These conversions have the potential to be great. My life has settled down where I can come back in here regularly and help out anyone as best I can with theirs.

So lets get on with these conversions!!

WZ

 

[Sc25175]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Weldzilla,

Glad to see you back in the mix. I don't want to hijack this thread but other than putting in new wood for the transom and using aluminum channel to bolt the bracket to what else did you do to reinforce your transom?

 

[WeldZilla]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Not a thing. It is plenty strong. I will tell you though I have been looking at coming off my stringers up to the transom on the inside to add a little more beef but I am not so sure it is necessary
My bracket is water tight and adds to the flotation at the stern. I ran the backet plate higher than the bracket so it would be easier to put in the top bolts. Much better than trying to reach in at the very top inside of bracket to try to start and tighten bolts. Its the way to go.

WZ

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

I incorporated my rear bench seating into the structure to transfer the load, way over kill but I know that I won't have to worry about the transom leaving the boat! Wish I had thought about running a flange along the top for bolting the bracket on, definitely woulda been easier, but it is a clean look the way it is.

And on another note, Painting interior tonight, Want her on a trailer this weekend. No more turtle!

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Got her flipped, back on the trailer!!!!!! Pics and a description later, suffice it to say I had a disaster to deal with that did not involve the flip but delayed it. Be back tomorrow with the pics and story!

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

so here is my last week on the hull, two weeks ago I had some help and we set her up on sawhorse turtled, off of the cart it has been on. Perfect for spraying the interior. I procrastinated on getting it done and a coworker sprayed some spray can orange in the booth and the boat was not covered, so this is what i had to do friday night to get it ready to flip.

way worse in person than it looks, got it after two buffs and three washes. All better!
So Saturday I got two trucks stuck getting to my trailer and ended up applying brute force and hand carrying it to the driveway. Built a hilo rotisserie to flip the hull, shoulda got video worked sweet!

On the trailer it went

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Also the interior looks overkill white, did not need to paint most of it but it makes me feel better that there is a layer of paint between foam, plywood or whatever and the aluminum.

For some reason this seems like a milestone to me and there is much more to do, but it is on the trailer and ready for forward progress! I am happy.
So I am going on vacation net thursday tu the UP of Michigan and will be back to work on the 18th, Instead of heading to southern warmth we go to northern cold to ice fish. One day of fishing followed by a day of relaxing and repeat. My wife and I and my middle son and his girlfriend will be going and we can not wait!, been packing gear and prepping truck and trailer this week for the trip also. when I get back it will be time to start using the wood I cut last Memorial day ( maybe it was the 4th of july weekend), anyways it has been waiting a long time. Goal now is to burn up the materials I have stockpiled and go from there. I should be back to My normal hours at work by the time I run out of materials, (45 to 50 hrs) 40 hrs pays the bills but doesn't leave boat money. Glad I stock piled up on wood and foam and the like. Hopefully I can still do a mid summer splash even if there are finishing touches to be done yet. The one thing I thought of while buffing orange paint off was it is time to get it done and quit be anal, it is going to be a working fishing boat and open water fishing time is almost here, Gotta get her fishable and it will all be worth it! Sorry for the ramble but I wanted to put my current thoughts in writing for you all and for me to see how it changes and ends up when this is done. See ya later!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Well at least now you won't need to buff & polish the hull again before the 1st splash :watermelon:

Looks great on the trailer!

Let the put back begin

 

[ricohman]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

I think that looks great with the interior painted. Kinda reminds me of the inside of a Canadian built M4 Sherman I saw in the Ottawa war museum. Are you going to keep the single axle trailer?

 

[dozerII]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Nice job Mag, looks real good on the trailer.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

It is a milestone getting her back on her feet...er...trailer. Means you can start the assembly process. You still have the instruction book or did it get tossed with the old bits? :faint2:

For some reason she looks sooo biiiiiig next to the fork lift, just about as tall. Great thinking on the rotisserie flippin'.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Thanks guys!!! looking forward to building it up.
Rico, I will use the single axle for now, definitely looking for a longer twin axle, I want to get the outboard bracket on the trailer and have room between the winch post and the vehicle.

 

[djpeters]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Thanks guys!!! looking forward to building it up.
Rico, I will use the single axle for now, definitely looking for a longer twin axle, I want to get the outboard bracket on the trailer and have room between the winch post and the vehicle.

There is a tandem axle Calkins on eBay south of Chicago, but the guy wants 1K for it. Every so often he drops it to $750 but then back to 1K. It's been listed forever.

Boat is looking great. Have a great trip up north!

 

[WeldZilla]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Your paint job is beautiful. I need to re-floor mine and paint it up also. This is great watching you do all this work.

WZ

 

[Sc25175]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Magumdeke/Weldzilla

You two have done the OB bracket. I have a 25 Chieftain and am going the bracket route. I think I just found my motor, a 175 HP ETEC.

Questions:

1. What did you use for offset (distance of bracket motor mounting plate from the transom)
2. What thickness plating material did you use

Thanks and I really appreciate you guys leading the way!

 

[WeldZilla]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Hey Steve. My swim platform is 1/4 in 5052 plate the sides and the botton are 1/4 in. plate. The front of the bracket that bolts to the transom and the rear of the bracket that the engine bolts to are 3/8 in. 5052 plate. I welded it out inside and out with one nice pass on the outside and I three passed all welds on the inside. I used .035 5356 aluminum wire. I offset at 29 inches that was enough to accomodate my engine to full tilt and room enough for getting on and off the boat via the bracket. Only make your bracket as long as necessary. every inch adds leverage against the transom and can change your on water handling. Use nothing less than a 25 inch leg engine. If you only het a 20 inch leg when you are motoring just off step you will nearly drown your engine.
I just saw a 25 foot Starcraft up in the Seattle area I would love to buy it and do it again!!!!!

WZ

Sorry Magnumdekes I won't hi-jack your thread....

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

No worry's Weldzilla, no high-jack just an answer. Steve I went with 1/4" all around with a 3/8" plate added to the back where the motor mounts, got the feeling I went a little lighter than Zilla on the welding, 1 pass out(with some grind and touch up) 2 passes on the inside. I ended up with a 6061 aluminum and appropriate wire. all my aluminum was scrap yard finds so beggars could not be choosers! Time will tell how it holds up. One hundred percent agree on the 25" leg, need as much height as you can get to keep the power head dry. I have a 30" setback, blueprint for the bracket I made is on page 4 post 90 of this thread I believe. It is doable!!

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

ok, you are saying you need a 25" leg because the boats draft so much???? didnt you realize any bouancy lift from the closed sections of your brackets?

did you guys know what your boatys drafted before you started you brackets?

I have an inboard in my boat right now.... I think in the next few weeks I am going to put the plug in the drain hole and take the boat out and slide her off the trailer into the water and see her posture...makes some notes and marks....and keep them for reference.

for me, Id think id want a swim platform as close to the wayer as possible....but thenk that getting out of the hole it might drag a little....

what do you guys think?

bob

 

[sprintst]

Re: Magnumdekes 1976 22' Starcraft Islander

Beautiful work man...