Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

[Jambla]

I finally have the thing stripped down to just aluminum. I discovered two holes in the floor one is still open and the other was filled with a screw and then had some kind of sealant applied. I suppose I can just have all twenty some holes in the hull simply welded or is there a better solution. I have lots of questions
1. There was white styrofoam under the old floor should I do that again? what a mess.
2. Should I seal the plywood floor on both sides before installing? I'm inclined to think not because I'd rather have it be able to breathe and I think carpet glue won't stick well to sealer.
3. I see some of the rivets in the bottom of the boat were sealed with something clear that is now failing. some of these rivets are circled with a red marker as if to indicate possible leaking. Should i strip out the old sealant and apply something else? what would that be?
4. Should I simply make this a row boat and go buy a nice boat to fish out of?

Photos of completely gutted boat
http://s659.photobucket.com/albums/uu316/jambla/Completely Gutted/

Partially Gutted
http://s659.photobucket.com/albums/uu316/jambla/Demolition/

The mess I started with
http://s659.photobucket.com/albums/uu316/jambla/Jet Star 15 Before/

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

Good looking boat there, Jambla. There is a ton of information on these starcraft boat and I'm sure you will get a lot of help here. Take a look around at the Starcraft section. These owners are awesome and the boats just as nice. Good luck.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

1. Do not go back with white styro. It absorbs water. Many of us are replacing it with the pink or blue construction sheet foam from Lowes/HD cut and fit into place. This stuff will not absorb water.

2. You should seal the deck wood. What you seal it with depends on how long you want it to last. You could go anywhere from a couple coats of porch & floor paint, spar varnish, just epoxy resin, to resin and glass. I will be sealing mine on all sides with epoxy resin. Then once the deck is installed I'll add a layer of fiberglass to the top.

3. I would strip off the failed sealer and rebuck the rivets. For your other holes I would fill them with rivets (I don't know much about rivets though YET). Once that's done, powerwash the inside, let it dry and then seal all the rivets and seams with Gluvit.

4. That'd be a heck of a big row boat.

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

1. Is the foam something I should definetly do? What is it's purpose? I can't imagine the little bit of foam i can get under the floor would float the boat in an emergency.

2. Does the layer of fiberglass provide a surface that will receive the carpet adhesive?

3. what does rebuck mean? I assume it means to basically pound on the one side while supporting the other. Is there a tool for this? it seems a palm nailer would work well. What is Gluvit and where is it available?

4. I'm a big dude, a big row boat would be required.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

1. That's up to you. For me it's about peace of mind. I figure if it's the difference between the boat sinking to the bottom or at least providing me with something to hold on to until help arrives I'd rather that. That's just me though.

2. Heck yes!

3. You are correct. Probably is a special tool but my knowledge is limited when it comes to rivets. Gluvit is a 2 part epoxy that is made to be brushed onto all the rivets and seams in your boat. It is fairly thin and will seek out and seal minor leaks. It is pricey (about $50 for a 2 lb container which will be plenty for your boat) but I've used it and it seems to work great.

4. LOL

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

Thanks for the advice. I can wait to really dig into this thing. I just hope I'm done by spring. If the Great Lakes Brewing Company doesn't run out of beer and materials are available I think I'll get it done. By the way that 16' Jupiter restoration is awesome.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

Thanks. Would you believe I sold that for $2100? Pretty good I think.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

Jambla..

Just wanted to pop in and say thats a great lookin boat...
On the foam under the deck..It is entirely up to you if you want to put it back in...There is no mandatory law on this for rebuilding old boats.

I am not a rivet expert either, my 18 footer had zero leak issues from the day I drug her carcass home. Though I imagine a small anvil outside and a good size ball peen hammer inside..If I am wrong, my tin can buddies here will let me know! lol

Best of luck and we all will be here for you..So ask any question you may have.


And to TallCanadian..Although you werent talking to me per se....
Thanks for the compliments to us Starcraft guys!!

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

I was going to work on stripping the latex house paint and carpet glue off the inside using Stryp Eze starting this weekend but now I'm wondering about maybe sandblasting the entire hull inside and out. any thoughts on this?

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

Sandblasting not recommended, can be tricky on thinner aluminum. Soda blasting seems to be the choice of most of us and some have found a really cheap source. There are pics of the soda system results on this forum.

Albert

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

I just talked to a local sandblaster/painter. They blast and paint all the boats locally for the Muskingum Watershed Conservency District and they are familiar with the materials and methods required. He quoted me between $150.00 and $200.00 to blast the entire hull inside and out. I don't think I can argue with that. I'll be dropping it off on Sunday. First I will remove all the rubber bumper strips from the factory original trim. Is there a source to purchase that stuff new?

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

"First I will remove all the rubber bumper strips from the factory original trim. Is there a source to purchase that stuff new?"

I have not been able to find a source for a perfect (even close!) match to the original and will not remove mine till I do.

Can you carefully tape the vinyl/aluminum strips to protect them from damage?

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

I think I can remove the rubber strips and then reinstall when the sandblasting is complete. I would prefer to install new but if they can't be found i'll just use the old ones. i think the only thing I'll have to tape off is the nylon ports at the stern that would be drains, live well intake, etc. and the plywood at the motor mount but that is likely getting replaced.

 

[Jambla]

Re: Starcraft Jet Star 15 / whats next?

I've been considering the materials I'm going to use to frame my storage areas and console. The aluminum that I'm finding doesn't seem too expensive for the little bit I'll need. Should I be looking for angle or tube stock? what wall thickness would be best? I'm probably getting too far ahead of myself. I should be concentrating on the tasks at hand. My hands are working on the stripped down hull but my mind is sitting in the finished product hooked into a 48" Northern Pike at a remote lake somewhere in northern Ontario.