Starcraft restoration ?

[Jim Haswell]

Hi all, I am new to this forum But I guess I'll start out with a bang. This was my late grandfathers boat I acquired from my unckle a few years back. I has not beem used but a doz. times in the past 15 yrs. not a all in 7 or 8 yrs. first off I cannot Id the boat other than Starcraft (14'-14'6'' to tip to stern), I think grandpa said he bought new in 51 or 53. I thought maybe early 60's but cannot tell for sure. I think he striped it down and painted it way back and the Id plate was missplaced. The 4 nails are all that remain. I would like to restore it as best as possible. I have started by pulling the rotten floor, rebuild the control, found a new used steering wheel, new bow light, and some work on the moter. The moter is not orignal my unckle said it quit and replaced with this 63-64 Merc 350. It does run (a little rough now but I think with some work it'll be ok. I want to paint this boat but dont really know where to begin.
Do I need to strip the boat to bare metal?
If so, what is the best or easiest way?
What is the prefered paint?
Also can any one ID this boat? It looks close to a jet or maybe a holiday.?
I had a few more Pics. but I guess there to big.
Thanks for any help or info you can provide.
Jim

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Welcome aboard!
Great boat..I'd say a Jupiter..
Theres tons of info here for ya..I personally painted my boat with rustoleum..
You can click on the link under my signature!
I look fwd to seeing your progress

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Hi Jim welcome to iboats and the ever increasing Starcraft club. I will see what I can do but without a year its kinda tricky IDing one for sure. The paint most of us are using is plain old rustoleum . There are plenty of current resto threads going on here on Starcrafts . Be sure to check out Northbeaches thread in the completed section below this one to see one done up all the way . You can of course check out Kev's at the link in his post and mine in the link in mine .


Kev do you have Starcraft programed into that phone now thats the second one you hve beat me to .



Rick

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Kev to short for a Jupiter I would lean more towards a Jet or Jetstar but I will do a little research .


Rick

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

I dont think its a jupiter, my unterstanding is that they were all 16' ers... 18 and up is the holiday...


i know there are alot of 15' and under that were all americans, but those were glass? could they have made an all american aluminum?

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Hey, She's a STARCRAFT
Welcome & best of luck

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Looks like a fun project. Is the transom OK?

As for paint, the sky's the limit on quality and cost, if that's what you're looking for. The best value out there (I believe) is an alkyd enamel like Rustoleum. I used a similar paint on my boat and am happy with it. Just don't use an "anti-fouling" paint as they contain copper that would react with the aluminum hull.

I didn't strip the paint off my hull, but I did go over it a few times with a scraper getting any loose paint off. Paint went on next.

Regarding the model, there are a few Starcraft clubs on Yahoo if you want to check there, or check the Starcraft forum here at iBoats.

 

[Jim Haswell]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Thanks for the info. Here is another pic. that may help ID.
The transome seems ok, but I am torn on weather or not I should replace it. Doesn't seem like it would be all that hard. I guess the only real question I have there Is how do I replace the two drain holes. They are somehow like a big rivet, a one piece brass tube rolled on both ends.
Here is another ? I am going to replace the dash. It's plywood with woodgrain vinyl over it. What is the best wood to use? I was going to use a piece of oak and finish with Helmsman spar urethane. I do want to keep the retro look of the boat though. Not sure if Oak is the answere.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

For my dash, I used scrap 3/4" pressure treated ply from the transom. I painted it white.

If I had to do over again, I'd glue a piece of Luan onto the ply, then stain and varnish. Oak should look good, too.

Sounds like the brass drains would have to be drilled out or ground off. If it seems solid, then maybe save the task of replacing it for another day. Take the butt end of a screwdriver and tap around back there, listening for hollow sounds, which would mean it's rotted.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Just browsed around the Yahoo Starcraft group, and found this picture. Your boat has the same windshield as the Holiday, and they list it as a 14'. I know your boat is older than the '74 models pictured here, but it looks close.

I got it from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/starc...ode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc

 

[Jim Haswell]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Ya, that looks pretty close. Gramdpa thought he got it in the 50's though.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Jim that is one gem of an old Starcraft It might be one of the oldest around, don't see many from the 50s! By the way where in MI are you? I'm a little north of Lansing...too far away from the big lakes in my opinion.

Good luck with that boat, I am planning on doing the same(15-18ft Starcraft resto) once I'm done with my current project.

 

[Jim Haswell]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Just spoke with my dad he was 10 when Grandpa bought this baot new that puts it at 1963. It is the orignal color too the sloppy(a lot of overspray) paint job led me to belive it was repainted. I might change that though. I guess the floor was just painted white plywood. That means I took the original floor out also.

I am in Midland Btw.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Jim I would say by the year you have one of 3 boats . A Jet or Jetstar ( the only differnce was the seating ) or a Baby Holiday. Either way its pretty kewl that it has been in your familly since new.


Rick

 

[gunner1]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Thanks for the info. Here is another pic. that may help ID.
The transome seems ok, but I am torn on weather or not I should replace it. Doesn't seem like it would be all that hard. I guess the only real question I have there Is how do I replace the two drain holes. They are somehow like a big rivet, a one piece brass tube rolled on both ends.
Here is another ? I am going to replace the dash. It's plywood with woodgrain vinyl over it. What is the best wood to use? I was going to use a piece of oak and finish with Helmsman spar urethane. I do want to keep the retro look of the boat though. Not sure if Oak is the answere.

I just removed my transom last week for replacement and what I did for the drain holes was to take a screwdriver and a hammer and fold in the lip of the drain on the insider and outside then I pulled them out with a pair of pliers. For replacements, look here: http://www.iboats.com/Injection_Mol...2748859--**********.655693248--view_id.341807

 

[Jim Haswell]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Thanks again guys! Does anyone have the Starcraft ads for the 1963 model year? I would love to get a look at them if you dont mind scaning them.
Btw I now have the motor, windsheld, and mirror off. The gasket under the windshield is in near perfict condition, just needs some cleaning. As it turns out it is a mere coincidence that the motor is the same year as the boat. It is not the orignal though.
Jim
P.S. The orignal seats were front and rear facing bench stiyle with Approximately 8-10'' space inbetween left and right sides. The brackets are still there.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Jim there are quite a few brochures here under the links section but I dont think theres a 63 brochure. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/starcraft_boats/



I would say if your paint is original I would give it a real good cleaning then sand it with some 320 . Then hit any bare aluminum with some Zinc Chromate available at most auto parts stores in spray cans . I got mine from Napa. Then paint it with your paint of choice . Quite a few of us are using good old rustoleum to paint our Starcrafts with .


Rick

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Jim Northbeach provided a copy of the 64 Jet and Jetstar brochure in this thread. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=309879&page=2



Rick

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

Jim there is a 62 brochure at the site I pointed you to earlier on yahoo . The only 62 that matches your length is the Jet .


Rick

 

[Jim Haswell]

Re: Starcraft restoration ?

I might be an idot but I can't find the 62 brochure. That site seems tough to navigate. Thanks again for everything! I'll keep you all posted.
Jim
P.S. I got thinking It could be a 62 model, if gramdpa bought a last year model to save a few bucs. Eather way were in the write ball park now. She's not the oldest boat out there but not far off.
Thanks again guys ya'all are great.