New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Well another weekend has came and gone. Didn't do much on the boat this weekend, catching up on a bunch of other things. I finished painting the top frame and the rails, Took the top of the dash out to reupholster, if I ever get the fabric. Must have been a quarater inch of bugs under it. Boat's been collecting bugs for a long time I guess. I started to replace (not sure what it's called) the board hanging down in front of the transom. I want it to go further down, and be part of my engine cover. And I almost have my exhaust hooked back up and thru my transom. And yes I put in 2 mufflers. Otherwise I worked around the place and started gettin ready for my trip back east and to the midwest to see my kids. Money's gonna start drying up for the boat pretty soon. Went to move my tractor, and the tube is sticking out of one of the back tires. Been gonna replace them for more than 10 years, but now I have to $3750 for the 2 back tires. Not a good time. about 10 years ago it was only around $1300. Guess that's what I get for putting it off.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I must have missed something. Whats all the framework on the topside for??? OH dont forget you need a steering wheel befor you head for the water. LOL Looking good nice job so far.

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Did you ever determine if this was an OMC stringer drive converted to a jet? Nice looking rig by the way.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Steering wheel and all the gauges are in a little piece of the dash sitting on the floor. Wiring and steering is still hooked up. I didn't want to go thru all the wiring rehooking everything back up. I cheat some. I'm wondering about the framework topside. A guy was supposed to have been out a month ago to measure for a canvas camper top. Not all his fault, I've had to cancel a couple times. We just can't seem to get together. I started talking to another person in Spokane. That's why I've been waiting on Fabric so long. Gonna get it from the first guy to match the top. Finally ordered some off e-bay. It should be here any day. And it is probably a stringer drive, as I know it didn't come from the factory that way. I shortened the top frame by 12 inches, and I'm going to make the engine compartment much smaller, to give me more room. There was something like 16" between to top and engine compartment to fish from when I got it. The jet was built and installed just north of Hell's Canyon by a local marina. From as far as I've been able to find out in the 70's. To be honest, I haven't taken the time to google stringer drive to see if it matches. I believe there are some pics of how it's all hooked up on the third page. The OMC motor is hooked to 2X4 aluminum hooked to the stringers, so that might be what it's called. I took out some rotting 2X4 wood and put in aluminum square tubing. That, plus all the drings, scratches and scrapes were the worst thing about the boat, I hope. I still haven't tried the pump.

 

[dozerII]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Heyyou, that is a cool looking boat, and should be lot of fun out on the water. It is a pain waiting for parts to come in. I currently have four orders on there way and Canada Post is supposed to be going on strike Thursday at midnight. That should put a halt to my progress.
Glen

 

[MichaelP]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I see some other improvements on that stern. Looks good!

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Yea, they look great. Only problem the back cleats need to be moved. I have them removed, just not put back on. I'm sorry Michael, I thought I'd mentioned the transom caps. They fit perfect, except for the cleats which will move. Good price, well built, not complaining a bit. Found them in the Starcraft parts thread. And dozer maybe you'll get them before the strike. Something good has to happen sometime. I remember when my ship came in, the longshoremen were on strike and it sailed away again. Hope I don't get hate mail from the unions now, it's a joke. This is day 6 of my 4 to 8 days shipping on my upholstery, I should get it soon.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Another weekend came and gone. Last one before my trip. trying to tie up loose ends. The engine is mostly hooked up, I broke one muffler clamp trying to get it too tight. My safety motor bracket is installed. I'm thinking about going electric to make things easier. About a dozen years ago the outboard quit me in the middle of the lake. About 12 miles from the dock, and 7 from shore. I will always have a second working motor now. The fabric for my side panels finally got here friday. Dozer, I hope you got your stuff too. I got one of the side panels made. I misfigured before, and didn't have enough to do the dash also, so it's just gonna get epoxied and painted. Along with that board just in front of the transom. Believe it or not, but they are the same color, it just doesn't look it in the pics. After the side panels are installed, it's the fuel tanks, and the engine compartment. Oh, and a couple wires at the last minute. Then I get to start on the trailer, maybe.
I take back everything I said about the cold wet weather we've been having. Just can't seem to take 80 + anymore. Takes it right out of me. I know I'm forgetting something on the boat, but don't want to jinx me and say I'm almost done. getting in a hurry to get it wet tho.
I posted 1 pic of the custom made transom caps MichaelP made for me, I was gonna do another, but I've reached the max I can send I guess. The others have and orange color from the sun or something anyway. Wife's taking her laptop so I'll try to get on from time to time to see what's going on here.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Man that jet looks cools sticking out of the back of your boat

If you are gonna have an I/O it might as well be a jet. Good luck to ya, the rig is looking good

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Not sure why the color is so weird, but this shows the motor bracket hanging on the back, and Michael's transom caps. I guess I was using too much bandwidth before. I'm told I can hang a fair size outboard on there, but it's so low under the transom to get the prop of a long shaft to the same level as my snoot (the jet part). I don't really know how low it will sit in the water, but I don't think my exhaust would be under water. Might cause some problems in reverse.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Looking good! Those side panels came out real nice.

On the pictures, the only limit is 6 per post, but you can have as many posts as you want. Emoticons like this count towards your six.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Thank you Lord . I thought you repainted the hull Pugetsound.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I only had 5 pics ez, but I came back and did the 6th. Not sure what I did wrong, but it worked out. And I only finished one side panel, but figuring how was a big thing. In Billings Montana now headed for Indiana. Hotter here than home.

 

[rpontius77]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Hello heyyou. Have a safe trip to and from my homeland here in hoosier country. The boat is looking good so far, and I love the jet out back. I wish my chieftain had something cool like that, then maybe I could fit it into more of the lakes around here. I basically have lake wawasee and lake michigan that mine will fit into. Keep up the good work.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

rpontius77 I've got 3 fairly large deep water lakes within 50 miles. The one 5 mile away has a Navy base on, 200 mi of shoreline, over a quarter mile deep. and 3 rivers attached to it. And the one I go to most is 100 miles away, go figure. I don't have any as big as Lake Michigan tho. Hope I got all my excitement out of the way mon night in Billings. 3 tornadoes, one within 6 miles of my hotel, no major injuries that I'm aware of tho, just inconveniences. Road construction everywhere, I can't get away from that I guess. I thought all the states were broke.

 

[emoney]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I've been following this thread because I think you live in some beautiful country. Boat's looking good, however......:facepalm:
Any time a man complains about 80 degree weather, I've got to weigh in. It's been 95+ down here since February so enjoy that cold front you've got going on up there.

Boat's looking great, keep up the good work!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

You have a fishing hole thats more than 1320 ft. deep?! It must be called the Idaho trench. How much down rigger cable do you have spooled up?

Travel safe...
Mike

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I don't fish over maybe 250 feet. I've heard of them catching Macs, Lake Trout at 300, but I've never even tried. I can get big enough tangles at 100 feet. I as off by 180 ft, sue me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pend_Oreille It says "Lake Pend Oreille is a lake in the northern Idaho Panhandle, with a surface area of 148 square miles (380 km2). It is 65 miles (105 km) long, and 1,150 feet (350 m) deep in some regions, making it the fifth deepest in the United States."

 

[MichaelP]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Luckily my legal team is helping out a certain DNY congressman so no action this time. Close enough.
That is a beautyful lake. I'll bet there are some real monsters in there. Our deepest lake in Maine is Sebago and its only 315 ft. Plenty for me.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Catching fish at those depths is not always the most fun, the Lake Trouts' swim bladder ruptures on the way up and then it's like reeling in a log

Lake Pend Oreille sounds like a real gem, I'd love to see it myself someday