Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Awesome boat! And thanks for the confidence inspiring photos illustrating the abilities of a 16'SS. And to think I have nervous about my 18'SS on Powell.

Thanks bunker108...yeah, the 18' will definitely handle the weather better than ours. The 18' Holidays that we looked at had taller sides, transoms, and enclosed bow area for heading off shore, but we are not planning on going any further than 2-3 miles out looking for halibut. Otherwise, Van. Island offers in-shore fishing for multiple species, some spectacular scenery, and many camping opportunities. Congrats on your Starcraft SS 18'

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

FishN - Beautiful 16SS, and a great buy. Very nice pictures. Glad to see you weren't in the Springbok when the winds picked up.

1+ on what EZ and CBK said, a fantastic example of how to buy wisely.

Hang on to that gal, she's a keeper.

Thanks, 64osby...I checked out your Mariner 21', nice Bro and great price too. Those Center Consoles are awesome fishing machines around these parts.

 

[barato2]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

good story and pix, nice boat, welcome to the mob. i'm constantly learning that with proper seapersonship and handling, boats will get you home from really ugly lookin water, you just get beat up a bit.

 

[64osby]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Thanks, 64osby...I checked out your Mariner 21', nice Bro and great price too. Those Center Consoles are awesome fishing machines around these parts.

Thanks FishN, We love the Mariner, very family friendly and it's huge My idea of awesome fishing is Trout Opener happening this weekend. I'm outta here for 4 days, small streams, beaver ponds and camping, Yea Baby

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

good story and pix, nice boat, welcome to the mob. i'm constantly learning that with proper seapersonship and handling, boats will get you home from really ugly lookin water, you just get beat up a bit.

Well, a Big Thank Ya to You barato2 for "Welcoming us to the Mob". Yeah, Bud your so right about learning boat handling skills, mine were all learned the hard way with years working on a multitude of different vessels. Some of stories I would rather forget....abandoning my Dad's boat that was on fire, boats sinking, smashing into reefs at night, hurricane force winds ripping out beach lines and causing the anchor to drag the boat to shore. Yup, I now prefer to recreational fish, gave up working on the ocean and now we spend time and money on our Starcraft...too cool.

I was going through the forums trying to read up on your rebuild, if I got it right you have 2 boats...trying to build one good one.... a holiday 18'... is that right? It was getting late last night, so I had to stop reading and we are following 64osby lead to take in some camping this weekend, "yea Baby"...lol

Sure wish it was open for the bottom dwellers (cod), but not till next week, I can taste fresh cod fillets in the frying pan already!!! I will look for your thread again to see how your making out... Good Luck with the project!!

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

CANADA Big country where do you live?? East coast or in BC.

Thanks CBKev, it would have been much easy to have picked up a bimini top and installed it, but we get far too much "liquid sunshine". So the top had to be attached to the windshield to keep us dry and she also made a front cover over the deck area to help block the wind and reduce down flooding from spray and pounding into waves. I look for a pic of that front cover to post.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

CANADA Big country where do you live?? East coast or in BC.

Ya we are just above you PS, on Vancouver Island....east coast of the island...about half way up, Comox Valley. Land of the "liquid sunshine", but at least we can boat or fish all year long

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Comox ...... your in my neck of the woods.
Picture of Point Holmes ramp.... yup launched from there a few times.
I mostly fish Kitty Coleman but lately have been running from Comox Harbour.
45 minute run but do able if the wind is not up.
Let me know if you need anything because us Starcrafters stick together.
GLG

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Comox ...... your in my neck of the woods.
Picture of Point Holmes ramp.... yup launched from there a few times.
I mostly fish Kitty Coleman but lately have been running from Comox Harbour.
45 minute run but do able if the wind is not up.
Let me know if you need anything because us Starcrafters stick together.
GLG

Hey neighbor yup that is Cape Lazo boat launch. We mostly fish north island, but enjoy a tour of the local waters. Thanks for the offer of help, if I can lend a hand let me know. Nice rig you have there.

Tad bit upset, the forecast was so promising, but turned lousy Friday afternoon. So we did not head out camping/boating this weekend. Checked out the local traveling fair, got some more chores done in anticipation of the family visit next month. I got a line on a kicker for the SS, hoping on checking it out today or tomorrow. I rented a compression tester last time but the shop is closed today....if the kicker looks good, I would still require checking the psi on both cylinders.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Well, we got out on the water for spell today. Wind dropped off for a bit and we went for a tour and dropped the rock-anchor(bag of web with rocks in it), put some herring and salmon chunks out to bottom fish for halibut. Yup, I got skunked....my gal got three, but none to take home. Here is a photo of the dogfish she caught

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

here is the front deck cover that my gal made, it turned out pretty good

I used pull a dot snaps to install it as they are stronger, but I cut a short strap that you pull out first then lift up on. The guy at the store said fellas were having trouble using them, so I came up with installing the snaps with this strap & it works better.

I melted the ends of the straps to stop the threads from unraveling.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

this shows how the front cover snaps to the inside of the middle window to help block the wind and slow down water penetration

This is the trap door cover she made to stop the breeze coming through the "cabin area". I used 2 pull a dot snaps on either side of the top of it and she installed Velcro strips to hold the vertical sides in place. We mostly use this smaller cover as we can access the front deck easier, but carry the larger front deck cover in case the weather kicks up. Yup, those two black pipes are rod holders.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

these pics are the side windows she made, they are held in place using Velcro strips at the top. I used twist & regular snaps along the outside front vertical borders and along the bottom to secure the windows to the boat. We have had no problem trailering the boat with the top on, even bucking into strong winds on the highway.

She sewed Velcro strips along the back to attach to the aluminum support brackets...very creative gal. She didn't want to use zippers for the side windows and they look great...not to mention dry and warm, too!! Unfortunately, we had a lot of rain for a couple of days, that accumulated on the old boat cover and broke the aluminum frame...but with some Redneck improvisation....I meant to say "some higher intellect engineering" I fixed it.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Looks real good FNM, hopefully will be able to get out on the water here soon as well, fishing season opens on the fifth of May. That Velcro sure can make life easy.
Glen

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Looks real good FNM, hopefully will be able to get out on the water here soon as well, fishinf season opens on the fifth of May. Tha Velcro sure can make life easy.
Glen

Thanks Dozerll, ya man I'm glad you'll getting out on the water soon. When I get a chance I will check out your latest thread. Saskatchewan, eh...well we are practically neighbours on this forum!!

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Here is a close up shot of the 60 hp Yamaha....the PO told me he kept the SS under cover and it sure looks like it. (notice the missing rubber grommet that the fuel line should go through...another item to be fixed)

these 2 photos are with the cowling removed, clean, with little wear and tear
This model is a "prime start (choke)" that is engaged when you push in the key to start it. Surprisingly, the manual choke is still installed, so either way works. Outboards can be a pain to keep running or give you years of effortless ownership, I'm hoping for the latter!!

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Although, the outboard mechanic told me this model of yammie is bullet proof, it does not come with many bells and whistles such as power trim & tilt. To help with shallow water entry and exits, I installed a state of the art trim system designed here in BC (no patent pending). I also trim the outboard when the boat is on the trailer to help increase ground clearance, particularly when backing up on uneven surfaces.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

For all you pic lovers out there, some more photos

1st photo is the SS on the EZ Loader trailer. I had to replace most bolts/nuts and free up the remaining u-bolts just in case I needed to remove them due to an emergency or in the near future. I applied Never Seize before I re-installled the bolts/u-bolts.

As you can tell from the photo, the SS doesn't have a shed to live in or the carport, so like many of you folks, most repairs or preventative maintenance is completed right there at the end of the driveway.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Next 2 pics are of the winch that I replaced on the boat trailer. The new winch was slighty larger and I had to elongate the trough on the old outside mounting brackets that held the shaft bolt for the drum. I first center punched the drum on both sides than drilled out the area and finished the new holes using a rat-tail file. End result....it works!!

The bungee cord holds the handle of the jack up, as tends to drop down, and I didn't want it ripped off.AS depicted in this photo (the jack looks new and came with the boat)

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

I should mention that many of the repairs or replacement of parts were completed during a dark period, that being the time frame when I had no camera. Why, no camera some of you may be asking?

Well, we traveled to Seattle to celebrate the New Year with friends down there and unfortunately the camera was knocked out of someone hand and suffered a direct blow to the hard pavement.

The camera spent some time at the repair shop and was returned still defective. Thus the camera spent more time back at the repair shop and returned home....well, repaired

However, by then I had the boat repairs completed enough to hit the water So, I will try to explain and provide after the fact pics of the work I have completed so far.

As with all boats that I have owned, about 7 of them, the repairs are never ending. My Dad used to say, "that owning a boat is like being married to it" and he owned several commercial fishing vessels.