At what point do you give up on a hull?

[Tacklewasher]

I've got a 1975 18' Starcraft aluminum that I've owned and modified over 5 years or so.

For the most part I love the old beast. It came with an OMC Stringer I/O that I ripped out and converted to an outboard (115 Evin) and I have two back to back seats (sleeper style, but there is no way I could sleep on them) and a ton of room for playing fish or bringing in crabs or whatever. Pure fishing boat as it really won't pull a skier or tube very well as it is.

But it has a few things I'd like to change.

Biggest issue right now is it leaks pretty badly. The bilge goes about once every 1/2 hour and there is no way I could leave the boat overnight anywhere without killing the batteries. I dropped the trailer as level as possible in the driveway and filled it up with water (to the floor level) to see where it was leaking. About 80% of the leaks are port side at the stern of the boat. At least 8 leaking rivets and the metal looks pretty chewed up back there. The rest of the leaks come from one tiny hole about 1/3 forward from the stern and the odd loose rivet. I can deal with those okay but the stern has me the most concerned.

Next issue is that I can't seem to get the boat above 35 mph or over about 4500 rpm. Beyond that, the prop vents and the speed dies. I'm thinking this boat was not made for an outboard and my hack job of the stern didn't help.

The floor needs to be redone and the foam replaced (it's soaked for some reason), but that isn't that big an issue.

I also want an open bow and have been looking at how to convert this one. As it is now, the bow is really just wasted space I could be casting from.

So do I give up and try to find a hull I like and move my motor and whatever else over to it? I had considered just buying a newer boat but new kitchen cupboards have nixed that idea. I just use this thing for fishing so I don't need a "nice" boat, but I want something I'm not scared to go out in.

How hard is it to find an aluminum hull that doesn't leak? And should I give up on this old girl?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Having an aluminum hull puts you well ahead of most folks here.

Fix the rivets as well as you can, then use Coat It or Gluvit to seal the hull, it's very easy and the leaking problem will be solved.

Check to see how high the current transom is, sounds like it's too tall, or the motor is mounted too high. Another easy fix. It could also be a spun hub.

The floor and foam in an aluminum boat is easy, just do it.


The closed bow area is structural in most AL boats, so if you modify it remember to build back some strength.


I think most people here would be very happy to start where you're at now.

 

[Squid Billy]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

I think most people here would be very happy to start where you're at now.

Tacklewasher,

You fix mine, ..... I will fix yours! *** PLEASE ***

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Having an aluminum hull puts you well ahead of most folks here.

Fix the rivets as well as you can, then use Coat It or Gluvit to seal the hull, it's very easy and the leaking problem will be solved.[/qoute]

I need to post a picture of what looks like a weak/thin spot in the hull. It may be more than rivets

Check to see how high the current transom is, sounds like it's too tall, or the motor is mounted too high. Another easy fix. It could also be a spun hub.

Any lower and the motor would be under water when not on a plane.
I do have the motor on a jack plate for whenever I get my jet pump working. Plan was to be able to switch when hitting the Fraser river and go back to the prop when in lakes.
Hub was re-done (it was spun) and is good now.

The floor and foam in an aluminum boat is easy, just do it.

I'll take pictures and post them. I'll include a picture of the stream of water.

The closed bow area is structural in most AL boats, so if you modify it remember to build back some strength.

I can live with it as it is. It would just be nice to have an easier time casting from the bow.

I think most people here would be very happy to start where you're at now.

So, there might be a market for my hacked up, leaky hull?

 

[oops!]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

sooooooo.... how do you like the new bridge?


your running a tinny. it can be fixed really easy.
ondarvr is totally correct.

besides that, thats an 18 footer. even here....its worth bucks......

but its your call, just depends if you want to keep the boat.

cheers
oops

 

[noahnsteph]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

If you decide you want to change up the seating I'd gladly take the back to back seats off your hands. I'm in the process of restoring a 1974 Thundercraft tri-hull and am in need of some.

 

[iwombat]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

I went through a '77 Starcraft SS (also an 18') last year on a restore. Had some dents in the keel and some rivets popped, also needed a new floor, etc. Get yourself some closed-end blind rivets and start replacing any that are missing. Then rip out the floor and go to work with the gluvit. If you've got some thin spots you could probably have some patch panels welded in for not too much money, but I'd be surprised if that was necessary.

As for the bow, you can make a step-up platform in the front and remove the top deck. As long as your platform is built no more than a couple of feet below the gunwhales you'll be ok structurally as long as you tie into the sides properly.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

sooooooo.... how do you like the new bridge?

Only been over it once and that was just because I wanted to.

Live in Rutland, work off Sexsmith and fish Wood lake so not a lot of reason to go over it.

Couple of buddies lives on Westside and love it. Sounds like it has made a real difference.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Get yourself some closed-end blind rivets and start replacing any that are missing.

Who might carry these? And do they install with a normal rivet gun or are they punded in place?

As for the bow, you can make a step-up platform in the front and remove the top deck. As long as your platform is built no more than a couple of feet below the gunwhales you'll be ok structurally as long as you tie into the sides properly.

That's kind of the idea I had. Not a true bowrider (no seating) but like the Hewescraft front that I was looking at where it's down a couple of feet with a storage box for the anchor under it. Diamond plating would be fine. I've got a pretty mean anchor for this thing so I can fish the Fraser river so I may never fit in but the rope would be nice.

All this after I replace the kitchen and the entire upstairs floor though.

 

[iwombat]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

the closed-end blind rivets install with a normal pop-rivet tool.

I think I got mine at rivetsinstock.com. Make sure you get aluminum rivets with aluminum mandrels.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Oh. And how hard is it to put in a under the floor fuel tank.

I figure the floor is coming out (if I decide to keep this boat) and I may as well make use of the space. Really don't care if it sits higher than the current floor as I can just raise the floor in the process.

 

[iwombat]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

You may want to take a look at what I did for a tank here:

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,372,00.html

Under floor tank isn't hard except for running the fill/vent tubes.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Hmmm

Just read responses to this thread

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1725242#post1725242

Makes me wonder again if I can ever get this boat to run right. The motor really does sit low on the transom but will ventilate in turns. I have it as far down as it goes but I'm worried the hull is just not built for an outboard. Either that or I need a shaft extension.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Many companies use the same hull design for both I/O and O/B, the difference is the transom construction and angle. You just may need a long shaft motor for your set up, or you may try an SS prop, they resist ventilating better than aluminum.

I took out an inboard jet, converted it to an outboard jet and it worked great with my aluminum boat, did it six or seven years ago and I'm still very happy with it.

I stripped mine down to the bare hull and had the intake for the old jet sealed, they welded in a new plate over it and I had the stringers rewelded and beefed up. I also used an aluminum truck tool box for the seat bases, nice water tight lockable storage for about $150.00.

I converted it because there was very little room in the boat with the motor cover and a center console, it would have been difficult for even two people to fish out of it.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Many companies use the same hull design for both I/O and O/B, the difference is the transom construction and angle. You just may need a long shaft motor for your set up, or you may try an SS prop, they resist ventilating better than aluminum.

I'm finding the opposite. I have an OMC stainless prop (somewhere in the prop forum I describe it) and an alum. The stainless ventilates sooner, but perfomrs better with the motor trimmed in.

I do like the extra room with the I/O gone and I have no issue with how the transom is built up. Just not sure if I want to spend more on this to get what I really want or if I look for a new hull.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

Here's the old thread in the prop forum

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=178243

Might be some useful info there as well.

BTW, since that thread I have put on a jack plate, but it really made no difference.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

It may be time for a longer shaft then, some hull designs just need the prop deeper in the water. If it's that bad with a prop, a jet will be horrible and like a prop, the deeper you run it the less efficient it is.

In one of the pics from the other thread it showed the water coming out from under the hull, it was very uneven due to the strakes on the bottom of the hull. You can cut the strakes off a couple feet up from the transom and it will smooth the flow, it can make a big difference with a jet and may help with a prop too.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

So (and I know I promised pictures) I'm pretty much decided to replace this old girl. Not looking at anything new this year, but in looking around I think I can find a boat that better suits my needs and can part out this one so in the end I spend less than it would take to get this one put together correctly.

So what do I do with the hull?

I figure I can sell the motor, with the controls etc. I can sell the steering as it's only a few years old. The windshield would be a find for someone as it is in decent shape. I would probably keep the top, although it needs repairs. The seats can go (although I have an idea for them).

Trailer is in good enough shape to be sold, although it needs work.

But I have no idea what to do with a leaky hull that has been hacked apart (replaced an I/O with an outboard) and looks to be weak in places.

Do metal recyclers take them? Does the dump take them? Pull the foam out, through in some rocks and pull the plug? Give it to oops! as his next hull extension project? What's my options on a hull?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

I'm pretty much decided to replace this old girl. Not looking at anything new this year, but in looking around I think I can find a boat that better suits my needs and can part out this one so in the end I spend less than it would take to get this one put together correctly.

Probably a wise decision if the boat does not fit your needs or likes.

I wished I had decided to dump my 73 SeaSwirl when the engine blew last winter. I decided to rebuild the engine even though I didn't like the hull design and knew the foam was water-logged. It was a money decision, $1K for a new engine or $4-5K for another boat. When it came time to install the rebuilt engine I got the bright idea of ripping into the floor. I then decided the tri-hull design which I hate was not worth the money and effort required to do it properly so I stripped hull down, drove it to the the land fill and had then ceremoniously crush it with their earth mover.... RIP ...

NOW, I'm looking for another hull to stick my running gear into, but stuck on the fence whether or not it's worth the effort. Might just be better off selling the rebuilt engine, stripped goodies off the boat and buying something complete.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: At what point do you give up on a hull?

So what do I do with the hull?....

Do metal recyclers take them? Does the dump take them? Pull the foam out, through in some rocks and pull the plug? Give it to oops! as his next hull extension project? What's my options on a hull?

Around here, aluminum brings $0.70/lb. Guessing the stripped hull is around 200 lbs (from flipping mine over and moving around the yard several times), that's $140.

Before you start tearing it apart, since you're selling the controls and motor also, why not try a free listing service like Craigslist and see if you get any bites? You never know, there's a sucker out there around every corner.