My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

[CheapboatKev]

Well, true to my name here is my new baby. Picked her up Saturday for (drum roll please...)
$250.00!
Has a running 70hp Johnson and overall is a 7 out of 10 STARcraft Stars
Somebody told the P.O. (deceased) daughter & SOL that the boat was UN sea worthy and basically scrap.
They had this on CL last August stating so, but wanted to sell the motor & trailer for $800 or so..
I looked at it and simply the splashwell has seperated from the transom.
I said if they find a buyer for the motor, I may be interested in just the hull for $400 or so.
It ever sold, and they sent me an email last week if I wanted the whole package for $250.00
YES I DO!!!!
So here are a few pics. Have only cleaned up the bow seating area and Oh yeah..fired up the old sea horse.
Took 3 turns only because the push key in to choke thing was new to me.
Needs a waterpump/impeller but I was going to do that anyway.
It took me about 26 seconds before I realized I had no telltale. (Its a 81 model)

Splashwell seperation at transom trim

Mildew

Clean

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

fired up

Bow seating scrubbed!

 

[Toad64]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Sweet

 

[djpeters]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

So do you have to do anything else other than the impeller and some cleaning? Those fronts came out nice....

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

I love the bottom feeder pricing best

 

[glnbnz]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Very nice find indeed!! Congrats!!!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

So do you have to do anything else other than the impeller and some cleaning? Those fronts came out nice....

Not really. There is a minor soft spot rear starboard but is 90%the water ready!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Can't get a decent binimy for that kind of money, I don't think I've seen a better deal.

Is a new transom in your immediate plans?

Congrats!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

I think I'll run her all summer as is..Diane likes the lounge seats, but I hate them.
I prefer a captan and passenger pedestal set up and a bench in the stern.
I would really like to shorten the splaswell bya foot for the extra room, or remove it all together.
Been trying to read up on that one. But all that would be a winer project.
From working on my Holiday in the middle of summer is NO FUN!!..

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

KEEP IT OUT OF THE COW PASTURES!!!

Wow you stole the boat. So, the PO died in that boat???

Make sure that 70 has the tell tale modification on the hose routing. No kidding.

Looks like a geat project. Congrats Kev

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Wish I could find a pile of junk like that. The best advise from me is listen to Bob_VT. ^^^^^

 

[64osby]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Fantastic, cleaning up nice. Did you check to see if the tell tale was plugged? Mud wasps love to nest in the outlet of my Merc 500.

Now when you sell the small tinny, you'll end up with a free boat and still have a kicker.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Check out this splashwell mod.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=537417

I shortened mine and instead of sliding doors I'm having thoughts on a folding bench.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

So that's what that sucking noise was.

Nice score Kev.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Kev I was not kidding on the modification http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=375289

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Thanks guys.
Bob, its an 81johnson, and definitely has the tell tale.
Im on the road but hope to change impeller/waterpump early Sunday with a same day sea trial

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Thanks guys.
Bob, its an 81johnson, and definitely has the tell tale.
Im on the road but hope to change impeller/waterpump early Sunday with a same day sea trial

It's the routing of the tell tale hose that is very important

 

[sprintst]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Nice score man. That boat will be a great one to fix up. I was always looking for one of those

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

Had a local shop do the impeller, best $100.00 I ever spent.



Took her out Sunday..took on a LOT of water from the transom.Like the bilge pump couldnt really keep up with it.so the next thing to do is to fix that.I will add a 2nd bilge pump with a float switch as well.
My Starmada buddies have done this a thousand times and Iwill lean on them.

My plan is pul the old transom out
2 sheets 3/4 glued and screwed together, then heavily spar or epoxy..I have both so which is best?
small holes flashed and JB welded then sanded smooth
Gluvit inner skin
replace transom and bolt her back together...

 

[sprintst]

Re: My newest project. 18 ft Starcraft SS

I used epoxy mixed with cabosil to make the peanut butter and spread it with a notched trowel and put some screws in it to hold it together while it set....with about a thousands pounds of weight on top. I also gave the whole transom a layer of epoxy to totally seal it up as well. It shouldn't see any daylight so I used epoxy instead of some other possible products. Came out perfectly flat and with no voids.

Odds are when you do the transom and re-drill the through holes for the transom hardware and 5200 it the leaks will be no more.

A 100 bucks and you are out on the water with a solid outboard can't be beat.