The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

[zm008]

?/First Off WOW! this is quite a task. After reading the forums for a bit "especially azlos restore thread" I decided to begin work on my 1966 Starcraft Holiday (closed bow) in my first three days I have removed the floors, yes floors someone decided not to remove the old one and they would simply build on top of the old one. What a mess that was. I found out that the transom had some rot so I removed the motor/outdrive and transom wood. The dash is gone and most of the crap mounted on top of the boat. (will upload pics later.) ripped out just about all the crap someone considered electrical wiring. Another nightmare. Removed the windshield and washed her up tonight. Please correct me if im mistaken on something or doing it wrong but below is my To-do-list....Starting tomorrow I will gluvit all my seams. Replace transom with two pieces of marine plywood(sealed). After that fun ends I will cut out my foam for the floor and replace with plywood sealed with poly resin. At this point I will be broke so I will be droping the motor and outdrive back in(for now.) re-wire the electrical (dash,lights,horn,blower motor, etc.) I need some advice... I would like to run wood down the gunnels? (side of the boat) but Teak is priced out the WAZOO so I am thinking Mahogany??? that might upset some people. But if I do this I will need to decided if I am going to soon so I can get my dash put back together ASAP. Thats about all I have for know guys PLEASE tear into this post! will post pics Soon.
Thanks in advance

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Below are images of the boat...Dash, Outdrive, etc

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Dash

Dash close up..YEP!!! an oven knob used for the trollin motor(as seen below)

Its like a turbine

 

[ezmobee]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Welcome to dry dock! Nice project. I'll be watching this one.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Nice rig and welcome to the Starcraft brohood! Man that oven knob is classic

plywood sealed with poly resin

Heads up, if you are using poly you'll want to also be fiberglassin. If no glass is used your deck will crack apart in no time. If you want to skip the glass work, epoxy will do the trick.

Have fun

 

[grzzzz]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I just finished my 66. I replaced all the wood in my boat with Madagascar mohogony. Dash, trim, transon piece over motor, 9' trolling board across the back. Looks good. On floor I just used ACX plywood with several coats of outdoor deck paint, then covered it with Tot-turff. That rubberized matting they use on play grounds. Made a great floor. Here in NM damp and water is not a problem. We only get about 6-8" of rain a year. (although it all does seem to fall on days fishing...lol) Our enemy is sun. Wood not covered will soon be gone. Can't send you my email or phone number... wish I could. Can't figure out pics either??? Good luck

Grzzzz

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Welcome to the Madness, zm. Looks like she should make a nice project and nice Holiday when you finish. I think you are supposed to set that knob to the number of fish you want to catch. Don't forget to set it to Max. LOL Have fun!!

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

There is no greater endeavor in life that restoring a 60's SC Holiday 18'!

Right CBK?:facepalm:

NIce Jetsons Stern Light!!

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Welcome to dry dock! Nice project. I'll be watching this one.

Im excited. She'll be a slow one but I hope to have her atleast 90% by early spring with only painting the exterior remaining.

Nice rig and welcome to the Starcraft brohood! Man that oven knob is classic
Thanks jaoutside! the knob is hilarious it controlled the trolling motor mounted on the back.


Heads up, if you are using poly you'll want to also be fiberglassin. If no glass is used your deck will crack apart in no time. If you want to skip the glass work, epoxy will do the trick.

Have fun

I was slightly misadvised by some friends.. Thanks! I ordered my epoxy resin today should be here by friday afternoon.

Welcome to the Madness, zm. Looks like she should make a nice project and nice Holiday when you finish. I think you are supposed to set that knob to the number of fish you want to catch. Don't forget to set it to Max. LOL Have fun!!

Thanks GA. Im excited to start on her and Ill be even more so when shes all done XD

I just finished my 66. I replaced all the wood in my boat with Madagascar mohogony. Dash, trim, transon piece over motor, 9' trolling board across the back. Looks good. On floor I just used ACX plywood with several coats of outdoor deck paint, then covered it with Tot-turff. That rubberized matting they use on play grounds. Made a great floor. Here in NM damp and water is not a problem. We only get about 6-8" of rain a year. (although it all does seem to fall on days fishing...lol) Our enemy is sun. Wood not covered will soon be gone. Can't send you my email or phone number... wish I could. Can't figure out pics either??? Good luck

Grzzzz

Hey Grzzzz, all you need to do is start a photobucket acccount(free) and then copy the picture tag and pastes to the forum. not hard at all

There is no greater endeavor in life that restoring a 60's SC Holiday 18'!

Right CBK?:facepalm:

NIce Jetsons Stern Light!!

I hope your right, it has been fun already

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Can anyone beat this? found anything better on there resto project?? IM thinkin you might be a redneck if you cut a state park sign in half to use as a floor support on top of the rotten one..

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Can anyone beat this? found anything better on there resto project?? IM thinkin you might be a redneck if you cut a state park sign in half to use as a floor support on top of the rotten one..

Thats probably a federal offense, might want to hide your address! Haha

 

[Grandad]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I need some advice... I would like to run wood down the gunnels? (side of the boat) but Teak is priced out the WAZOO so I am thinking Mahogany??? that might upset some people. But if I do this I will need to decided if I am going to soon so I can get my dash put back together ASAP. Thats about all I have for know guys PLEASE tear into this post! will post pics Soon.
Thanks in advance

Hi zm008,
I can work a piece of wood into something decent, but on your boat, I wouldn't. Wood looks great when done in a craftsman like way, but only for awhile. Then you get to watch nature destroy your efforts as the wood finish is marred and everything fades into driftwood. I suggest you investigate Formica or Arborite plastic laminate as used for countertops. It's not cheap either, but it's prefinished and lasts a long time exposed to the elements. If you look at all the places on your boat where you might use it, you can probably justify purchasing a sheet. It's not hard to work with. Trying to use "natural" wood is fine on a wooden boat, but yours is not "natural". Aluminum is not natural, it doesn't float. - Grandad

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Hi zm008,
I can work a piece of wood into something decent, but on your boat, I wouldn't. Wood looks great when done in a craftsman like way, but only for awhile. Then you get to watch nature destroy your efforts as the wood finish is marred and everything fades into driftwood. I suggest you investigate Formica or Arborite plastic laminate as used for countertops. It's not cheap either, but it's prefinished and lasts a long time exposed to the elements. If you look at all the places on your boat where you might use it, you can probably justify purchasing a sheet. It's not hard to work with. Trying to use "natural" wood is fine on a wooden boat, but yours is not "natural". Aluminum is not natural, it doesn't float. - Grandad

Sorry man, but I totally disagree with this. Wood makes boats look beautiful! Mahogany and teak are both exceptable woods to be used for exterior use along with cedar,redwood, etc.

Unlike teak, other woods do not have the oils in them to make them last by just oiling them. If installing mahogany, you will want to make sure you use a good exterior varnish with spf protection. The more coats you apply, the better the protection. Probably the most important part is to seal all sides of the wood. If you coat/finish just what is seen, water will soak up from the back side and ruin the finished areas. Some are using epoxy first and then apply varnish over that.

Yes, the elements beat up anything on a boat over time, but using wood properly prepped and sealed will last you many years.

Using formica on any boat is NOT a good idea. Solid surface/ corian etc maybe, but not formica laminates of any kind. Especially on exterior surfaces.

 

[Grandad]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Sorry man, but I totally disagree with this. Wood makes boats look beautiful! Mahogany and teak are both exceptable woods to be used for exterior use along with cedar,redwood, etc.
Using formica on any boat is NOT a good idea. Solid surface/ corian etc maybe, but not formica laminates of any kind. Especially on exterior surfaces.

I think your Chris Craft restore is an excellent example of a worthwhile effort using natural wood. It is certainly beautiful and your workmanship looks great. The difference is that you are restoring to original. I would never replace the wood on your boat with laminate. But, the Starcraft never had real wood and it's a quarter century older than your boat. If you continue for the next quarter century to maintain the wood as it is, you have a never ending project, but that may be what you enjoy spending your time doing. I'm not sure why one shouldn't use laminate outdoors. I think it will last as long as your fiberglass, but then I'm a tinny! - Grandad

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I think your Chris Craft restore is an excellent example of a worthwhile effort using natural wood. It is certainly beautiful and your workmanship looks great. The difference is that you are restoring to original. I would never replace the wood on your boat with laminate. But, the Starcraft never had real wood and it's a quarter century older than your boat. If you continue for the next quarter century to maintain the wood as it is, you have a never ending project, but that may be what you enjoy spending your time doing. I'm not sure why one shouldn't use laminate outdoors. I think it will last as long as your fiberglass, but then I'm a tinny! - Grandad

I appreciate both of your replies, I decided today that the wood would not only be expensive it would be way to heavy! I bought some teak for my dash today and itis just way to heavy. I found teak veneer for a good price and may try it to see if it looks good. The manufacturer told me it is used in marine application and as long as I seal it with marine spar varnish it will last a very long time(assuming it is kept covered and not left outside its entire life. We'll see how it looks tomorrow.

ALSO does anyone know if the dash in the picture is the original style? I am hoping to replace it Saturday and would like to keep as much original as I can.
Thanks again for any advice

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I appreciate both of your replies, I decided today that the wood would not only be expensive it would be way to heavy! I bought some teak for my dash today and itis just way to heavy. I found teak veneer for a good price and may try it to see if it looks good. The manufacturer told me it is used in marine application and as long as I seal it with marine spar varnish it will last a very long time(assuming it is kept covered and not left outside its entire life. We'll see how it looks tomorrow.

ALSO does anyone know if the dash in the picture is the original style? I am hoping to replace it Saturday and would like to keep as much original as I can.
Thanks again for any advice

You say teak veneer? Yes it is used in marine applications but it is installed usually by contact adhesives just like most laminates. You will be working with very thin material that if you do not know how to manufacturer it properly it is easy to screw up. Also veneers are usually used for interior use, not exterior. Exteriors of boats get moisture constantly. Not just from rain, wave splashing etc. But also from condensation. laminates are exactly that, laminates. The wood under the laminates is the problem. If this substrate gets wet at all through the seams of laminate it will cause the laminates over time to delaminate. Also sharp edges are a concern with most laminates. Now, if you are talking about solid surface plastics, like corian, starboard etc. They can be formed to anything you desire. What thickness teak did you buy for your dash and why do you think it is to heavy? Take a look at my rebuild thread, I am in the process of spar finishing all the teak on the boat. Once done it should be good to go for many years. Each season or two, I will lightly sand the finished teak and add a new coat of spar varnish.

There are ways of building dashes to keep the weight down using wood. Wood will not be any heavier than a laminate with a wood structure under it. The main concern when mounting teak or any other wood to aluminum is the difference in expansion and contraction. You need to locate the fasteners where they will not split the wood.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I vote wood. Nothing looks as nice as mahogany, well maybe teak.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/varnish-over-epoxy

Check out the seats we refurbished in the Sea Scamp. Once you get the hang of it it's not hard. If you go with a composite I understand, wood rocks though. West System tells you how to do it in the link above.

Good luck.

Bwana Don

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

Thanks for the advice guys. Nice work CC. Your teak looks great along with the rest of the boat. The project is going slow and will be for the next few weeks due to final exams and no cash. I returned the veneer and have currently decided to go with plywood painted,trimmed and stripped about every 16inches with teak. Ill upload pics and detailed info later

 

[zm008]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I am going to have to replace the aluminum on my bow due to way to many holes by the previous owners. I am thinking of either using the same thickness (0.63) or going with a (0.25) and just placing it over the existing piece. I think since the (0.25) is so thin it will bend easily and I will probable use some type of epoxy to adhere it to the existing piece of aluminum. Pros-Cons anyone? This is the first thing i will have to do before I move forward with my project.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: The restoration of my first boat begins...1966 Starcraft Holiday

I think overlaying metals will cause condensation problems between metals down the road for you. It would be better to replace the piece that is existing than overlaying imo.