1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

I got some work done this weekend. I was able to take the bow cap off and find the part number stamped on it....just hard to find the part. Underneath it all looked good. I don't know what they hit with it, but as you can see in the pics, whatever they hit, took a chunk out of it.
After looking at the the wood cabinets more, I've decided to redo the pattern, with some of my own little touches, but not the wood. By the looks of it, they used some pressure treated deck boards. I need to take a couple more pics that I just remembered. I want to show what pt wood will do to aluminum if in direct contact. The copper they use in it will have a corrosive effect on it unless there is a barrier in place. I will try to get those pics up when I am actually home in the daylight...I also discovered some rot in the support board they used to make the cabinets. It's not a surprise nor an added cost. I had planned on that to begin with. The transom definitely needs to be replaced as the shop vac was sucking parts of it away when I was cleaning it up....
I pulled all the wires which were highly corroded and brittle. Possibly original wiring. I still have to pull the steering cable as soon as I pull the motor off.
I posted some pics of the old fuse blocks that were on the boat and the ground block found in the CC. They too were highly corroded and I don't care for that style on a boat anyway. It was amazing how many things were still grounded directly to the battery even with the ground block. I counted 10 ground wires.....there aren't 10 items on the boat to be grounded.
On another positive note, when I was washing the boat up, figured I would do a preliminary leak check. Filled the hull up and noticed only 6 leaky rivets. Will see how many more pop up when I get the paint off. Speaking of paint, any thoughts, good or bad, on using baking soda in the blaster to clean aluminum?
I hope you like the pics. I will try to get the corrosion ones up soon. I won't be able to work on her again until after the new year due to holiday travels. I wish everybody a happy and safe holiday season!

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Looks like you've got a good plan going there Irish... have a great holiday season - looking forward to seeing more updates in the New Year. Have a good 'un!

TII

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Just adding a note to let everybody know I haven't abandoned the project. We've been having freezing temps here in Louisiana. It is starting to warm up now, hopefully it will last where I can work on the boat. I'm working on it on the weekends only as I am currently working 11-12 hours m-f. I cleaned up a little at a time undid all the wiring and the steering cable. This weekend I'll be taking off the console, motor, and hopefully the floor. I need to replace the coupler on the trailer as well, it's welded on so will cut that off too this weekend. I went ahead and picked up some soda media for the blaster (saw it on a youtube video where they peeled the paint right off an aluminum flat boat). I did a test on the aluminum seat post that was in the boat and essentially scrap. It took the paint of without any problem nor any digging into the aluminum itself. It's about $35/50lb bag at HF. Not sure how much it will take, but will see this weekend. I will test it again on the splash guard first (if I damage something, rather it not be the hull). I will get some pics of the progress, step by step this weekend. I hope everybody had a good safe holiday season and time for a fun new year.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

I am very interested to see how that soda blaster turns out. Good luck!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Irish, glad to hear you are plotting and scheming on the rig. This is a nice project and it sounds like you have a lead on two great outboards too. Keep in mind that adding a small bracket like the CMC PT-130 you can use a big V4 outboard that lacks trim/tilt.

My 80hp Merc has no tnt and the bracket works great. Just an idea, since I'm spending your money and not mine. They do run about 500 brand new.

This is an important time to decide where you want everything and what kind of everything. Make sure you sit in the rig with a beer/coffee and spend some time pretending. Motor sounds optional

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

This is an important time to decide where you want everything and what kind of everything. Make sure you sit in the rig with a beer/coffee and spend some time pretending. Motor sounds optional

Hey Irish, good to see you back, sorry to hear it's been so cold. HA's spot on... a little time spent planning now will be rewarded ten-fold in the future.

TII

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

It's been an interesting few weeks. I was working 60+ hours a day, the weather has been cold, and a nice bout with the flu had me going a bit slow. These past couple of days I got some more done. I cut off the old coupler because I had to use a pry bar to open. It was welded on so I had to use the old angle grinder to remove it....actually burned mine up, so had to run to get another one (good reason to get a new shiny one.....lol). After cutting it off, I found that one of the PO had apparently jack knifed the trailer as some time...so I cut that portion out as well. I am looking for a tandem axel trailer and not using this one. In the interim, I may extend the tongue a bit by adding a swing away. So much for the trailer....now to the boat...the PO had the transom covered with 5200 and instead of replacing the transom they laminated and bolted on pieces of diamond plated aluminum on both sides. I used some stripper on the the splashwell and it worked very well. I was able to get the splashwell off, clean the back of the transom (5200 is great stuff, but a pain to get off), and remove the wood....as you can see, it was it pretty bad shape. Most of it crumbled coming out....so need to make a new template. As I was drilling out the rivets and removing the screws, my father counted the holes the PO drilled into the transom. He counted 71 holes and that didn't include the 4 holes for the transom tie-down u-bolts. I had planned on laminating another piece of aluminum on the transom, and I find it is good I had budgeted for that as well. There is quite a bit of corrosion on the transom. I included a pic of that as well. If this weather keeps up, tomorrow I plan on cleaning the inside of the transom, filling in all the holes with JB Weld and some aluminum tape to hold in place, and making the template. I will then look for a place to get the aluminum for the back and start working on the wood for the transom. I found a place down here to get all sorts of plywood and marine grade wood. Can even get it up to 26' long (too bad it is only 4 foot wide). I will work on keeping this better updated. Hope you enjoy the pics and I'm sure i will have more pics soon. The aluminum on the hull looks great so far with no corrosion seen so far.

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

More Pics...guess I should have broken up the post....

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Still some more....

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

And the last....for now...ha ha. Thank you all for the support.

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

As you can see, the transom was completely shot and I wasn't able to use it as a template. I went to Home Depot and picked up a 4X8 sheet of 1/8" hardboard for a whopping $6.98 and cut a template out of that. My plan is to cut the plywood close to size first and use the template with a guided router bit to cut to size. I will then use that piece to cut the second sheet the same way. Using the router before laminating them should leave them as close to exact without cutting both pieces the same time. We have rain right now and I don't have much of a workshop, so will let you know how it works in a couple of days.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Good progress IM! Yah, I think your transom is the perfect candidate for a new piece of alum skin on the outside there. Keep it up man

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Nice work Irish, looks like a bit of corrosion there but it should clean up nicely with a wire wheel or sanding.

Good idea with the router, I thought about going that "route" myself (sorry couldn't resist)

Keep it up and the big rig will be back on the water soon enough

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

I live in the New Orleans area so due to MG and the cold rainy weather, haven't got alot done....but hey, the dogs had a good time!

 

[chrisp929]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Hey irish,

I may be able to help with that bow cap. Check your pm.

Ty

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

I know I have been MIA. I have been really busy with work. I have had hardly any time at home let alone time to work on the boat. On a good note, all work and no play is allowing me time to save up to work on it when this film is over.
Chris, thank you for that, but I already have the bow cap....now I just need to get some transom corner caps, so if you know of where I can get those, please let me know.

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Ebay has them. Some dude is rolling his own so to speak. Must have made a sand template and poured his own

Go to ebay and search for starcraft caps or something like that and you are golden.

Nice to see you keep your eyes on the prize. Working too many hours can get to you but you also know what it can get you.

I'm still trying to figure out the whole balance thing but I am getting there...

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Transom caps...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=463895&highlight=parts

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Hey Irish, any forward progress on the boat is a good thing. Boy that transom was in rough shape, she must have seen a lot of salt water.
Glen

 

[irishmedic6]

Re: 1977 Starcraft 21ft CC

Haven't had much time to work on it between work and Relay for Life. But this weekend I have scheduled "working on the boat" on the calendar...hope it works out. In the mean time, look what my father found for me in Michigan for a few hundred....It had a 22' Islander on it so it should hold my 21'er nicely with minor adjustment. Needs a little work, but then again, what doesn't that you get used?


***Sad note though....for this trailer, we lost another Starcraft. The guy who sold it stated that they were sitting in there home and looked out to see it on fire. The poor Islander got burned beyond repair....they believe it was a short.