New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Finally had a good day to work on the boat, and first thing the handle broke on my side head grinder, then the wire brush fell apart, and my spare was the wrong size. Decided I'd epoxy the decking. That's finished until I install anyway. Mixed some extra so the block the eyebolt goes in got epoxied, and so did the seams and rivets in the bow, and a little on the outside that was ready. I mixed way more than I needed and didn't want to throw it away. I've used epoxy to seal stuff before, and this stuff was ready so I did it. Then after the second coat under the decking I got a second coat on the block and bow again. I'm wanting to put a couple coats on the outside hull, as it's a double hull, to make sure I have a good seal anyway, and that's all ready, when the weather gets better. Cleaning the corrosion and that white rubbery seam sealer in there is taking a lot longer than I anticipated. It's on all the rivets too. The only way I can get it off is with the wire wheel on a side head or a scraper, bit by bit. Since I didn't have the wire wheel, I got started taking things off the transom. I've never redone one before, and this one seems sound, just a lot of holes drilled in it. That's why I want to seal it. After I finish washing out the boat, and then gluviting the inner seams, I figure I will epoxy both the inside of the plywood (transom) with it in place, and the aluminum on the outside of the transom. I hope that is all it needs. Probably should get into the fray on Styrofoam too. On my Crestliner I just replaced what was in the bow with broken white sheets and that was all there was. Probably wont hold it up I guess, but I put more in than I took out. Local boat shop recommended the foam you mix and pour as it gives added support, and fills all the voids, including the drains. Not sure if I want to spring for the tubes, or just use the closed cell styrofoam sheets. And then I need to decide what type paint I want. People here seem to recommend rustoleum, but that seemed to come off a little every time I washed it on my Crestliner, but the petit, or easy petit I used didn't, and it was 20 years old. Of course I had the worst luck with the expensive stuff that came from Napa, but that's another story. Need to pay better attention next time I buy off Craig's list. Of course I had another half day of honeydos. Wifes never understand prioritys do they? She wanted the driveway fixed. My four wheel drive didn't have any problem with it. I warned her on that little car. Oh well another weekend coming up, and I'm sure something else will come up than too.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Hey I finally had a productive weekend. I believe it was 3 1/2 week ends cleaning under the decking. Thought I'd show some of that white rubbery stuff I've been fighting with, that was friday morning. I got the cleaning finished, and 2 coats of gluvit put down. Had to use heat lamps tho as it was snowing, raining, blowing, and cold all weekend. High of 45 here. I just started working 4 10 hr days a week, that gives me 3 days off to accomplish stuff. I do it every summer. Since I couldn't work inside the boat with the wet gluvit, I decided to put some putty in the dents on the outside and prep it. I'm trying some new stuff recommended locally. It's called Lab Metal, and it's supposed to harden as hard as the aluminum. It hardens a bit faster than I would like, but after it's cured for a day, it doesn't want to break off at all with a hammer. The proof will be when it's too late tho. Hoping next weekend to get 2 coats of Epoxy on the inside of the transom, outside of the aluminum would be nice too. Get more putty put in the holes, and get started putting things back in. I figure I'll do some stirring with the noodle vs sheet people and use some of each. Bought 32 noodles already, will probably get 20 or so more, and a couple sheets of that closed cell styrofoam. Noodles on the sides and sheet in the middle. I read some interesting articles online on the buoyancy of the noodles. I feel like I finally accomplished something on the boat this weekend. Plus I had company from out of town for 2 afternoons, and I still got stuff done.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Camp bay kid here ( 74 yr old one) LOL Sounds like you are progressing well. Do you know if the engine and jet pump work yet.?? Stay tuned May see you this spring if I head East for a few days Ed pugetsound

 

[yooperangler]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Looks like you got her cleaned up really well and are making great progress. I thought I might get something done this weekend but got a snow storm instead

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Engine fires right up and sounds excellent, except too loud. Jet pump I haven't been able to check yet. Pulled off the inspection plate and everything is tight, maybe too tight, a mechanic on them says they are supposed to be sloppy. No parts floating around, or obvious chips out of anything. I am getting a good feeling about it. And we've had snow everyday for ever I think. 2" north of town today that stuck, and a high of 37. Finishing the cleanup just gave me a boost. And yooperangler you mentioned Vintage Jet Boat above, I've got a restore thread started there too in hopes I can get more info on the jet drive. Mine will never be as fancy as theirs tho. All I want is a good safe fishin boat. One that will go in shallow rivers will be a plus tho.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Got to work on, or destroy, depending on your point of view, the Starcraft today. Too busy cussing about my luck to remember to take pics. I figured I'd take everything off the transom and reseal it today. I think every bolt turned as I was trying to take the nuts off, then I dropped half of them under the pump. Finally got the exhaust pipes out, and it was very wet there. I had the boat tipped way back, and had been trying to flush the crud out of the boat. I got water up to the hole cut for the snoot. The transom hadn't been sealed. It wicked up to the holes cut for the exhaust pipes, and was sitting there. Not sure how much higher. I've had 2 heat lamps, and 2 halogen lamps on it all afternoon, and it seems to be starting to dry out. Can't see why it didn't dry before, we had highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s, and rain and snow almost everyday forever up here. I think we've had snow every day for a week and a half, or two weeks. It should have dried. If I can get the tramsom dry tomorrow, I'm hoping to put on 2 coats of epoxy on the transom this weekend. I've got a little bit more to do filling in the big dents, I'm just gonna leave the small ones I think. Need to find paint, and an upholstery place to do my convertible top and the side panels. I've still got to cut the frame for that down to. Always more to do. I'll try to get a few more pics tomorrow.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Well not enough progress so far this weekend. Friday morning I watched the snow fall feeling depressed. Turned everything white. At noon it was still in the 30s. Finally got myself together and put one coat of epoxy on the transom. The halogen lights had caused the aluminum to expand a little, actually gave me about 1/2" to get the epoxy around the holes to help seal. Took off some trim to get most of the top edge too. Had to work on my PU so there went the afternoon. Got some drips where I put some of the extra epoxy and wasn't watching good enough working on my PU suspension to brush them out. Oh well won't be perfect anyway. Saturday started off good. Finished sealing the transom, got the 2 pieces of aluminum I was gonna use for decking around the engine placed, after I put buoyancy foam down, and couldn't find my 1/8 X 1/2" rivets I've been using for the aluminum. Never did find them. I used some stainless screws I had to anchor it enough so I could realign the engine. It's within 1/2" now so well within tolerance. I got most of the buoyancy foam in. I'll be using 62 noodles, and between 2 and 2 1/2 pieces of 2" 4'X8' blue closed cell Styrofoam. So far 56 noodles and more almost 2 4X8 pieces of Styrofoam in. Sorry for the pics, we had a thunderstorm with hail. But nothing like they have been getting down south and in the midwest. Wish everyone the best there. Then I tried to put the decking in and the trouble started. My rivet gun jammed every rivet. Not once with the 1/8 X 1/2' I had been using and couldn't find. But every time with the 3/16 X 1" for the plywood decking. I ended up getting 4 rivets in in about an hour, and using more than 10. I may have found someone to do the top canvas. He is just starting in a neighboring town, and his shop won't even be finished for another 3 to 4 weeks. I guess I don't need the top for awhile anyways. But the side panels I sort of do need. Reading another thread about rustoleum paint, and Bondo addressed the 3 big problems I have had in the past with it. I guess you need to get a catalyst called majic to use. Mine was taking forever to dry, cured soft, some would even wash off most every time I washed it with simple green, and it didn't have any shine even after waxing it. Used it 2 different times on my other boat. I was thinking about using easy poxi. Haven't bought any in over 30 years, but used to like it. It's just a bit pricey for me. Rustoleum may not work that good tho, because I'll have epoxy over most if not all the hull when I paint. Not too sure how it will stick to that. Anyone know? Well, past my bedtime so I'll sign off.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Well another weekend over. Had a real nice day today so I thought I'd take off the tarps and canvas top, and top frame and shorten it. First really good day without rain or snow in forever I think.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Well another weekend over. Had a real nice day today so I thought I'd take off the tarps and canvas top, and top frame and shorten it. First really good day without rain or snow in forever I think. Sure looks different without the top. Sending a pic to show what happens when you put aluminum and steel together, not really a good idea. I cut 12" out of the 1" square tubing rails. In the top one I used 1 1/4" tubing which I had to drive on, nice and tight. and the bottom on had to sit flat, so I used 3/4" angle iron inside. Had less than 1/16 inch so also fairly tight. Welded it all together. Before I put it back on I even added a couple pieces of decking.Then I put the top back on and retarped it. I guess I'm thru with pics for this time.
I'm still wondering if it's work ok to use rustoleum paint over the epoxy I'm sealing the ouside of the hull with.

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I love jet boats. I'm pretty sure you can get stuff for the eliminator jet drive. Jets are so simple. Basically a prop in a tube. Google is your friend for this one. I know Hot Boat magazine runs a jet boat tech article each month. Plus they list their sources so you can contact quite a few people. Nice boat. Are you sure that's not a stringer drive boat with a jet pump attached? That circular transom hole just looks like an early stringer drive boat. I've just never seen a jet pump on such a rig. Regardless, it's a great rig.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I'll try to check out that mag. Always glad to learn more the easy way. And some directions on what to do would be great. I don't really know anything about jet drives yet, but learning as I can. Not sure what a stringer drive boat is. The 350 is bolted to 2X4 s bolted to the stringers, but the pump itself is just bolted to the aluminum, and not even the ribs. I don't think. If you want I can try to get some pics, but it'll probably be friday. I have seen a few other boats like this, since I started looking. One of the marinas in Lewiston, Idaho made a lot of jet boats I believe out of regular boats back in the 70s and 80s. Since I bought this one, I've seen 3 or 4 more on CL, 2 even being Starcrafts.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Forgot to check out the site JB told me about. I sort of feel envious of all the guys getting there projects done so fast. Didn't accomplish a lot this weekend either. Friday I got the decking put in and riveted, some was in and partially riveted before. Decided I needed to fill in the very front, a piece about 30" long, and about 14" tapering to a point. When I put my last seal coat on the deck in the boat, I also put a coat on the small piece for the front hanging in my barn. Both sides, and edges. Then it immediately fell into the dirt, bark, and hay chaff. Spent saturday doing honeydos, and taking my wife out to dinner for mother's day. Sure beat fighting the crowds today. Tried to rivet the last piece of decking in this morning, but the decking in the boat was still a little tacky. I almost left a spare pair of pants in the boat, as I was trying to drill into the ribs to rivet the decking, and stuck. Jacked the boat up off the trailer and blocked it up. Of course the first time the jack fell, and the boat almost ended up off the trailer. Took some doing to get it back centered and both tires touching on the trailer. Need to get some strapping, I could have used my tractor and picked it up if I had some. Chains do a lot of damage. This weekend was one I think I could have accomplished more staying in bed. I put on a coat of epoxy to seal the outside of the double hull, and at last count I had 200 mosquitoes, and about 2000 no seums (a little gnat barely visible) stuck to the boat. 1 more coat of epoxy, then I start with the primer. I like to do the first primer coat with the epoxy just barely tacky. About like my decking was in the boat this morning. It seems to adhere better, and no sanding. It'll be about 2 weeks until the guy I'm having sew my boat top gets his fabric, then he can measure the top and we can get the fabric to do the side panels. The side panels need to go in before the wiring, or fuel tanks are installed. I also intend to put a little more foam and noodles behind them. Maybe I'll take next weekend off, they are predicting lows in the high 30's and highs in the low 50's with thunderstorms for next weekend. Not really painting weather. I need to get some farm work done anyway. 2 or 3 weeks ago I had snow in the fields, now I have noxious weeds about 3 inches high. Doesn't take them long.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Weather forecast changed for the better, maybe. Haven't seen 60's yet here, Spokane Wa about 70 mi away has once, but we haven't. Now they are calling for upper 60's lower 70's the rest of the week with thunder showers. Maybe invest in a few more tarps and do some this weekend. Gonna try rusto over epoxy, even tho I've been told by a local store it won't work. It's all bought. Oh and google says hot boat mag has been out of production for a few years. Couldn't even search for articles in it on line. It was a good lead tho thanks.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

I talked to a couple paint guys today. That makes 3 total. The first a couple weeks ago said he didn't recommend putting rusto over fiberglass of any type. Painting boats is a large part of his job, and he is the one years ago taught me to paint things with them just slightly tacky so you don't have to sand every time, you need real light coats tho. A few years ago he had me try painting over polyester resin, with no primer. Lasted for 2 complete years + a little, and the glass broke off, it wasn't adhered to the old paint good enough. Epoxy adheres better. He mentioned then to spray the paint on with the resin still a little tacky. 2 pieces broke off right where the boat and dock came together , 1 on each side. one about 1/2" by 2" The other about 16" by 10" both right under my splash guard.
One of the guys today works at a custom body place where they do cars and a few boats. He says it isn't recommended as epoxy cures real smooth and hard. Sanding may not be enough, and the paint may not bind good enough and may come loose later. Then he said if I sprayed the primer on with the epoxy still slightly tacky the epoxy SHOULD hold the primer, and then we could paint over the primer. If a roller is used it needs to be a lot less cured, as some of the epoxy will come up on the roller. You also don't want a thick layer of epoxy, it should stick to the boat and the paint. Should being the key word. This guy came over to our shop to talk to another guy, I don't really know him, but he is a painter. The guy he came over to talk to paints rigs for the county up here, and sometimes for individuals on the side with borrowed equipment. Does a good job and he's been doing it since middle school, not for the county tho. They basically came up with the above together.
I am not a painter. I have done it several times, usually with acceptable results, tho not always. I am still hoping someone from here will try to explain things better. I know I sometimes mix things up. If the weather looks acceptable friday, I may try my last coat of epoxy, and then primer saturday. I don't want the primer rained on tho, and want to put it on tacky epoxy. I had to special order my paint and primer so there's no taking them back. But it would still be cheaper to buy new, if I knew it wouldn't work right. I am just relaying to others what I had told to me. This may not be word for word, but I think it gets the gist across.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Looking good so far!! Hopefully the weather holds out for you. Can't help you much on the paint as i'm still trying to learn myself. Keep up the good work!

 

[yooperangler]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Great progress Hey wish I could help you out with the painting but never really painted over epoxy/glass. I will say that although it almost seems logical that applying primer to tacky epoxy would allow em to stick to each other better I would be very concerned about the epoxy not curing properly after top coated or essentially repelling the primer as it tries to cure especially if both aren't completely compatible. I can definitely understand why an extremely light first coat would be desirable (maybe more of a dusting) to let things breathe and finish curing before next primer coat.I'm sure no expert but most of the paint problems I have had in the past seem to have resulted from not letting things cure properly between coats (impatience and weather). I see in a number of threads where folks have painted over epoxied ply on floors etc and seem to have had good results cant forsee why the hull would be any big difference as long as epoxy attaches well to the aluminum? From your post it sounds as if the past problems you have had involved the epoxy coming loose not the paint? If a 10"X 16" hunk of paint just falls off I would think thats most likely a prep (oil , grease, etc) problem or improper curing in that spot? Wish I could be more help hoping some of the paint guru's jump in here with some info for you

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Any body in North Idaho have a indoor lake.??? Im sure tired of this g**&^%$$ D$%^ wet S)(#%^&*hing weather. Three days in a month that We did not have to walk in mud to get anywhere and now rain rain rain again. Oh well guess its better than haveing everything flooded like they are in the deep South. Wow do I feel better now. I will see your boat sometime this summer if it don't sink first. LOL Pugetsound Or just float away.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Yooper it was polyester resin that came off. It is a lot more brittle, and doesn't adhere nearly as well as epoxy. It's also a lot cheaper, and it was just an experiment to see if it would work. And it did for a couple of years. I have only had trouble twice with painting over not quite cured epoxy, and the once with polyester. With epoxy the first time I put it on too thick and it painted. It ran and didn't cure. I had to scrape it all off. About the third time I put too much paint on and it ran, and took a much longer time to cure. It worked perfect 3 times with a wood boat, and at least once with a glass. Those were with easy poxi, meant for fiberglass. Paint will slip off glass, just like aluminum, and it could take a couple of years. Some types of paint shouldn't go ever other types, I've been told you need fiberglass paint for glass boats which is basically what the outer hull is after you put epoxy on. People, I don't remember who, here has talked about painting over it. Then I started getting different advice here from people who paint for a livin. I'd like to get it sorted out for everybody here.
And Puget just have patience. You may have ocean front property up here, if things keep up like they have been. Beginning of the week, 180% snowpack in Pack River drainages, and 170 something% Clark Fork drainage. Most of Idaho and Montana are that way.hit 70 today for the first time. 70's with thunderstorms Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 60's with rain on Thursday. Kelly may be launching his boat from home in a few weeks.

 

[KellyC]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Kelly may be launching his boat from home in a few weeks.

Well the columbia has dropped down a bit since spring and all the freaking rain that was going on. And of course it is raining here once again. Well I still have my 15 ft seanymph sitting in front of the house if I need it. Even though I am only a few blocks from the river, it was have to be way way up to even come close to me. Now blocking my way to work is another story though, as there are a few dips in the road that get fairly close to the river.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: New owner 21 ft 74 Starcraft aluminum runabout jet

Hey you the cabin ( house) sits about 50 yds from the warer but the boat house and dock are right there. Only seen the dock under water once in a long time ago. The snow pack is greater this year then forever. nothing in the boat house except the water pump and my son in law can move it and the cable winch motor. Thats goig tp be a lot of water in the Priest River also. Mabey there will, be enough for the kokinee to spawn this year.