Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

[Chinewalker]

My wife and I rebuilt a 1977 Starcraft American 15 two years ago and absolutely love the boat - with two exceptions. She hates the color (pukey green) and I hate the block of wood a previous owner screwed to the bow to cover the missing 5-inches of the nose. I'm okay doing structural glass work, but the cosmetic part is more than I am able and willing to take on.<br /><br />Soooo... That brings us to the new boat. We found a 1975 Starcraft American 15 in need of lots of structual TLC, but it's exterior cosmetics are in great shape! Plus, it's in a color the missus likes (sky blue), so we jumped into it. <br /><br />Got the boat home in November and immediately stripped it down. Removed the junk Krizeler 85hp and sold it for parts. Trashed the rotted out seats, and started into removing the rotted out flooring. It's been sitting in my heated shop since then, drying out. Lots of trapped moisture in the glass - VERY pourous contruction! The original foam flotation is a sponge of moisture. And, to top it off, the transom will need to be replaced - something the first A-15 didn't need.<br /><br />The days are getting longer so it won't be long 'til ice-out and I'd like to have it ready to go by then.<br /> Pics of new boat as we found it. <br /> Pics of 1977 American that we did 2 years ago (scroll down). <br /><br />We really love the lines on these little runabouts, and for only 15-foot, they ride very well. Great performer all around.<br /><br />Anyone else have one of the old American series? My wife now wants me to find it's "big brother" in a 18 or 20-foot I/O configuration - kind of a matched set thing, I guess...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[cjones4@hvc.rr.com]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Let me get this straight... your wife WANTS you to get a bigger boat? WOW! She's a keeper.<br /><br /> Sorry, I don't know much about the Starcraft fiberglass boats but I have a 18' Starchief cuddy (aluminum) that I love. Good luck.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Hi Mooner,<br /> Yep - she wants a bigger boat so we can entertain family/friends better. Her brother (goes about 230 lbs.) and some friends came up one weekend. We all fit in the boat, but it was a bear to plane off, and seating was "intimate" to say the least. We like the classic lines of the American series and decided to look for something similar in a larger size. Being that I'm already familiar with how they're built, I'm not afraide to get into another project...<br />- Scott

 

[G DANE]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Hi Chinewalker and mooner<br /><br />Glad to hear I´m not the only one thats foolish enough to start projects like theese, though I´m surprised every time.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Hi G Dane,<br /> Foolish? Not hardly - I look at it as getting exactly the boat I want, laid out the way I want it, with construction that I know someone hasn't cut corners on. At least that's what I tell myself to justify the time and money spent on it... The bottom line is that there isn't a new boat out there that has the "look" I like within my price range. I never did really like the "Euro" style that hit about 15-years ago and seems to have stuck around since then.<br /> Now the old Glasspar G3 I recently picked up? That's going to fall into the "foolish" category by the time I get into it....<br />- Scott

 

[G DANE]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Well I dont feel foolish either, working on my project. I enjoy the work and take it as a kind of education, and I really like learning something new. Thats one of the reasons I stick around here too, all the folks who are willing to share their wisdom, and show interest in what other people do. Funny enough, I like the things I repaired or restored a lot more than what I just bought from new. Some folks consider that foolish, but I learned not to care through the years. Lots of great people around here!!

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

hey chinewalker, find me an old Islander up there<br />will ya? looking for one I can convert to OB or<br />an old chieftan that's already set up for OB...<br />have power, need boat <br /><br />have fun with new project!<br />M.Y.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Hi MY,<br /> A friend of mine down in Joysey has one - an old blue sided Islander for sale. I think it has the 165 MerCruiser in it. He gets up this way once or twice a season and frequents the Mercaholic site's board (www.pfs-ware.com/kwast). Goes by "Porkness"...<br />- Scott

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Clayton rocks! <br />2 summers ago I stayed there for 10 days.<br />a 13yr. old kid caught a 43" pike right off the<br />dock <br />had MY boat tied up on the St. Law after we fished<br />in the a.m., didn't know how bad it got in the<br />afternoon! <br />thanks,<br />M.Y.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

I just updated my glass boat restoration page to reflect today's progress (follow link below). The deck is now off the hull and the punky transom is now readily accessible. Time to dig out the old crud and clean things up so I can start reassembling this beast! Whoohooo!!<br /> Chinewalker's Fiberglass Boar Restoration Page <br />- Scott

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

That transom looked sweet...I noticed it had different thickness to it. Are you going to build in the new transom the full thickness throughout?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Gearing up for new project - Starcraft American 15 #2

Hi Jason,<br /> Yes, the transom is going to be a solid 1.75 inches thick all the way around. For now the boat will be getting an OMC triple, but someday it may get a fire-breathing cross-flow OMC V4 for grins-and-giggles, so with that in mind the transom, and rest of the stringers, cross-members, etc. are going to be better than the boat ever was when new. Having already done one of these boats I have a better idea of what to do, and what to do differently the second time around...<br />- Scott