So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

[erikpn]

I just installed a new trailer jack and decided to raise the bow of my new to me '75 Jupiter. Then, as I raised it up higher and higher I heard... glurppp..... water starts pouring out of the drain plug.

Dreading the sound, I now knew the boat had been kept outside and probably uncovered. Great. The floors had felt solid, and I had felt dry foam under the deck boards. I crawled under the boat and looked carefully. It looked like there was some odd green substance brushed onto seams where they had tried to seal leaks, and a small 1/4 inch hole on the keel, likely where the boat had hit a rock of some sort.

I will now pull and replace the floors over the winter. The boards are easily solid enough to make a template. How hard of a job is this?

How hard is it to seal a leaky starcraft? Is it as simple as gluviting every seam?

How might I seal the hole? I could drill it out and insert a big closed rivet in there and seal with gluvit?

I hope it's really that simple!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

That 1/4" hole in the keel ?? is it in the strip down the center? That is probably a drain hole and should NOT be filled. 16' has three "added" ribs and they all have drain holes...... it's by design.

One of the "claims to fame" of the Starcraft aluminum boats is a single sheet of aluminum is used for the lower portion of the hull. The keel strip is added on and riveted to the supports inside the hull. Those rivets along with the seam rivets are what need to be sealed with the gluvit.

You might now have any leaks and just need to clean up and paint.

Removing the decking is easy and replacing the boards is easy...... just read through just about any of the starcraft restores going on.

Yes a single 2 lb can of gluvit will do your entire boat and it is easy.... actually the prep is more work.

 

[North Beach]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

Erik, Please post some pics of that hull so we can offer an opinion. Plus we just like lookin at the pics

As far as the gluvit and plywood, take a look at my resto thread link in my signature.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

We find your lack of pictures disturbing erik....

 

[PaulyV]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

That made me chuckle EZ..

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

Erik there are alot of us Starcrafters on here and several of us have Jupiters . Mine is a 1970 Jupiter V . We will need pictures to let you in the club ( we like pictures ) as has been stated plus we will be able to tell you if the 1/4" hole is one thats supposed to be there or not . I would bet that the boat was stored without a cover and with the bow low and thats why you have water issues . You may not have to replace the wood so be carefull removing it . I would pull the wood clean the hull well apply the gluvit , replace the foam with pink or blue foam sheets from Homie desperate or Lowes and reinstall the wood if it is in good shape.


Rick

 

[erikpn]

Re: So.. apparently I will have to do a starcraft restore

That 1/4" hole in the keel ?? is it in the strip down the center? That is probably a drain hole and should NOT be filled. 16' has three "added" ribs and they all have drain holes...... it's by design.

One of the "claims to fame" of the Starcraft aluminum boats is a single sheet of aluminum is used for the lower portion of the hull. The keel strip is added on and riveted to the supports inside the hull. Those rivets along with the seam rivets are what need to be sealed with the gluvit.

You might now have any leaks and just need to clean up and paint.

Removing the decking is easy and replacing the boards is easy...... just read through just about any of the starcraft restores going on.

Yes a single 2 lb can of gluvit will do your entire boat and it is easy.... actually the prep is more work.

Yes! It is. Thank you for that information. It'll save me the trouble of having to seal holes.

The only thing I'm having an issue removing is the railings under the gunwales that seem to be attached to the floor and hull by bolts and rivets. It looks like I'll have to drill out the rivets attaching it, then buy a rivet gun to reseal them.

I will have pics later today lol. I am glad I got a starcraft for the large body of knowledge in this forum for restoring them.