My Starcraft PM160 thread!

[GA_Boater]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Hey MB - Can you see where the wires on that switch go? And could that be a circuit breaker and not a switch? If it is hooked to the bilge pump I wonder if the PO checked for bilge water and had an alternate means to pump it out (the switch) instead of turning pump on from the helm. It's hard to figure out what POs had in mind sometimes.

Guys hang kickers on the transom all the time and don't use a kicker bracket. You transom looks like it might be tight, but not impossible. I don't have experience with it but someone will chime in.

How are you doing with the fuel hose problem?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Fuel vent is clear from what I can tell. Air and water flowed freely. Te vent hose runs up the starboard side then through the hull just in front of he console.

That switch goes nowhere. It had a red and black coming off the battery to switch then a cut pair of red/black coming off. Pretty light 14 or 16g wires. That bracket its mounted in looks factory is why I asked here. Would Starcraft be able to provide any original documentation? May try to give them a call tomorrow.

 

[rheagler]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Nice project you've got there. I think I would just eliminate that switch since it seems it didn't do anything. I would leave the bracket though, not sure why except that it does look factory and may be useful for something.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Nice project you've got there. I think I would just eliminate that switch since it seems it didn't do anything. I would leave the bracket though, not sure why except that it does look factory and may be useful for something.

Thank you! Yes I am excited.. And out in the drive way pouring over her about every night!

Yeah, I've since disconnected the wires to nowhere. Next question:

I have a pull switch labled "Fuel". Doesn't look like this does anything. Any ideas?

Its silver and next to the steering wheel in this pic.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Starting back in on the transom now.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Yeah yeah, you guys are wretching and saying to rip it out and re-do I get it... But yeah, some Dawn and a scrub brush? Anything better to cut grease but not destroy the wood or Aluminum?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Simple Green works decently.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

In regards to accessing the "channel" the cabling is running through on the starboard side from controls to stern.. How the heck??! It has nuts and bolts securing the top part of it the whole way down.. The lower part is riveted. I've removed the nuts and bolts and it didn't seem to want to move very much at all. Do I really have to pop all those rivets to get at those wires/****/steering cables and fuel vent hose??

 

[InMotion]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

What would you guys do this this? Pretty grimy.. Much of the bilge area looks the same. Suggestions?

g/f just said to kill it with fire! Oh dear.

Hey MB... nice little project you having going there!!! Have you thought of giving it a lite sand and then seal it with spar varnish or epoxy? Many want to give a clean first with hear Ez suggested.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Yeah maybe sand some after I give it an epic bath with something! heh. Can you just start sanding on it? Its a bit greasy so it'd probably gunk up sandpaper

 

[InMotion]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Yeah maybe sand some after I give it an epic bath with something! heh. Can you just start sanding on it? Its a bit greasy so it'd probably gunk up sandpaper

Ya... I'd clean it up as best as possible first, the try to sand. As long as it is not rotted, it should work.

IM

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

any autoshop hand cleaner makes a great degreaser. Orange-Glo or any of them.
rinses clean with water and non toxic.
Try it on a brillo pad or dishwashing sponge with the scour side

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

any autoshop hand cleaner makes a great degreaser. Orange-Glo or any of them.
rinses clean with water and non toxic.
Try it on a brillo pad or dishwashing sponge with the scour side

Will do!

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Any advice on removing these push-pull switches in the dash? The bezels are stuck on and when I wrench, the whole post is spinning. Not much room behind the nut or board to grip onto the post. Already ruined one of em heh.

 

[rheagler]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Can you get in there to squirt some PB Blaster or WD40? Can you take off the dash with them still attached and work on them from both sides with the dash out of the boat? If they are like mine maybe you could grip the square body of the switch, and use channel locks gently on the bezels.

 

[barato2]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

1. tape the adjacent surface so you don't chew it up 2. grab the bezel with pliers or visegrips carefully 3. gently wiggle the switch from the back while holding the bezel in place til things loosen up....eventually they will.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

I didn't try the wiggle trick, wish I woulda thought of that thank you! And the tape is a good idea as well, but did douse in PB blaster and still had one that just wouldn't let go. I had already busted a contact off the back after trying to loosen a screw that apparently someone used epoxy to seal.. So I just decided to cut it off with a dremel. There was a switch or two not in use anyway so I swapped the bilge to one of those. I'm going to try that on this stubborn push/pull 3 way light switch

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Ok guys, the front piece of decking is interfering with the battery hatch up front. There are screws down into the deck, but they aren't making contacting with anything and allowing the board to raise a bit blocking the storage door under the front seat. How do I secure that front corner and give a bit of clearance? Do I get longer screws and screw it into the aluminum rib going across?

It really should be one big piece to the nose, and that hatch just sits on top, but the P/O cut it short and didn't replace the deck under the front platforms..

 

[barato2]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

having trouble visualizing what you're describing, even after going back to your pics. generally, if you can reach the back side, i'd go with machine screws and nylock nuts.....i just think the banging any boat endures will eventually loosen most sheet metal and wood screws. OTOH, Starcraft apparently disagreed and sevl of the non-structural things they secured with sheet metal screws 40+ yrs ago are still tight on mine.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: My Starcraft PM160 thread!

Massllon, welcome to the Starcraft fleet

Your boat is very similar to mine other than the interior decks, we have not seen too many rebuild on side console boats.

They have more structure with the livewell and rod storage which makes things a bit of a challenge.

I would recommend a kicker bracket, but I also had no problems hanging a 5.5hp next to the Merc 80hp that came with the boat.

Be careful with some of the degreasers, some are not good to use on aluminum.