Project's almost complete...

[gewf631]

I picked-up a late 70's Starcraft last winter, that needed a little TLC - the 115HP Merc only had 30 hours, so the decision was easy!<br /><br />So far, I've only been able to tackle the inside (the outside will get some paint this fall), and the usual maintenance-stuff on the trailer.<br /><br />Here's some pics of the progress...<br />Before...<br />

<br /><br />Out comes the seats and carpet...<br />

<br /><br />Clean everything out...<br />

<br /><br />New floor...<br />

<br /><br />New carpet...<br />

<br /><br />Then fix-up the sides, bow, consoles, dash, etc...<br />

<br /><br />I'm almost there! I can't hold a candle to djohns19, JasonJ, KonRon, tradin, or ...'s, projects, but this is an aluminum boat, so it didn't need all that work .<br /><br />Thanks for lookin...<br /><br />Ed

 

[tradin]

Re: Project's almost complete...

my friend yours will turn out just as nice take your time and have fun looks real good so far as long as your happy with it thats what counts

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Project's almost complete...

As Chief Whiggam would say "That's nice work boys"

 

[Walleye King]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Looks good! At least you are making some progress, i can't say that!

 

[catfish1]

Re: Project's almost complete...

looks good. i gotta ask though, did you foam under the deck?

 

[gewf631]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Thanks for all your comments. The new floor made a big difference (3/4" vs the 25-year old 1/2"). The softer carpet (instead of the old plastic turf), along with the new upholstery and padding, sure went a long way.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to a paint-job, but for now it's back in the water, and that's what's really important!<br /><br />catfish1<br />Yes, what wasn't taken-up by the 23 gallon tank, has been filled with foam. I was thinking of a live-well, but the only place left was in front of the tank, and that would have put the door, right by the consoles.<br /><br />Thanks again for your encouragement!<br />Ed

 

[Ron Regan]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Looks real nice Ed. great work and I like your seats. I need to buy the same seats, who did you purchase your seats from? Can't seem to work on mine for all of the rain and I mean everyday. told my wife that I did'nt have to take my boat to the lake that I could try mine out in the back yard.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Project's almost complete...

KonRon,<br /> The seats came with the boat, but I've seen the same ones at BassPro, or in the Cabella's catalog, or in the Marine Mega Mall here at iBoats.

 

[catfish1]

Re: Project's almost complete...

just an idea. maybe you can build in a couple foam cells at the back, one on each side.<br />if you didnt get enough foam under the deck to float it, then the foam you did put in is for nothing. the boat looks to good to be fish structure at the bottom of a lake.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Its lookin' real good (as I sit in secret envy of all who has aluminum boats and don't have to deal with 'glass).....

 

[DJ]

Re: Project's almost complete...

ED,<br /><br />Woo Hoo!<br /><br />Fantastic!!!<br /><br />I think Jasonj is jealous of us "metal boat" guys!<br /><br />He He! I've done both. <br /><br />It's a great feeling to get to the point you are.<br /><br />Congrat's!!

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Project's almost complete...

(djohns, dammn dude, FIVE THOUSAND POSTS???)<br /><br />That Starcraft is looking terrific, tell ya what!<br /><br />Why did you go with 3/4 rather than 1/2? Im redoing a Starcraft too and I am torn over the two ... <br /><br />how do you maintain a bilge channel and foam?<br /><br />and you found a tank to fit, what are the dimensions?<br /><br />LOL< sorry for all the questions, so few aluminum guys on here<br /><br />Heres a general question that Ill prolly wind up asking in a separate post, but not if I get a few answers here ...<br /><br />In home depot, they have some nice looking outdoor carpet guaranteed three years outside, and a picture of a boat as a usage for it<br /><br />My question is, I fish in salt water, and salt water fishing gets hairy, blues start slamming and next thing you know you have rods bending all over the place, a floor full of blues and blood<br /><br />is carpet and fishing something that dont belong together?<br /><br />

 

[mn_mike]

Re: Project's almost complete...

It looks wonderful Ed. So that is what they are supposed to look like! I think there are at least 4 people on the board with either 16 or 18 ft Starcrafts. I started on the outside first and my 16 is bottoms up next to my garage and got its primer last night. <br />Ray..the AC2 plywood seems to be made of the weakest woods. I'm using 3/4. Someone here said 1/2in. with a layer of cloth works great. I've pondered the fuel tank issue on this board and any solution involved raising the floor a bit. The 16ft models don't seem to have enough room.<br />I thought I knew how to deal with the drainage issue. OEM plank foam goes over the ribs and drainage of large amounts of water isn't an issue. But it seems to me, the slots under the ribs will clog and we'll forever have little puddles.?

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Ed .... it looks like your floor is almost an "island", floating free of the sides of the boat<br /><br />are those metal "frames" the only place you screw the boards down to? I am having a hell of a time figuring out how to get the floor in my Starcraft Holiday 18, I really dont want to screw into those ribs, too close to the water! I wonder if they sell little aluminum I beams to make as a framework lifting the floor a bit to allow tanks underneath

 

[gewf631]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Wow, one day away from the 'puter, and I've got so much to catch-up on! Thanks again, everyone, for your kind words...<br /><br />catfish1 There's a LOT of the original foam under that floor, and I liberally used the expanding spray to secure the tank.<br /><br />CastawayRay

• <br />
• 3/4" - Most of the old floor was in good shape, but it was still spongy (I'm 225#), and I've always been one to 'over-build', so the few extra pounds were well worth the solid feeling it now has.<br />
• Fuel-tank - Those supports are about 20" apart. I picked-it up from KVESURPLUS.COM, I think Val still posts on this site. It's 80" long x 14" wide x 6" tall (add 3.5" for filler fitting). The tank is shaped like an upside-down house, so it fit very nicely in the "V". It's built with an indented point, so it's all set to clear the bilge channel. I cut in half, a 1.5" PVC pipe, and ran it the length of the tank. I then put in some cheap (throw-away) plastic drop cloth between the uprights, replaced as much of the foam as needed to fill the void, then sprayed several cans of expanding foam, and inserted the tank. Between the original foam sheets, the expanding foam, and my PVC channel, that tank ain't goin' anywhere! Once the foam dried, I removed the whole thing, tore/threw away the drop cloth, checked for drainage clearence and re-inserted the tank.<br />
• Carpet - I'm a fresh-water guy (Chicago's a long way from the salt), but I picked-up this carpet at Menards (seems the same as the H-D stuff), and haven't had any trouble cleaning-it yet (ketchup, juice, soda, etc). <br />

<br />mn_mike <br />Those little water passage-ways are a joke! I pressure-washed the inside after everything was out, and I'm certain they're all clogged again! Once the boat's on the trailer, I pull the plug, and the drive home takes care of any water! If it rains, and a little water gets around the cover, I just tip the boat and trailer, and let 'er drain.<br /> <br />CastawayRay <br />The original floor was screwed to the ribs, just an inch or so from where they end and the sides come-up. This is the same height as the vertical supports, so the floor does a great job of holding everything together.<br />If anyone has any specific questions that they want to take off-list, give he a holler at gewf631@yahoo.com<br /><br />Thanks again for all your great encouragement!<br />Ed

 

[gewf631]

Re: Project's almost complete...

Here's a guy who did a 21' Chieftain, and took LOTS of pictures during the project. There's some nice shots of the floor, and the supports that Starcraft used.<br /><br /> Hope it helps... <br /><br />Ed

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Project's almost complete...

lol, there goes another two hours shot to hell, thanks Ed, I enjoyed that, wrote to him too, seems as though hes in my neck of the woods, about an hour away or so