1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

[Selly]

Good morning folks! First off thanks for all the great information... You've been a great help just sitting and reading your experiences.

I picked up a new-to-me boat this past weekend and wanted to get your opinions. According to the title, she's a '66 Starcraft, and I believe a Nassau. Power is a 50hp '73 Johnson which fires and runs strong after a good clean out of the carbs. I've been told she was last in the water in 2007... Decking is all removed, looks like the transom has been replaced, but there's a good bit of pitting on the rails and chrome surfaces. She needs a paint job, obviously, and reassembly, but otherwise she seems to be in great shape for a $500 project.

After reading through the rebuild threads, my plan is as follows:
Empty and clean out
Paint job (hull and trailer)
New deck
Rewire electrical and controls
Refit seating (can I put in two forward chairs and a bench on each side?)
Restore chrome surfaces
Facelift motor
Gas & go!

Does that seem about right? This will be my first "tinny" after having a '75 Caravelle Wahoo for years...

Also, let me know if the pics are formatted correctly. If not, I'll switch them out.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

You have the most important thing - the Jestons stern light!! Great choice!

You can end up here!!



Do you have the windshield?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

Welcome to the Tin Drydock, Selly. She looks like mine. The original seating is two back to back lounge seats. Mine were rotted so I made a full width box with two folding seats. I'm kicking around the idea of having a helm seat and a port lounger giving me seating for three. What do you plan on using her for? And a typical passenger load? The resto threads have a few Nassaus for ideas. Have fun.

EDIT - I looked at your pics again. Do you have a dash tray?

 

[Selly]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau Refit

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau Refit

65 - no windshield... I'm looking to replace it with a new replica or one from a donor. Love the Jetsons light! Don't know that it works, but I'm not worried as I'll rewire it if necessary. It's definitely something that's staying put.

GA - no dash tray that I've seen, but I'm still removing the parts from the gathering there in the hull. Uses will mainly be lakes and rivers, some shallow saltwater work and maybe a run through the inlet. Nothing too intense. I've got a wife and three kids to keep comfy, so pleasure boating will be the norm. The seating is a continuing discussion with the wife. A Bimini top is a certainty long term though.

One question I can't seem to find an answer to though. What's the right battery for this system?

 

[64osby]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

Minimum group 24 marine, but a 27 would be better.

 

[tgp***]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

I fitted a 16'SS windshield to my Nassau from craigslist.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

I found a 60" walk through Ebbtibe W/S on CL for $40.

 

[Selly]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

I was of the opinion that most windshields from something with a similar beam would be appropriate, so anything 60" give or take could be made to fit.

Any suggestions on how to rework the chrome trim? Or is it just easier to replace?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

The W/S I found was made for a boat with a flat mounting area and the Nassau mounting area is curved. So I had to move the ends back a few inches until it matched the bow cover curve. Ended up looking sorta like this \___/ , very exaggerated. The bottom flat is the opening window and the angled parts are the left and right panes.

Look in ezmobee's Jupiter thread - before and after pics in the first couple of posts. A Jupiter and Nassau are similar. http://forums.iboats.com/starcraft-boats/ezmobees-1966-jupiter-338633.html

 

[Selly]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

64 I just saw your battery info... Thanks

 

[Selly]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

GA did you have any cracking issues at the base when you were adjusting the ends?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

Not at all, Selly. My shield is similar to the one EZ used in the links above. It has glass panes and a heavy AL frame. The original plexi was in fair shape and looked like EZ's without the vent. I had it polished out pretty good, but I was getting tired of crawling over it when launching and retrieving. And tired of polishing the plexi too. The opening window really makes a difference.

I have to grab some pics. I think it made the Nassau sleeker looking.

 

[classiccat]

Re: 1966 Starcraft Nassau? Refit

I may have a walk-through windshield that I purchased off of CL and it's a tad too small for my 18'SS...do you have ballpark measurements (particularly your outer gunwale-to-gunwale width?)