New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

[Tacklewasher]

After giving up on my current Starcraft, I picked up an 18 foot Super Sport Bowrider with a 70hp Johnson.

It needs a bit of work, but not a lot to get it on the water.

None of the gauges work, but the lights and the horn work. Motor ran good on muffs so I need to see what it'll do on the lake.

Anyway, it's got an open bow for casting and it has the proper stern for an outboard. The hull looks in decent shape so those three things make it better than what I had.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

However, I do find the transom moves too much.

Looking at it, I see some interesting work.

There is quarter round sealing the splashwell. The transom wood seems solid still, but this is not how to fix something.

Looking underneath, the splashwell is screwed into the transom with about 35 screws (factory setup). Pretty much all of them have pulled out. The metal of the spashwell is fine, but the screws are not doing anything.

Now I poked at the wood and it is still solid, except where the screws are pulled out. I don't think a new transom is an immediate project, but can hold off until winter.

So here is my thought. Pull out about 1/2 of the screws. Drill right through the wood and the transom. Put some Marine Tek or 3M 5200 between the spashwell and the transom and replace the screws with stainless bolts all the way through. I figure this will pull everything together well enough to get this thing out on the water.

See, I want to make sure the 70hp runs well and be able to show it to people running so I can sell it and put my 115 on. The boat is rated for 150 and I can't see how a 70 will be enough when I have a 115 not doing anything. Plus the 115 is newer and I know how well it runs.

So, any issues with using bolts all the way through and ditching the screws? This would be a permanent thing as I would still use the bolt once I replae the transom.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

Looks just like my girl - congrats on the purchase. I think your screw idea should work just fine, except that all the SS will cost $$.

Just an idea - you may want to spray ethylene glycol (antifreeze) in all the open holes to kill any existing wood rot fungus. Wouldn't hurt.....

I'm jealous of the 115 - my girl's only getting a 60, but that's what we have, so on it goes.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

I'll look at the glycol. Or is there a product made especially for stopping wood rot.

I still think the transom will have to come out over the winter so maybe the antifreeze will do the trick (especially since I do have a jug lying around). Might just put it on with a brush to keep the overspray down.

Gotta see if I can get the tach working. I guess I need to see if the motor is charging the batteries or not as well (as the two may be related) and then use my handheld GPS to test the speed.

Already decided the seats are coming out. I've got nicer looking seats in my other boat that I can swap over.

I do think I will re-do the floor as I'm not that keen on the indoor/outdoor carpet and would rather go with a decking material that I can wash down.

Oh. The part that made me the happiest with this purchase was about a 1/2 hour into the drive home, about 15 minutes at 75mph, my buddy had to stop to adjust the straps on the bike he bought so I checked the hubs. After some good high speeds, they were only slightly warm and no warmer than the tires. After driving about 9 hours, every stop I checked them and they never heated up.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

redoing floor AND transom? sounds like my project.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=260400


I've heard of people using "Git-Rot" to kill the rot fungus, but I have no experience with it.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

redoing floor AND transom? sounds like my project.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=260400

Yeah. Been through your thread and you are doing a nice job.

I'll give you a beer if you come and do mine.

I've heard of people using "Git-Rot" to kill the rot fungus, but I have no experience with it.

I'll look into it. Thanks.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

So tonight I tackled a few things.

Put it on muffs and started it up. Really happy with how easy it starts. Stone cold and it fired right up. Idled for a while and I was able to slow it right down.

Did check the voltage while idling and it didn't move from when the motor was off so I'm thinking a bad rectifier and that will fix my tach issue.

Did manage to check the compression. Top two 110 and the bottom one a needle width under 110. Pretty happy with that.

Buddy then came over and we tackled bolting the transom to the splashwell. And yes, they did have wood quarter round molding siliconed in to hide the gap from the transom to the splashwell. Ripped that out, took the srews out of both sides and put in 10 bolts down each side and 4 along the bottom. I could not drill holes in more spots on the bottom as the motor and tilt were in the way. I did put some 5200 down the whole splashwell and the way this thing sucked together with the bolts makes me very happy. The transom does not flex at all.

I am convinced I will be pulling the florr up though as the plywood at the stern for the floor hasn't been coated in anything and, while recent, is not going to hold up. I'll do it and the transom over the winter.

So, to get her ready for her first water trial, I have to re-wire the brake lights and put my registration number on. Probably do the rectifier as well. Guess it'll be the weekend before I see if she floats.

 

[jonesg]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

Oh. The part that made me the happiest with this purchase was about a 1/2 hour into the drive home, about 15 minutes at 75mph, my buddy had to stop to adjust the straps on the bike he bought so I checked the hubs. After some good high speeds, they were only slightly warm and no warmer than the tires. After driving about 9 hours, every stop I checked them and they never heated up.

I drove 2 hrs at 70mph, hubs remained cold.

Pulled the wheels just to take a look and one side is very bumpy when the hub is hand rotated,

the other side ...the top of the wheel goes in and out 1/4inch.!

I just ordered new hubs for both sides,

don't trust "it feels cool, must be good" .

Jack one side up, pull wheel and really examine it.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

On my to-do list. I've never lost a hub on the road and don't plan to start now.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

If that 70 has the older style tilt/trim on it those are worth big $$ so keep that in mind when you're selling it. '78 was the cut over so I'm not sure if it's the earlier one or not. I've been trying to find a working unit for my '73 85 and they go for over $400 on ebay!!! Heck it might be worth it to you to sell it seperately as it might not add as much overall to the motor as selling it by itself would bring.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

Hmmm.

Never thought about that. At the very least I'll add that to my selling description.

And yes, it is the older style and works just great. No trim gauge though. Not sure if it has the sending unit for a gauge.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

If you had a V4 I wouldn't have been QUITE so honest and you'd have a PM.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

I have a V4, but it's the newer (1981) style. Plus I'm keeping it.

Has anyone put a ski pylon on one of these boats? I'm thinking I don't want to pull from the transom so much and a pylon would keep the rope out of the water. My wife likes to tube and I want this to be our boat, more than just my ugly fishing boat.

But it needs to be removable as I don't want it in the way when I fish.

Next thought is to put a pedastel seat up front with a nice flush mount on the floor that I could also use to set up a small table for when anchored. Anyone done this?

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

Short update.

I pulled the quarter round out of the splashwell. It was basically there to hide how far the transom has moved. I put bolts in place of the screws and am sitting here thinking why they didn't d this originally. Yeah, it's a l;ot of bolts but man is it stronger. Now with me pushing down on the motor with most of my weight (and I ain't a light guy) the transom doesn't move one bit. The boat lifts up, but the transom doesn't move.

Definitely going to keep this when I rebuild the transom.

So I have bolts down both sides of the splashwell. Couldn't put more than 2 on each side on the bottom as the motor is in the way. With the bolts and the 3M 5200, I'm comfy hanging my 115 on the back.

Going to be a little while before I do that as I want to see what the 70 will do and will probably leave it on the boat until someone wants to buy the motor. That way I can show them it works etc. If I don't get it sold, I'll run it until I get all my fishing gear moved over from my old boat. I also want to get familiar with how this boat handles etc. before I swap. But if it's a dog, I may change my mind.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: New to me boat 1978 Starcraft SS

After fussing and fighting, finally tossed the tach in the trash, pulled the one out of my old boat and got it working.

Scraped off all of the old lettering and registration stickers and ready to put my numbers on.

And I think I'm ready for a sea trial. Or at least a lake trial.

See how this old girl goes with the 70.

Still have a fair bit to do to move all of my stuff from my old boat. Anchor lock, downrigger plates and wiring, few other things to move. Still thinking of swapping seats. But I'm far enough along that I can hit the lake.