ATTN Aluminum Guru's Just bought a 16ft Starcraft..

[NathanY]

Closed bow boat. I want to cut that closed bow out and build a console, and have a fishing deck on the front. Can anyone help me out with this? Any ideas on how to cut it out? I can build the console with no problem and the deck, but I want it to look good.<br /><br />PS I just gave 300 for the boat, motor and trailer. The motor is a 85hp Johnson.

 

[DJ]

Re: ATTN Aluminum Guru's Just bought a 16ft Starcraft..

Nathan,<br /><br />I'm guessing that your boat is from the early to mid seventies, judging by the 85 Johnson. If it's a Starcraft, it is probably the Holiday model which had a closed front deck. The Holiday shares the same hull as the Super Sport which was a bow rider.<br /><br />Because of the hull likeness, you probably can cut out the front deck. However, this leaves the question on how to trim out the gunwales. My best guess would be to make the cutout so that the remaining gunwales are the same width as those behind the windshield. You would then have to fabricate a vertical piece on each side and front to finish it. If you put in a casting deck, that would add any ridgidity lost in removing the front deck.

 

[Bondo]

Re: ATTN Aluminum Guru's Just bought a 16ft Starcraft..

Yep, Just be careful... You'll be removing all the hull support.... The strength you remove Must be restored, with the new deck... The hull Sides will Flex too much, If you don't build in a bulk-head of some sort....

 

[gonfishn]

Re: ATTN Aluminum Guru's Just bought a 16ft Starcraft..

Nate..two years ago I bought a 68 Starcraft with a 65 on the back. Completely striped her down and built her up from scratch. Built front and rear fishn decks. It was a two year project for me.<br /><br />If I can help let me know,be glad to share with you what i can.