Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

HA! I'm glad I'm not the only one that does stuff like that!

That kind of stuff makes me so mad I could just kick myself in the butt 'til my eyes cross!

Glad ya found the leak and I hope the Striper fishin' is better this time... but then again it Troot season now eh?!

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Boy you got that right jigngrub!!! I guess most people have done something like that at one time or another. At least I figured out how to lift the boat off the bunks so when I replace the carpet, it should go quickly.

The hole will be filled tomorrow (with a rivet plenty of LocTite epoxy) and if the weather clears, I'll try fishing Monday. Probably trout this time. I going to buy a hand operated bilge pump to keep on board for future surprises though.

1988 Starcraft

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Dood, "dumb stuff" is my middle name. So, don't feel bad, well done finding that leak buddy

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Thanks for the comforting words. Misery loves company and it's nice to hear that even all you experienced guys have made dumb mistakes too. I patched the hole today.

I also got inspired and decided to rebuild my casting platform. I built it years ago and it was always a pain to get things (e.g., the anchor, the trolling motor battery, life jackets, etc.) out from under it . it had started to delaminate and warp so I built a new aluminum frame to support a new deck. I've got plenty of left over plywood and I also have enough of the Grizzly Grip non-skid floor covering to cover the new platform and plenty of wide flange rivets left over, so it will match the floor. Today I got all the support frame fabricated and installed and I made up templates for the plywood sections (two permanent triangular side pieces and a removable center section). I'll cut the plywood and start sealing it up tomorrow as long as our bad weather stays with us up here in New England. Here's a picture of the frame.



Thanks for all the support. I'll post a picture of the casting platform when it's done. I will also post a picture of me afloat when I get back on the water. 1988 Starcraft

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Well I've finished the casting deck up forward and now all that's left is to put her back in the water again. I'm "pretty" sure I haven't drilled any holes in the bottom this time. All the new work was way above the waterline so even I'm pretty safe. The boat really looks great. Sunday or Monday will be my second "sea trial". I can't tell you how good I'll feel to not see any water in the bilge. I am buying a hand operated bilge pump just in case. I'm sure I'll have leaks some time in the future and it will come in handy. I'll post pictures from the successful (hopefully) underway test. Thanks for all the help and guidance and if you're up toward eastern CT some time, maybe I can take you fishing.
1988 Starcraft

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

sweet work 88. What type of hinge did you use on the new hatch in the casting deck?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Deck and hatch look real good!

Those rivets and that setting tool really come in handy when you own an aluminum boat eh?

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Thanks. I'm really proud of how it turned out. You're right jigngrub, rivets and a good rivet gun are very valuable for people with tin boats.

The hatch isn't hinged. It's pinned on the forward edge to the aluminum frame. The pins are clips that really just keep the hatch from coming out when I don't want it to. I've attached a picture of them. The left one is closed and the right one is open. The hatch (and the permanent triangular pieces are) two thicknesses of plywood with the bottom piece cut to fit inside the aluminum frame I've attached a picture of that too). I thought about a hinge but this was simpler, I already had the clips from the old deck, and the hatch is pretty light so it's easy enough to pick up. I've attached a picture of the underside of the hatch too so you can see what I mean. I used the double thickness (glued and screwed together) to keep the plywood from warping with age and to make sure it was stiff enough to stand on. It's as solid as the seat so that was a success. The fit-up is pretty tight too so the hatch cover won't rattle around.

Can't wait to get it in the water. 1988 Starcraft

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Well the 1988 Starcraft is now fully operational and nice and dry. I went out for 3 1/2 hours (caught 7 trout too) and there wasn't more than a half cup of water in the stern. It may have come in around the drain plug in the transom but it was so little, I'm not even going to worry about it. Had a great morning fishing and not having to keep looking to see if I need to pump the bilge (I did buy a hand operated pump). Here's a couple pictures from today's trip. The first is underway showing my nice dry bilge and then there's one of the first fish. The new floor has been christened. It smells like a fishing boat again. I think it's time to move this thread to completed projects. Thanks a ton for all the help and encouragement. Good fishing. 1988 Starcraft

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Starcraft on the water and fish on deck, totally awesome, well done!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Boat looks great 88!

I had a 28 SPL just like that one on my second boat, a great motor.

Is that a Brown Troot? Will it fry?

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Congrats on a successful Splash and landing some keepers...Way to go!

Enjoy the fruits of your labor...

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

It was a great day to be back on the water. All the trout I caught were brown trout and yes two of them wound up in a hot pan.

The 28SPL has been a great engine. I use it mostly in fresh water but it has been in the ocean and it runs every time I take her out. I think I've only replaced the water pump once in it's 24 year life and had only three tune-ups. It shifted kind of hard yesterday so I'm going to take the throttle/shift box apart tomorrow in the rain and try and figure out what's binding up. I replaced the throttle cable years ago so it might be time for a new shift cable. Easy to do though.

Thanks again for your expert guidance and help with this project. I learned a lot, gained a few new skills, and now have my old boat back. Can't beat that with a stick.

Dry boats and good fishing. 1988 Starcraft

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

I finally got the shift cable replaced and took it out today. It felt like a brand new boat. I don't even remember it ever shifting as nice as it does now. The engine ran great and still no leaks. I'm off to Maine for a week of smallmouth bass fishing right after Memorial Day and can't wait. Last year's trip to Maine was where my leaking first showed up so I hope this year is uneventful. Thanks again. 1988 Starcraft

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Enjoy the fishing trip

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Just got back from a successful (and totally dry) fishing trip to Maine. The fishing was really good (over 90 smallmouth bass in two days: biggest fish was 18" and 3 lbs. on a 5-wt fly rod!) and the boat was dry as a bone. It was like old times having a great time running all around a big lake looking for hot spots to fish without worrying about the boat filling up with water. The new floor was rock solid and not a bit slippery even when wet and my custom made casting deck was great. Opening it up to remove the trolling motor battery to charge it was really easy. I should have put in the new design years ago. In any case, I consider the whole rebuild/repair process a huge success thanks to all the help from the iBoats crowd. 1988 Starcraft

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Sounds like an excellent trip '88!... and that Smallie is a football!

There's nothing like a dry boat, and you can't really appreciate one until you've had a leaker.

 

[1988Starcraft]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

There's nothing like a dry boat, and you can't really appreciate one until you've had a leaker.[/QUOTE]

Soooooo true, jigngrub.

The scary thing is now when I drive by older used tin boats for sale, I'm starting to think that I should buy it, fix it up and sell it. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

1988 Starcraft

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

The scary thing is now when I drive by older used tin boats for sale, I'm starting to think that I should buy it, fix it up and sell it. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

1988 Starcraft

That's messed up dude!

... because I have that same exact urge too.

Working on tin boats is enjoyable, and sometimes aggravating at the same time... but when you're finished that feeling of accomplishment is priceless!

If I had my way, my driveway and yard would look like the Pacific Fleet!

 

[linxlvr]

Re: Replacing The Floor On My 14 foot Starcraft

Your Starcraft looks well done there, 88. I'm in the midst of doing my 86 16'. The fish shots did give it that little extra too!
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dw