Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

[barato2]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

FNM--

thanks for posting all those pics. you've (or, more accurately, your better half has) given me some good dieas and inspiration on the canvas area.....i'm inspired to make a cockpit cover for the Starchief now.

on cameras, i found that (like all small electronic devices), i needed to buy the armored shock and water resistant version.....when replacement time comes, look at the Olympus "TG" or "tough" line....tested for 5' drop to concrete and waterproof to abt 33'

you can get bulk 7/8" alum tube from most of the bigbox marine supply outfits for a more permanent fix for your bimini frame....cut to size with a simple tube cutter designed for copper water pipe and dimple with a center punch to hold fittings in place once you get em installed

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Thanks for the ideas, B2

thanks for posting all those pics. you've (or, more accurately, your better half has) given me some good dieas and inspiration on the canvas area.....i'm inspired to make a cockpit cover for the Starchief now.

I'm glad that I,rather my better half, could help you out for ideas on the cockpit cover.

on cameras, i found that (like all small electronic devices), i needed to buy the armored shock and water resistant version.....when replacement time comes, look at the Olympus "TG" or "tough" line....tested for 5' drop to concrete and waterproof to abt 33'

We were going to pick up a new one in Seattle, but by the time you add in all the accessories it seemed too expensive. We decided to see if this one could be fixed as the photos and vids are great. Definately the next one an up-grade.

you can get bulk 7/8" alum tube from most of the bigbox marine supply outfits for a more permanent fix for your bimini frame....cut to size with a simple tube cutter designed for copper water pipe and dimple with a center punch to hold fittings in place once you get em installed

No, bigbox marine supply store around these parts and will have to pay local smaller shops a bit more money for same alum frame, but the process does seem simple enough.

 

[barato2]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

sorry, i wasn't being clear. i meant just replace the tube that broke, not the whole frame. if you do have to replace any tubes with bends, one of the mob reported good results bending tube with a "hickey" normally used to bend EMT.....for 7/8 bimini tube, you might need to try and see if the 3/4 or 1" worked best.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Lol, no, no Barato2 I understood you fine the 1st time. I just did a quick repair on the frame as we were heading out that day and have not fixed permanently. Sorry, too...I was re-reading what I posted there using multiple posts. I'm new using these forums, so I thought I would be creative and try responding with multiple answers using multiple quotes.

It looks a little funny to me (my responses), but I do appreciate your info. I have been looking for heavy walled pipe to replace the whole frame.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

The problem with all sizes of the aluminum tubing is that they all join to the boat via a small screw. If someone leans or falls against the boat top it bends or breaks (the top, not necessarily the screw). The last top I had made, I choose heavy walled 1" aluminum pipe that a welding shop fabricated together.

This is cost prohibited presently as we are being thrifty on this re-build.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Those Yamahas are great motors, I have worked on an 85 and a 90 and I believe the 60 is the same motor with different carbs. They run hard, and have great throttle responce. If you have to work on the carbs don't buy the after market kits ( real bad reviews) the yammie ones work out to the same price, as the part number includes all three kits. They are a real easy carb to rebuild as well.
Glen

 

['57Lapline]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

That's a great setup you got there fnm. Also at a great price

 

[barato2]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

for premade biminis, there seem to be either the affordable ones or the sturdy stainless-frame ones. p;lanning on latter for me holiday and Starchief (figure to use same bimini for both) but it will be $500 by time i pay for 8' length, 54" height, and stainless frame.....but i fish solo a lot and want something i can hang onto while climbing up to the bow.

your best bet for a sturdy but affordable one might be to make it out of 7/8 stainless and use stainless fittings and have your very talented girlfriend help you with sewing up the fabric.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Those Yamahas are great motors, I have worked on an 85 and a 90 and I believe the 60 is the same motor with different carbs. They run hard, and have great throttle responce. If you have to work on the carbs don't buy the after market kits ( real bad reviews) the yammie ones work out to the same price, as the part number includes all three kits. They are a real easy carb to rebuild as well.
Glen

Thanks for the review on the after-market kits, Glen. I was kinda hoping they are were in good shape, but 96 was a while ago. There is a slight miss on the low end revs. I done some research already on the rebuild for the carbs (You-tube vids) and out-board mech said all 3 carbs need to be synced together...not sure on that process. Not at that point yet, though.

Rusty

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

That's a great setup you got there fnm. Also at a great price

Thanks, '57Lapline...so far I been able to get alot of small stuff fixed to get out for this boating/fishing season

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

your best bet for a sturdy but affordable one might be to make it out of 7/8 stainless and use stainless fittings and have your very talented girlfriend help you with sewing up the fabric.

Hey B2, for this spring/summer we are just gonna roll with this one, but the next one will be taller. Up here boat top cost $1200-2000 to get custom made, too steep for our budget.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

I must admit on how easy the 60 hp yammie gets the SS up on a plane. Whether, just the 2 of us or jagged down with prawn/crab pots, fishing gear/tackle, coolers, and lunch. It is just a couple of seconds from start to plane, but she is no speed demon. Top end speed is 27-28 kts, which is fine with me, however I researched on Yamaha website and realized that my best fuel economy is mid throttle at 18-19 kts.

Here is a vid on the hole shot





A quick photo of the gps at cruise speed, yup that is a '95 gps fits the boat

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Hmmm, hope that vid works for you folks...might there be another way of posting it?

On the vid we were actually wot @ 27-28 kts.

The photo is from earlier in the day

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

If anyone is interested, here is a link to fuel data for a yamaha 50 hp 2 stroke on a 16' Starcraft. It gave me comparable info on what to expect for my 60 hp, especially fuel consumption and best rpms to cruise at.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/...oke_hpmidport_al_sta-starfire1600sc-50tlr.pdf

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

As I couldn't help myself, I also researched what the Evinrude 50 hp E-Tec on a 16' alum boat could get for fuel economy. On 10 gallons of gas the estimate was 114 miles. My 60 yammie couldn't touch that kinda range, but it is pd for

Anyways here is the link

http://www.boattest.com/engine-review/Evinrude/440029_E-TEC-50-hp_2011

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Good Morning, Folks!!

First of the Family arrives today and more coming next week!!

Well, I thought I would touch on the rollers that needed some help. The large washers that are held against the rubber rollers by the "pig snout crimps" were fairly rusted and needed to be replaced.

As well, the back rollers were mounted stationary by 2 bolts, that made shallow water entries/exits difficult. So, I drilled a new singular bolt hole in the bracket to allow the whole bracket to swivel or pivot more precisely. This worked out beautifully as shown in the following pics.

1st pic is the boat sitting on the back roller assembly

Then this shot is a close up of the new center bolt with the now empty bolt holes on either side

and the last photo shows how the back roller now pivots

What do you think turned out alright? Anybody else have problems with the back roller being a fixed mount?

I also added a lower bolt on each bracket to stop the rollers from pivoting too low, that are on the right side on the last pic.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

It sure makes a difference when launching from some of our beach access only area that have no ramp. This allows us to camp close by some favorite fishing holes. Also, helps when the weather kicks up as I don't have to put the boat as far into the water to pick it up. Therefore helping to stop tipping the boat from larger waves that push it off center on the rollers.

 

[FishNmemories]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

I thought I better add that the pig snout crimps were not that easy to change out. The saltwater had rusted them in place to the aluminum shaft that holds the rollers. Some of the crimps came out fairly easy, some I persuaded with heat and then spraying with penetrating oil, and others just broke off in the alum shaft. I had to drill the broken pieces out of the alum shaft, a bit of a pain, but I was able to change out all washers and crimps.

I used my vice to squeeze the new crimps back in place and then took a couple of them apart with a round punch and hammer as I had forgot to put the roller on first:redface:

 

[barato2]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

i really like your ingenuity and solutions to problems. thanks for posting all these good ideas.

 

[TundraRocks]

Re: Our recent purchase of SS 16 ft Starcraft

Nice boat. I have a similar boat, but I don't have the lower rub rail on my SS. I have been following your thread, and have enjoyed seeing the changes along the way. Love the detailed information. You had mentioned that you had to patch some soft spots on the floor, do you have any pics of what you had done with the floor? My floor is solid except a few spots in the back. Thought maybe I could do a minor patch until the floor is replaced at a later date.