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  1. E

    Do I have to drill through my hull to remove the deck in my starcraft?

    I wanted to leave the original floor intact.. I guess that's not a real possibility since the base of the side boards extend over the top of the wooden deck and won't let me pull it up. The sideboards are riveted through the hull though, with some right above the deck. I really don't want to...
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    So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

    I just installed a new trailer jack and decided to raise the bow of my new to me '75 Jupiter. Then, as I raised it up higher and higher I heard... glurppp..... water starts pouring out of the drain plug. Dreading the sound, I now knew the boat had been kept outside and probably uncovered...
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    Can I install an aftermarket thermometer?

    My outboard doesn't have an engine overheat buzzer or circuit. Can I install an aftermarket thermometer and gauge to keep an eye on it? The engine doesn't feel warm when I run it in a tank, but after I shut it off there's usually some steam coming out of the tell tale, is that normal?
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    Help a new boat owner?? What is this thing? lever on transom **pic**

    See the bright white lever with the cable attached to it? I have one of these on the transom of my boat too. What is it? I'd hate to put my boat into the water in the spring and find out its a drain plug or something =[
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    I made it live! But couldn't bring it back to low idle??

    Is that normal, or do I need to adjust them? I replaced the starter solenoid and got it running, then I just had to manually choke it because the electric choke wasn't adjusted correctly. But I had it in high idle, and I could not bring it back down! It revved up to the max rpm and basically...
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    Electricity is not going to the starter, incompetent at diagnosing, help?

    I connected the starter directly to the battery, and they both work. The ignition switch or the solenoid are not sending power to the starter. I am utterly incompetent at figuring out the 10,000 wires running back and forth from the solenoid and the ignition switch. I have no idea which wire...
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    What's it mean to ground something?

    A question so silly I feel bad asking it, I should have figured it out long ago.. but what does it mean to ground something? My outboard won't crank, and I am trying to figure out if it's the ignition switch, the starter solenoid, or the starter. I read this about how to test the ignition switch...
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    Bought a starcraft! How hard are these to repaint?

    I am thinking a rustoleum brush on job like I have seen others here do. Right now, it's been spray painted camo with rattle cans by the previous owner. It looks like he just sprayed a thin layer over the bare aluminum with no primer. Any special tools involved? Do most of you guys paint on the...
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    How to take off an engine cowl?

    I don't see a big latch like I did on my old Johnson. It's a Force by mercury? Is there anything else to look for? I see a tiny little nub, literally smaller than a pinky nail thing but I can't seem to move it.
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    Plethora of stupid, incredibly basic questions

    That I can't find the answers to in any manual. First, how do I remove the engine cowl on a Force? It's an 87 force by mercury. There doesnt look like there's a lever like on the Johnsons and stuff I've seen. 2nd, how do I know if the motor is oil injected? There's a cap that says engine oil...
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    Leaving an outboard overnight in freezing temps

    I have no idea about boat outboards... is there anything I need to unscrew to let all the water drain out? It's a 35 hp 1987 force outboard. I don't want water inside it to freeze and crack the block! Is there anything else I ought to do?
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    Need help from starcraft club! 16' Starcraft restore estimate?

    I am seriously considering this boat. Guy just screwed down a piece of plywood for the floor, threw away the old seats. Motor is a 2006 honda 25 hp four stroke. He actually glued down the carpet over the boat, and didn't make holes for the seats. I'd have to cut holes in the carpet to access...
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    Put a value on this boat for me?

    Looking to buy a reliable, turn key fishing boat for the Puget Sound and lakes. It's literally been something like 4 or 5 months since I started searching, everything under $3500 or so seems to have issues or need repairs. What do you guys think of this? Copied from craigslist 16ft alluminum...
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    Dumb newb question? Are outboards supposed to be tricky to start?

    In a 20 year old car, I just put the key in, turn the key and hold it there, and it starts everytime warm or cold on. On the 20 or so year old outboards I've seen, the guys trying to sell the boat to me brag about it starting on the 2nd crank. The key needs to be bumped just right with just the...
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    Moss in the carpet?

    The floors felt fine though. Does moss in the carpet mean the floors in a 17' sea nymph I was looking at need to be replaced? Or can I just replace the carpet?
  16. E

    Grinding sounds and shaking when going into reverse? Is that normal?

    On a 79 Johnson 55hp. It hadn't warmed up for more than about 10 minutes though. It seemed to smooth out once it was in gear, then it stalled. I watched the owner try to back it up after our test drive and it stalled again. The guy said it was normal for boats to run worse in reverse than in...
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    Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

    And which boat is a better value? For the waters of elliot bay, hood canal, and the puget sound, where there's chop up to 3' on the worst days, but usually less than 1.5. Boat 1 is a 16' mirrocraft with a closed bow and a '79 70 hp johnson that appears to be in excellent condition...
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    What johnson motor is this? Potential 1st time boat buyer help?

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Mirrocraft-16-with-1979-Johnson-70hp-EZ-Loader_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2ea7f42ca1QQitemZ200386292897QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats And what should I look out for about them? I've been looking for a lightweight fishing/crabbing boat, so...
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    Is this a Starcraft Jupiter? *pic*

    Owner seems to know nothing about the boat.
  20. E

    Do you think this 16' boat could handle puget sounds chop?

    I've never seen the chop get over 3' max. It has a closed bow.... but looking closely the sides don't seem very high. Too much risk of swamping? I've been intending to get a 16' or better aluminum boat for fishing and crabbing, and this seems like a good fit. Do you think this boat can...
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