New... Used Starcraft Owner

[Westside_JAX]

I got his boat a couple of weeks ago and get the motor running like it should. I've taken it out a couple of times to fish and just can't stay out as long as I'd like due to lack of comfort. I've got two seats I'm going to mount this weekend and maybe install some carpeting at least on the benches for now. Was thinking about adding a floor and maybe splitting the middle bench for more walking room. My first question is what kind of Starcraft is this? I know it's 14 ft and has a max hp rating of 15hp. I think it's an '87. Any help would be appreciated or idea on modifications for comfort. I'd also like to take out my 3 year old daughter, but the old lady is kinda weary so I'd like to spruce it up some to convince her that it's not a death trap as long as operated safely.

Thanks Guys,

 

[North Beach]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Jax that is most likely a Seafarer or Sealite. Here's the page from the 86 brochure. No one has come up with the 87 book yet but these smaller boats remained unchanged for many years. Hope this helps!

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Thanks North Beach. After looking at that brochure I'm certain that I have a 14 ft Sealite.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Splitting the bench seat is not a great idea. The seats are part of the structure of the boat hull in yoyr type of hull.

 

[North Beach]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Actually if you look at the brochure they offered a split bench model. You should be ok splitting the middle one.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

ok. think ill give it try. how do you recommend going about covering up the opening that will be left after the cutting is done? there is always the welding option which is one skill i do not possess. any other ideas for covering the hold up after cutting the section out? I plan on covering with carpet afterwards anyways, so it doesn't have to be the prettiest

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

You will need to support the freshly cut bench ends as well. I think the bench was probably attached at the gunwale and not anywhere across the bottom edge of the bench... Correct? If it is attached to a rib or other support, removing a section might require less rework to support the modified bench. Depends on how SC built it from 1 model, w/out the bench cutout, to the next w/ the bench cutout.

HD, Lowes & Ace here, carry smaller sheets of very thin aluminum and some aluminum angle trim in a few shapes. I think you could probably fab & rivet an aluminum skin & trim that could cover the cut ends of the bench. Just make sure not to leave any rough exposed edges. Using some of the trim, you might be able to make some reasonable support for the benches as well.

But w/ out seeing it currently & how you want to cut it, I would be 100% that any of that ^^^ would be a perfect solution.....

I actually had the same thought as George about probably shouldn't, because the bench is probably filled w/ flotation foam, but after NB posted the brochure, I didn't post the don't do it comments....

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

looking at the brochure...the 14ft boat with the split bench seat...you can't see the ribs..
looks like there might be some kind of floor added...
looked again..brochure says ...has non-slip floor..

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Maybe, certainly looks that way, & if you look at the aft compartment behind the bench, the split bench setup seems to include what look to be additional flotation pods in each rear corner, to replace what was removed by splitting the bench......

 

[North Beach]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

ok. think ill give it try. how do you recommend going about covering up the opening that will be left after the cutting is done? there is always the welding option which is one skill i do not possess. any other ideas for covering the hold up after cutting the section out? I plan on covering with carpet afterwards anyways, so it doesn't have to be the prettiest

So basically you're saying there's a floor in the boat now? We need some interior pics......

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Thanks for the replies and insight guys. jbcurt00, that is the only picture in my phone today when i decided to post today. If you look at the picture closely on the middle bench you can see what looks like a hinge. The guy who owned the boat before me cut the top off of the middle bench and dropped in a cooler then put hinges on the piece of aluminum to make a compartment for the "livewell." So there is no foam in the middle of the bench as is. I was thinking about cutting the middle and keeping the aluminum attached to each side and then bending it and closing it up with trim and rivets before covering with carpet.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Sounds ok to me as long as the segmented bench will be supported. The limited info from the brochure just suggests it's possible, but not much about the how. Would be helpful to see pix of a factory split bench setup. Might try a search based on the model yr & # from NB's brochure. Might get lucky and find some reference pix....

I'd consider adding back some flotation foam to replace what 'should' have been present before the livewell conversion. In the brochure pix it looks like the split bench version had some corner structure at the transom that looks like a flotation pod. If you want to add some sort of decking, the brochure also seems to show a deck of some sort.

I'd probably attack all 3 concerns as part of 1 larger project. Not 3 separate small projects: Split bench, deck, & flotation pods.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

You'll need to look very closely at the hull when you can. Look at the style & locations of the ribs. In a 14' Sealite, the stern ribs run fore & aft. The Seafarer has a different design & layout, and was offered as a split bench model. The ribs on the SL look to be spaced further apart too. The NB brochure shows length, beam, capacity info, and the aluminum gauge thickness of the bottom. The SL is a much lighter duty boat, then the SF, particularly the 660+/- lb capacity vs 1020+/- lb capacity (for the SF w/ a long shaft transom).

I missed where you posted you thought it was a Sealite. I had been commenting based on the Seafarer model.

Please confirm some of the specs & details in the brochure, and if it's a Seafarer, I see no reason, with diligent attention to details, that the split bench conversion could be done safely. If it's a Sealite, I may want to revise my suggestions after we see some more pix of the boat when you post them.

Still working based on a Seafarer, here are 2 split bench style semi-vees that show a deck & that the split benches seem to be resting on the deck:

Check out DJ's SF 14 thread, his has the split bench, but was the heavier duty Seafarer model. The SF also has a much higher motor capacity.

Also here's a 14' re-work that may prove informative, but it isn't on iboats, but is a Starcraft..

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

Sealite is a cartopper. I've got a 12' Seascamp (cartopper) and while it's not flimsy, freeboard and beam are reduced. I think the middle seat is structural. I take my 8 yo out all the time in small whitecaps and were still alive. The boats name is tin-coffin though so I'm living on borrowed time. JK it's pretty stable. I took my 325 lb nephew out with me, yikes. I need a bigger boat!

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

That Seafarer looks awesome. I love the setup. Mine is a 14 ft Sealite. I can make out the Max of 15 hp on the coast guard tag. Looking at the picture of the Seafarer the setup looks so clean. I would love my boat to look like that. What do you think the floor is? Doesn't look like wood, any ideas?

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

has anyone ever put carpet directly onto the floors of their aluminum boat?

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

So, i finally got underway on sprucing her up a little and decided not to cut the bench and leave it as is for now. Here are some before and during pics. I've got a couple more things to do to finish up before completed.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: New... Used Starcraft Owner