My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

[sje0123]

Finally pulled the trigger and got it. The PO was asking $1500, I talked him down to $1200 but got a TON of bonuses.

The good:
Great shape
Rebuilt interior
Cheap
New battery
Bimini
Unknown/Misc Canvas pieces
Full cover
Everything seems to work *crosses fingers*

The bad/ugly:
Some wires have a little rot inside the engine (seem to be the stator wires)
Transom has rot, but was repair using the hardener you inject in. (forget the name)

I'll rebuild the transom over the off season. Its strong for now and has minimal rot.

The bimini and other canvas is in rough shape. All stained and chewed thru by mice. I'll use what I have as a pattern and maybe stitch up some new threads.

Here are a few pics:

She's gonna LOVE it:

Stern:

Drill holes in transom:

Needs a lil straightening and cleaning
Interior is in good shape

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

What's a cassette??

Needs a classier wheel:

Bow:

Stern:

This will bother me. I'll have to tidy these wires up:

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Fuel Tank:

Stator wires? Exposed and temporarily taped up

 

[chuckndiscs]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Great boat for a great price! Looks like the crew is already in awe of it and it just got home!!

I think the cable rot is pretty standard fair for those Mercury's. Something about them in the 60's and 70's that they all seem to end up that way. I have looked at numerous ones here in MN and they always have been repaired for wiring or need it. THe folks in the Merc forum should be able to set you on the best path to dig in to that when ready.

Welcome, nice looking rig!

Chuck

 

[bunker108]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

I like it, I like it. Another SS with a Merc. You should be able to get a complete wiring harness for the motor.

My wiring looked just like that back there by the batteries. Just took a little time, a test light and some back and forth to get that all sorted out.

My boat was very similar to yours when I got it. It had a "recent" freshening up of the interior. I totally redid the hull. Now I just need to do the tops of the gunwales, I think that's what they are called, and the splashwell for a complete "freshening" up.

You are on your way. Looking forward to the progress pics.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

sj - Looks like you found one to run for a while and decide what and when improve. Good find for the money. What's a cassette? It's a small version of an 8 track. The port cup holder is a real find as long as it keeps the Dos XX cold and full. LOL

 

[Jayb123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

The cold beer in the holder sold me. Im a fan . I have a feeling most of us get a boat partly for ourselves.....but mostly for the kids we have . I saw the holes in your transom cap cover.... It looks like someone or the previous owner may have done that in order to pour some [git-rot or epoxy] into the transom area? Good luck with it SJE

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Once you clean it up ,before you have to go to work on it, you will be pleased. Might think about new paint or wear your old army things and salute the boat each day LOL should be a nice project.

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

I think the cable rot is pretty standard fair for those Mercury's. Something about them in the 60's and 70's that they all seem to end up that way. I have looked at numerous ones here in MN and they always have been repaired for wiring or need it. THe folks in the Merc forum should be able to set you on the best path to dig in to that when ready.

Welcome, nice looking rig!

Chuck

Thanks! I've been looking into replacement for the wiring. Not sure how I want to handle it. It depends how all the connectors work. If I can save a few bucks by just running in my own wiring by removing the old and soldering in some new stuff I'll just do that.

sj - Looks like you found one to run for a while and decide what and when improve. Good find for the money. What's a cassette? It's a small version of an 8 track. The port cup holder is a real find as long as it keeps the Dos XX cold and full. LOL

8 track??? Man you are really dating yourself now.

Beer is ALWAYS plentiful when working on the boat. Keeps me in my right mind.

The cold beer in the holder sold me. Im a fan . I have a feeling most of us get a boat partly for ourselves.....but mostly for the kids we have . I saw the holes in your transom cap cover.... It looks like someone or the previous owner may have done that in order to pour some [git-rot or epoxy] into the transom area? Good luck with it SJE

I'll enjoy the boat but I have a feeling she'll outdo me. This is our first boat and of all the rides we've taken on boats she's never had a complaint.

PO said he drilled and got dry wood up until about the last foot on the starboard side of the transom. When he saw rot he injected the wood to harden it. I'm fairly comfortable as she stands now. I was ripping on the thing pretty good and had minimal flexing. I'll run it as is thru the end of this season and probably swap that transom out over the off season. The cause of the rot is a bad seal job on a fish finder install.

In other news, I forgot to mention I also got the Service/Repair manual thrown in with the deal. That saves me a few coins thats for sure.

The bimini and canvas is pretty trashed. Stains and holes from mice. He didn't think I had any need for it so wanted to just throw it away but I told him I wanted it. Sure it's full of mouse turds and bedding but I might be able to step back to my Home Ec days in middle school and use the old as a pattern to stitch up a new one.

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Also, what's the best way to bring this paint back the best it can be? Will automotive type waxes and polishes work on it?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

That seems like a pretty good deal for a usable SS. Might try a buffer and wax to start on the paint but there are others with more experience on that around. Welcome aboard!

 

[boatnut74]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Nice looking boat at a nice price. Can't beat that.

 

[yooperangler]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Very nice looking SS . If it did have an 8 track it would be even cooler (I'm pretty sure I still had 8 tracks in 79). As far as the paint goes I would start with a really good scrubbing and maybe just try buffing it up a bit to start with in the pics almost looks like it has some cloudy wax on there already? I would probably try buffing up light scratches , rough spots with a mild rubbing compound then probably a coat of high quality wax if necessary. Not sure what kind of paint You have on there so be gentle. I'm sure some of the paint guru's will jump in here with some better advice. Great looking boat for the money congratulations.

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Here is a pic of the transom rot. I posted it in the restoration section as well but what's your guys opinions? Am I safe to run the boat a little to finish out this season and redo the transom over the off season?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

If the splash well is still attached well and if there isn't any flex in the transom when you push and pull on the lower unit of that merc you could probably run it for the rest of the season if you take it real easy. No skiers or tubes.

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

No skiing or tubing this season that's for sure. i'm mainly going to go out to get a feel for it all. This is my first boat so i want to gain experience now so come next season I'm ready to start strong.

As I was pulling on the motor I was watching the area where the splashwell meets the transom and there was no separation going on there. The transom was flexing a little, but I'd imagine thats normal with a 230lb guy all but hanging off the motor.

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

How do you guys attach your bilge pump? I was looking things over and testing stuff out yesterday and noticed my pump is just thrown in there. It won't stand on it's own so unless the water is very deep it sucks air.

How do I attach it to the hull? I was thinking possible gluing a piece of sealed plywood or board to the hull but I wasn't sure if that was the proper way.

Mine is similar to this design

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

I had that motor - the 4cyl merc 800 - it was great - had the same wiring rot - I suggest you replace the wiring as your first order. That motor really goes!!

 

[sje0123]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

Which harness is it? The Stator?

 

[Starman8]

Re: My New (to me) 1979 Starcraft SS

How do you guys attach your bilge pump? I was looking things over and testing stuff out yesterday and noticed my pump is just thrown in there. It won't stand on it's own so unless the water is very deep it sucks air.

How do I attach it to the hull? I was thinking possible gluing a piece of sealed plywood or board to the hull but I wasn't sure if that was the proper way.

Mine is similar to this design

My 79 came with a working bilge but I like redundancy on this aspect, or a backup.

When I put in the new deck, I also cut an access hatch(round model) near the aft and mounted another bilge. Instead of attaching to the hull, I used L-bracketing and attached the brackets to the bilge and SS bolted it to the underside of my plywood deck.