Starcraft hull damaged

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

It'll take some work, some shaping, some ingenuity, and some 5200 (which sticks to just about anything) but it can be done.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I have more time than money. If it was mine I would TIG that together. Doesn't look that complicated to me. The boat shop won't touch stuff this old and "previousy repaired" but you sure can.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I'd patch and Loc-tite marine epoxy it. If the patch won't fit right on the outside, I'd put it on the inside and vice versa.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

When these guys are saying "patch" they mean a piece of aluminum formed to fit the boat and riveted on with 3M 5000 between the patch and the hull,....

Not just some epoxy smeared on,............

 

[slowleak]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I'd patch and Loc-tite marine epoxy it. If the patch won't fit right on the outside, I'd put it on the inside and vice versa.

The area you see is between the rivets that hold a rib in place on the inside, which since they plug welded in a rivet is now welded in place.
By the look of the hole, they exhausted all other options. The hole is enlarged from 3/16" to about 1/2", larger than the diameter of the head of the rivets. The three surrounding rivets are steel and will also have to be removed. I suppose those holes are over sized as well.
I suppose a patch of some sort is the only option at this point, one with an adhesive sandwiched in between to prevent water from getting under the new metal. On the inside I may have to either make up strips on each flange of the rib with new holes to reduce the diameter so I can rerivet the rib using 3/16" or 1/4" aluminum rivets again. The rivets they used are huge and several holes in the rib inside are now drilled through the side of the rib flange.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Yeah, I'd remove the bad rivets, other rivets, and grind off the welds far enough back so you can lift the rib up like Grandad did in post #13. Then butter the patch with Loc-tite marine epoxy and slide it into place. The marine epoxy will fill the unwanted holes and make a waterproof bond. Then rivet the perimeter of the patch and then redrill and rivet the rib.

I prefer the marine epoxy over 5200 for this application because the epoxy cures hard but flexible, and cures completely in 24 hrs. and will even set-up and cure under water.

Shouldn't be too bad of a job, some grinding on rivets and welds and then install the patch.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I think jigngrub has the right idea to fix this one. Add some epoxy on the outside and smooth it should give a good secure patch.

 

[slowleak]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

It rained all day here, so nothing got done.
I did spend some time searching CL though and found this:
http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/boa/3323560764.html
I emailed and later called the owner and he said he was really selling it since he preferred an aluminum boat.
His boat don't leak and he's willing to swap me even up, hull for hull. That way I get on the water now, all I need to do is hang a motor.
Being the boat on CL has a 15" transom, I can also run the same motor on both of my boats. I can run the 25hp I run on my freshwater boat on the glass hull and not worry about loose rivets, salt corrosion or leaks.
I think I'm getting the better end of the deal.
I told him about the issues and even sent him pics, but he's no at all concerned about it and said he'd just weld in the holes and re-drill new rivet holes where needed. I guess it pays to have the equipment at hand to do the job.

The more I look at the aluminum hull the worse it looks, and even after all the obvious repairs, I still have to replace the deck and transom wood, install steering, lights, etc. The glass boat is all there. I'm sure I could pretty it up a bit with some paint but I'm not too concerned about that part. Its nothing a brush and a gallon of deck paint won't fix in the spring if I decide to keep it. The best part is that its identical to a boat I had as a kid, the same hull, color and even model year. The first one I had was a great boat, it went everywhere, I even had my old on in the ocean a few times. I'd venture to bet its even lighter than this aluminum hull as well. At least I could wheel the glass boat around by hand, this aluminum hull has to be well over 600lbs even stripped down.

 

[vintageglass]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I'm with ya on going to a glass hull if your in saltwater. I've seen some pretty badly corroded hulls here all due to electrolysis and saltwater.
I've fished saltwater in NJ for years, my first choice in saltwater is always glass, its just easier to fix and it don't corrode.

Those older Starcraft hulls are one of my favorites, their light, easy to fix, and since they basically have a flat bottom, they can go almost anywhere.

If you find one that has already had the transom rebuilt and a new deck, the majority of the work has already been done for you.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I think I just heard Jas & the rest of the Starmada gasp in horror

A tinny getting sidelined in favor of an 'easier' to fix, LIGHTER weight glasser :facepalm:

Watch the horizon at dusk, there may be a torch mob headed your way :redface:


Hey, it's still boating, so I'm good with either, or even better w/ both, what ever floats your boat(s)

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Oh man, what in the world is going on around here!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Let me clean my glasses and re-read that.

I'll clean 'em one more time.

It's not dirty glasses. Slowleak, whatcha doin', man. You're trading a tinny for a donor.


Hey, you do you what you gotta do. Good luck with the new boat.

 

[slowleak]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

The way I'm looking at it is like this,
rivets, welding, and misc sealer for hull could run me $50 or more, I then still have to replace the deck and transom, I priced good exterior plywood at $67 for a sheet of 3/4" for the transom, and $29 each for good ACX plywood for the deck, it'll take three sheets to remake the deck. Then figure another $70 or so in pool noodles or sheet foam for flotation, and I figured in $100 for epoxy floor paint for the deck and transom wood. Plus another $25 or so for misc hardware. Then I need to find a good 40 to 60hp motor, which no doubt would run me another $750 or more for a good late model running motor, used.
This all means I'm looking at roughly $1200 out of pocket and I still wouldn't have bought the seats, windshield, fish finder, etc.

By making the trade I eliminate the need to buy a motor, since I have a perfect running 15" shaft 25hp mercury that I run on my freshwater boat, plus I won't have any wood, resin, or hardware to buy. That boat is ready for a motor. It floats, its got a new deck, poured transom, and two pedestal seats all ready to go, its even got steering. If it don't work out or I hate it, I have nothing more than a few bags of empty aluminum cans invested and the cost of registration. I don't see how I can loose. It don't have to last forever, it just has to float and get me out for some stripers this year.
It will fit on the same trailer I have for the 16' aluminum hull, and its even lighter. With all the foam, deck and transom wood out of this boat, I can barely lift either end of the hull off the trailer, on that glass boat, I can lift the whole back of the boat up leaving the bow hanging on the bow eye hook on the trailer. Its got to be half the weight of this aluminum hull and just as deep. Its also got more fishing room, the splashwell on the glass hull takes up only a foot or so of space, the aluminum boat's splashwell is nearly 25% of the boat's length. I have far more open deck area on the glass hull for fishing. The glass boat is also wider, although its 8" shorter overall.
Plus, I don't have to worry whether or not a hull patch is holding while I'm out on the water at 3am.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Tell the guy he has to take over your thread so we know what happens to the Tinny , and good luck with the Glasser.

 

[slowleak]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I'm supposed to call him after work tomorrow, he's going to bring the glass boat here to make the swap. He said to just dump the aluminum hull on the grass and he'll remove his bow stop so I can winch the glass boat right onto my roller trailer.
He said he already knows what to do with the aluminum hull, my take was that he'll just weld it up and re-rivet what needs to be riveted.

I do appreciate all the help and opinions here, its just that the glass hull is immediate and ready for the water. I probably would prefer the aluminum hull in the long run but I'm just not up for an expensive rebuild, especially when the glass boat is ready to use.
If the glass boat hadn't had the new deck and transom, plus seats and steering, I'd not have bothered but I sat in the boat, on the trailer, the deck is rock solid, the transom holds my weight, and the fact that it can share the motor I already own was the final deciding factor.

Basically I'll be on the water this week for almost no money out of pocket.
I'll certainly mention this site.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Yur gonna have to change your handle from slowleak to slowrot then!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I wouldn't take 2 of those old junker 'glass boats like that for the tinny... bad rivets, gash, and all!

I'd really like to know what is under that deck on that old 'glasser, if anything... and it may be just me, or maybe just the picture... but the fiberglassing job on that deck looks like wavy gravy.

 

[64osby]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

Yur gonna have to change your handle from slowleak to slowrot then!

Very Funny!!!

The good news is the Tinny goes to someone who will fix it up and get it on the water.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I hope that the glasser provides the now use you are hoping for. And for many seasons. As for the rest, well, it is what it is....

If you weren't 100% on the tin repair, it likely would have been a frustrating & cumbersome task to put it back in the water.

I look forward to you starting a resto thread to document the new rig's completion & splash.

No more tin V glass bashing from me Or at least not on this thread

Again, best of luck w/ your new rig

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Starcraft hull damaged

I wouldn't take 2 of those old junker 'glass boats like that for the tinny... bad rivets, gash, and all!

Yah, that's what the guy with the glasser to swap is sayen!