1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

[jmilla]

Hey everyone i picked up my 18 foot starcraft holiday and I am more excited than ever to start it! It needs a lot of work including
1) ripping out flooring and putting new wood in
2) patching hole were Inboard/Outboard was (im planning on finding an outboard to put on it. im currently looking at a few but havent baught one yet.)
3) getting all the old steering and throttle cables out as well as all old wiring for lights etc.
4) i need to mount some kind of front peice of wood where the windsheild use to be, to keep stability on the boat.
5) insert seating and console for steering
AND IM SURE A LOT MORE WORK! haha

My goal for this boat is to restore it how i like it to a custom fishing boat. i was thinking about making it a center or side console i have not decided yet however. i have just been drawing some plans and figuring out some stuff. i still have my throttle and steering (with steering wheel) both cables seem to be good, but im not sure if i can use the mercruiser throttle cable on an outboard motor. so i have just been gathering information. i got the boat and trailer for 300 dollars thought it was a fair deal. boat still needs a lot of work but im willing to spend the time and get it fixed up and i am looking forward to having a nice custom built fishing boat that fits my needs

These are some pictures of my new project. sorry i used my phone so pictures arent so great. will post more pictures though. i am new to this forum so if i messed up the posting of pictures or did something wrong i apologize haha. feel free to comment or give any advice i would appreciate it a lot! thanks!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

jmilla, welcome to the iboats dry dock and the Starcraft band!

That Holiday will make for a great fishing platform. IO to OB you say? Cool, this will be a fun project to watch.

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Thank you! and yes i cant wait to find the right motor and start fixing her up! i will post more pictures as i go!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Pretty much any motor from 70-140 HP would be great for that hull.

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Yes that was exactly what i was thinking. i dont have enough money to buy a new motor so i was leaning toward a reliable older 75 to 90 hp evinrude or something. The only thing i was not sure about is if i will have to reinforce the transom to mount a a motor like that on it? the transom is 2 inches thick.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

First off welcome to the fleet, you will have to take a look at how the out/board versions are built. An out board model uses a knee brace to tie the transom into the keel, as well as a splash well to tie the transom into the gunwals. To just patch the I/O hole and then cut it down to hang an O/B on would be a recipe for disaster IMHO.
Glen

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Outboard transoms are typically two sheets of 3/4" plywood laminated together.

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

ok thanks for the info. ya i wasnt sure how exactly to go about adding on the outboard. I was going to just cut the transom down some and get a longshaft motor so i wont have to cut too much, but i dont want disaster. I am glad you said something. What you are saying is to build a platform on the back and mount the platform to the transom that i have now? i have seen those designs they look pretty sweet and then just run a hole in the top of the old transom to run cables and wires? once again thanks a lot for the input! i have some knowledge on boats, but not that much as you can probably tell haha

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

First off welcome to the fleet, you will have to take a look at how the out/board versions are built. An out board model uses a knee brace to tie the transom into the keel, as well as a splash well to tie the transom into the gunwals. To just patch the I/O hole and then cut it down to hang an O/B on would be a recipe for disaster IMHO.
Glen

Ohhhh ya, what glen says up there ^^^^^. I was guessing you were a little further along in the structure thinking process.

You have a bunch of homework to do before you go any further. Keep in mind you are taking a boat that was designed for an IO and re engineering it for a OB. Certainly doable but you gotta have the structure in place to work with that new driveline.

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

It is funny because i actually did a lot of research and what not but didnt specifically research mounting a bracket on it... the guy i bought it from said he was going to just cut down transom and lay it on so i figured that was what i would do as you guys brought it up i now realize what a terrible idea that would have been. i am going to fab up a sweet bracket in the next few weeks ive just been drawing several different plans to build the bracket trying to come up with one that is very strong. also for the motor i need to get i have been thinking that i need a long shaft motor because i would use this boat for the ocean, but would it work if i had a shorter shaft motor? anyways thanks a lot for the info guys!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

I'm thinking you'll want some knee braces n' stuff with a bracket too.

Shaft length is going to be dictated by the height/relationship of your bracket, water surface, and cavitation plate on the outboard.

Lots of stuff to chew on

 

[Colorado_Boater]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

also keep in mind the angles of the transom, different for each application.
Most inboards have sterns which are plumb or rake (lean ) at 4 degrees, but an outboard needs a stern at 12 degrees,
hope this helps.

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

hey thanks everyone for the input. i am thinking of building it out of stainless steel. or maybe just steel. what do you guys think? i do not have an outboard yet to fit the boat but i was going to make a bracket with knee braces and everything that i can adjust to my outboard once i get it. in terms of length from the water and what not therefore i can keep my project going while i look for a motor for it

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Too heavy in the case of steel. Too expensive and too heavy in the case of stainless.

I've seen some brackets on eBay for reasonable $$.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Check this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=516113

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

thanks for that link! i read through the whole thing and thats exactly what i was looking for. i think thats what i am going to do, but do u think its ok if i do it before i buy my outboard? because i am still looking for one.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Sure. Not like they're all different sizes

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

haha ya. originally i was looking for a 75 or 90 hp but i found a 50 hp mercury that i like and i dont need it to go super fast just cruise around to fishing spots. how fast do you think that 50 would push the boat??

 

[jmilla]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

hey guys sorry havent posted in a while, i have been a little busy with a few other things but now im ready to work. yesterday i ripped out the rotten wood as well as the side panels and all the old wiring. i am now going to pressure wash inside and get it all clean before i seal it with gluvit. i just had a question on the flooring. i was planning on doing 1/2 or 3/4 marine plywood but was just wondering if there was a better option for the flooring before i buy the plywood.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1971 Starcraft Holiday Big Project Boat

Thicker is always nicer under foot (at the sacrifice of $ and weight). But, often times you don't have to go thicker depending on your stringer set up.

If you are going to keep to the original stringers I'd prolly opt for the 3/4".