1968 Starcraft Restore/Modification

[Starcraft Tony]

Well this week I finally started on the remodel / modification of my 1968 Starcraft This is my first boat and also my first shot at fixing one up. I have a certificate in automotive body work so I?m fairly handy, and with all the info on this site I gotta believe almost anybody can rebuild a boat. I bought this boat a little over a year ago from a guy who was using it for duck hunting. I could tell the hull needed a little TLC but the 50hp Johnson started right up on the first crank and for $700 for the complete package (trailer and boat) I couldn?t pass it up. I purchased the boat so that I could fish from the water and not the shore. I used it ?as is? the first year and it worked out great, but now after reading through everybody else?s projects I?m ready to fix her up right. The plans include new floors, flotation foam, casting deck, steering console, steering system (get rid of pulley system currently in there), carpet, wiring, complete restore of the trailer (pretty rough shape), and last but not least paint. I?m on a pretty tight budget as I would like to keep it under a $1,000 but we?ll see how far that gets me.

 

[Starcraft Tony]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Restore/Modification

I replaced the transom last year as it was completely rotted (sorry no pictures of that). Earlier this week I pulled up the deck as it was complete garbage. There was only one piece of flotation foam under that was falling apart so I pitched that too. I knew that this boat leaked a little because of all the silicone on the exterior rivets. I am going to replace these STEEL pop rivets with closed aluminum rivets. But how should I fix this tear? I called some welding shops in the area and they want like a $150 for this 8? tear, that seems a little steep. I have read some inexpensive fixes on here and would like some opinions. 1) Should I JB weld it 2) Could I fix this tear with a piece of fiberglass on both the interior and exterior? 3) Patch with aluminum plate on the inside, and JB weld it and touch it up with marine bondo on the outside?

Thanks in advance.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 1968 Starcraft Restore/Modification

Tony, I checked out some of your other photos on photobucket (thats where the thumbnails take you) and that hull and some of your stringers needs some serious work. Someone with a little more aluminum experience needs to weigh in here. Also you're right about the rivets. someone has done a few improper repairs to the bottom of this boat. Not tryin to sound like gloom and doom, I'm just thinking your budget might not be realistic to get this one where it should be before taking it out on any serious water.