66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Heres to the Liquid Limo!

May she enjoy her 2nd life and return those aboard her safe and sound to shore for many many days!

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Dam NB if this wasn't your boat I would be yelling about that mess you left on the floor

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Hmmm they sure do not look like pedestal seating

Just a suggestion. Install Marine Circuit Breakers and you will never have a fuse problem again.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Bob, remember, the switch panel is temporary until the custom panel gets here in a couple of weeks. Each switch will have it's own circuit breaker. The only fuse on the boat will be the required three amp for the Hummingbird.

Looks like it's gonna be another day or so on the seats

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

I swear by those marine breakers. I had an electrical issue in my old bronco ..... installed a few breakers and it went away

So, you have plans on building another heated/climate control garage for this boat

I can see you watching the fireworks on the 4th on the water. I am confident.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Well we're getting right down to the last little stuff now folks. Seems like it's been a long ride at this point.

I'm still pretty much on this project 24/7 trying to finish it off! There's been a bunch of trips to suppliers, time spent online, and just basically searching for that little obscure part or tool to get things finished. I searched all over town for a 2 1/16" hole saw for the danged fuel guage.

My son needed a day off from wiring so last night we gave him a pass. He'll be back tonight and we will finish this project off. In his absence, my nephew and I dove in and got more small stuff accomplished.

I had a hard time with the cursed Dead Pedal. The outdoor waterproof vinyl adhesive takes a long time to set up and really didn't work all that well with all the bends and wraps needed to do this thing right so yesterday we broke out the waterproof construction adhesive and some clamps I use in the bow shop and now we got it!!!!

What part of the day wasn't spent out gathering all the little dodads needed to finish, we spent drilling, bolting and rigging the command center. Here's a shot of the peice the wood guy made for me to mount the new old stock speedo and in dash compass I found on eBay. Originally the plan was to mount this on top pf the dash but we decided under the dash looked much better.

Here's a shot of the progress of the command center Remember, the switch panel is temporary and will be replaced with the new one that's dash mounted in a couple of weeks. We also mounted the antenna and drilled and mounted the GPS/Fishfinder. We should finish all this up tonight. That leaves mounting seats and I'm scheduled to hit Lake Anna, Va Friday morning and I'm taking my tool box!!!!!!!!

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Wow. I hope mine comes out half as good.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

I'm sure it will Andy. I've been watching your thread, just way too busy to post. Rest assured, after we launch on Friday, I'll be filling all these Starcraft re-build threads with tons of totally worthless information

BTW, keep up the good work. These aluminum SC's are really built well and if it's something you plan to keep, well worth the investment in my book.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

I'm sure it will Andy. I've been watching your thread, just way too busy to post. Rest assured, after we launch on Friday, I'll be filling all these Starcraft re-build threads with tons of totally worthless information

BTW, keep up the good work. These aluminum SC's are really built well and if it's something you plan to keep, well worth the investment in my book.

I have yet to come across any "worthless" information! And I have to agree that they are built well, and are actually fairly easy to work on! Know I know what the aluminum hype is all about!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Now I know what the aluminum hype is all about!

Tell me about it. Can you even imagine working on fiberglass boat now? Whenever I see a glass boat for sale that's more than 8 years old or so I just think "that's nothing but problems". But then I see even an old beat tinny and I see potential.

A nice 17-18' Holiday just showed up in a driveway cross the street from my son's babysitter's house. I get to admire it twice a day.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

NB I see your new trailer tires in the background for those $%#$# launch ramps.

I don't think you needed to go that aggressive.

You have made that Liquid Limo a real show piece.
Next the other Starcraft will be in the boat hotel awaiting your design sculpting hands.

 

[pilotmanmk11]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

just thought i should say awesome boat and you all have helped me figure out a lot of my problems, so thanks

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

PM, that was the original intent of this thread. To share the experience and to bounce problems off of others who had already been there. I have to say it was a success!

The boat is complete as of midnight tonight. We just finished installing the last of the seats and the bimini top and we're off to the lake in the morning for a shake out run. I had the boat running in the driveway and I'm Pumped!!!!!!

We'll take lots of pics and video and by Saturday, I'll post up the last couple days of the re-build.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

I think we are all PUMPED up right there with ya NB!
Here's to ya!!!

You do have a bottle of champagne reserved for this event yes??

 

[Lightnig]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Here?s hoping that Mercontrol sticker holds up under the tape. That color is real close to what was there to begin with. I don?t know what they looked like 43 years ago. We?ll give these overnight to dry, sand, wipe and shoot them again.

I know this comment is way late, but it may come in handy for someone else or down the road for your next project...

When spray bombing over a plate or plaque that you want to protect from paint, cover it with a healthy layer of heavy grease instead of tape. The spray paint will not penetrate the grease, which wipes right off with a rag and there is no danger of adhesive pulling paint or decals off.

 

[singinout]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Congrats NB!! Its been a great project and I feel priviledged to have show up in time to see you complete it! Awesom job!

And bring on the pix and vids of the test run! Cant wait!!

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

We finally managed to complete the wiring and get it all back up under the dash. Everything is set up with extra wire for the special switch plate that is being made. When it arrives, we'll cut another hole in the dash and swap it in for the underdash temp plate shown in this pic of the completed Command Center

We didn't like the original seat layout I showed you folks a couple months ago. There were several reasons. First, NB the rocket scientest measured the distance from the tops of the gunwales for the large storage pontoon seats. The gunwales sweep up and out from the deck so the measurement between the seats was off by around four inches. This left us with a big honkin gap between the top of the seat back and the gunwale and a less than desireable measurement for leg room. So, we decided to go with this and we really like it. Also the pontoon seats are bolt fastened with the old school rubber expansion anchors so taking them out if we wanna hit the bay and chase stripers is an easy option.

Here's a couple more shots of the outside. I really love how this boat turned out!

I ordered our point or origin letters too large so the lettering on the stern is incomplete until the new ones get here.

Folks, I just gotta say that the last two weeks have been grueling! We've spent countless hours drilling, sealing, installing hardware, wire, seats, you name it. Heck on weds and thurs alone we logged in over 26 hours in the shop. That's after several hours each day before we started in the shop making runs to various suppliers for this and that. At 10:30 last night we thought we were almost done and realized the bimini was on backwards

I'm not complaining. I'm just saying this has not been an easy task. To do a full blown re-build on a boat this size is an undertaking and the reward is, in my opinion, well worth the time and effort. Especially coming from a guy with no prior experience.

I'd also like to say thanks to all the folks who have offered their experience and opinions along the way. Without this place to bounce ideas around, I probably would not have been able to accomplish this.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

THE SHAKEOUT RUN​

OK, we finally made it to lake Anna at around 2 PM. Things I discovered along the way

• 
  The Garmin doesn't understand I'm pulling a 22 foot boat when it maps out my route to the lake

• 
  If you're not careful and put just a little too much gas in a twelve gallon boat tank the gas shoots out of the breather vent all over your feet and flip flops

• 
  You should also use a variation of the 1/3-2/3 rule when taking food for a day at the lake

We ran about a half a tank of gas just cruising around and also pulled my nephew around on his skis just trying to reveal any bugs in the program.

By the end of the day we came accross a couple problems. Namely, my shifter is hardly working at all. I'm sure this is just some simple adjustments to the cables and we will get right on that. There also seems to be a problem with the throttle cable as well. Once you go into gear, there is a long dead space before you get any accellaration (sp?) and the most we were able to get was 27 MPH and just at 3500 RPMs. Mercruiser says I should be running between 3800 and 4300 RPMs. I beleive if we could reach that range I might get close to 35MPH out of her!!!Now I know this could also be a prop problem but I want to go the throttle adjustment route and do another day on the water before I start with the prop swapping.

There was also a small amount of fluid leaking at the tilt pump and my danged engine temp guage took a crap on me. So...... I have a few bugs to work out and now I have an excuse to hit the lake again before our two weeks on the lake in July.

But, I did have a ton of fun!!!!!!!!!

Here's a couple of pics of her gettin wet!

 

[slbri]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

All I can say NB as I stand up from my chair clapping....Bravo! BRAVO!

 

[singinout]

Re: 66 Starcraft Sunchief Re-Build

Shweet!!!!