the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

View attachment 173018View attachment 173023View attachment 173020View attachment 173021View attachment 173022
That boat might be free but you have some time and $ into getting that thing road worthy, let alone sea worthy.
I read you plan to add electric brakes on one axles, do you plan on ever using the trailer in salt water?
If so I highly recommend you go with kodiak disc brakes, electric and salt does not do well.
I would get ride of those long center I beam brackets. See pictures of what happened to mine they almost broke off.
Also included a couple pictures of my fix. New 3"x1/4" angle, new hanger brackets.
I also added more tongue support with some additional 3" channel bolted to the trailer frame and u-bolts at the tongue.

I cant tell what i am looking at , and i dont understand what you are trying to express......as of yet.

the boats coming home soon......Ill have 2 3750 lbs axles.. I might even buy new springs......

is your trailer a tilt trailer??? my main beam doesnt go past the first center roller!!!

the frame looks plenty strong....

once i clean the boat up a little and see the trailer is road worthy Ill go weigh the rig with and without the boat.

bob

 

[tgp***]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Hey tgp... islander is approx. 1900... so add trailer, motor, gear and I bet he'd be north of 3000 lbs. Trailer brakes... yah never hurts!!! J.

Your right it won't hurt, to have'em. Pulled my Islander home 70 miles with a half ton pickup never once was I afraid to brake hard w/out them.

However, I think its more like 1900 w/the mercuiser. I'll have to check the brochures for the hull weight (I don't remember exactly what the dry weight of my Islander was). But I do know the from factory a 140 Mercruiser weighs 588 pounds. I'd be surprised if that hull is 1900 pounds dry w/no engine.


Keep up the good work Bob, your doing great, I'll enjoy watching your progress.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

I cant tell what i am looking at , and i dont understand what you are trying to express......as of yet.

the boats coming home soon......Ill have 2 3750 lbs axles.. I might even buy new springs......

is your trailer a tilt trailer??? my main beam doesnt go past the first center roller!!!

the frame looks plenty strong....

once i clean the boat up a little and see the trailer is road worthy Ill go weigh the rig with and without the boat.

bob

Yes mine is/was a tilt trailer. It no longer tilts because of the added 3" channel.
1st picture is the original angle piece that bolts to the tailer frame, the springs attach to the hanger brackets.
2nd picture is looking length ways down the trailer to show most of the 3" channel I added to strengthen the tonge of the trailer.
3rd picture is the crack in the long center walking i-beam support that supports both leaf springs. The crack is were it was welded to the angle bracket that bolts to the trailer. It this piece would have broke off the springs would have only been attached to the trailer by the two end hangers.
4th picture is my new center hanger bracket welded to the new 3" x 1/4", shorter hanger bracket which is typically used on tandem axles trailers.
5th picture is my new end hanger brackets welded to the new 3" x 1/4" angle piece that bolts to the trailer just like the original angle bracket that had the spring hanger supports welded to it.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

my 21" cheiftain with a 140 I/O and dilly trailer is 4,000 lbs on the axles. I used to pull it with a 2500 dodge and it was fine with no brakes. After I got a camper on the pickup I added a set of hydraulic disc on one axle because combined weight 11,700 pickup and 4,100 trailer = 15,700 pounds and I wanted brakes on the trailer, which does help.

 

[InMotion]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Your right it won't hurt, to have'em. Pulled my Islander home 70 miles with a half ton pickup never once was I afraid to brake hard w/out them.

However, I think its more like 1900 w/the mercuiser. I'll have to check the brochures for the hull weight (I don't remember exactly what the dry weight of my Islander was). But I do know the from factory a 140 Mercruiser weighs 588 pounds. I'd be surprised if that hull is 1900 pounds dry w/no engine.


Keep up the good work Bob, your doing great, I'll enjoy watching your progress.

North beach had inserted a 1969 brochure of specs for all StarCraft boats in my falcon thread. Wasn't quite sure if the weight included motor or not. But I figured the dry weight of my Jupiter at 700 lbs with floor and seats etc was about right. Maybe with an inboard it includes the motor...

Anyway... bob nice work so far... when are you anticipating getting the big girl back to your place?

Jim

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

the brochure i saw says the boat weighs 1900 and it comes with a 6 cylinder motor... so i figure thats the weight of the motor , hull and interior.

I have my one new axle and new hubs and new rims and tires. but I am busy this weekend taking my GF to Montauk for the weekend. hopefully this PERFECT storm thats going to hit us this coming week wont cause the whole rig to slide down the yard into the field( wait...maybe thats not a bad thing!! ha ha)

i have contacted a guy that has a trailer he is parting out... I can get his axle and tires and hubs for $85!!

I might look into that , and if its decent buy that for my second axle. The first cost me $575 to my door with the U bolt hangers.

this rig will go exclusivly into salt water.. so ill have to be diligent with any type of brake i add!



bob

 

[tgp***]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

$85 is a good deal for axels and tires.

Here's your Islander with specs.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

ok got one axle in...but I am worried about the three leaf , springs....seem kinda light.... I bet each spring is only rated for 1000 lbs...because the axles looked like small 2000 lbers....

plus the old axles were undersprung..i installed my new ones over sprung....which has the trailer sitting lower...and the fender right on the tires almost... I had to pry a lot to get the fender off the tire...


i figure I only have to get it 1/2 mile down the road and I can redo everything.

looks nice!!! big boat.....

the outer hull is in great shape!!!!

I think i only have interior and motor work on this baby!

bob

 

[jasoutside]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Yikes Bob, major project just to get the major project home! You are doing awesome, keep it up man!

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Unearthed and ready to pull home......good work.

 

[rheagler]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Nice project Bob. Looking forward to seeing it move along.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Unearthed and ready to pull home......good work.

Since we have a Splash of the Year thread, should this thread be the anchor for a new:
'Unearthed Starcraft's, barn & field finds!' thread?

Awesome work Bob:

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

$85 is a good deal for axels and tires.

Here's your Islander with specs.
View attachment 173237

the axle didnt pan out.... it was a galvanized axle the same size at mine 2x2 square...it looked great but it had the spindles wedling ON TOP of the axle!! the axle i just bought and installed has the spindles in line with the axle...ie they come straight out of the axle...so one set of wheels would be about 1.5 " higher than the other!!!

didnt seem like a good situation... so i passed...

so i am going to wait now till I get another new axle...sinmce the springs are only 3 leafs...I worry one axle and those weak springs might not hold the boats weight,. especially on that steep incline where she sits now... I am going to have to change directions when that rig comes down the hill into the low spot on the guys lawn and then i have to go back up the other side...i worry the weight transfer sideways may be too much for those three leafs


bob

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Those springs may be a lot stronger than you think Bob. I believe you said you have a short move to get it to your place so I would think nice and slow and get it up and out of the hole she sits in, look her over and if all is good then proceed slowly towards your home. Probably wouldn't advise blowing over bumps at 50mph

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Those springs may be a lot stronger than you think Bob. I believe you said you have a short move to get it to your place so I would think nice and slow and get it up and out of the hole she sits in, look her over and if all is good then proceed slowly towards your home. Probably wouldn't advise blowing over bumps at 50mph

they are short....so maybe they are stronger than i suspect... i figured they were matched to the axle...which couldnt have been more than 2000 lbs each....I still feel since i have to get another axle anyway....why try to move it THEN put the axle on....id rather have the insruance of the second axle for this UNKOWN trip...even if it is only 1/2 mile at 5 mph...easily the trip down and up out of the hole in the yard is the most severe of the trip!!

if i bust a spring on the hill, I might BEND my new axle!!!

I was waiting to purchase a new axle until i looked at the used axle deal... now thats cleared up( used axle wont work) I have to come up with the deductible for the damage to my car from the storm.....$500...which is about a new axle set up...

so i might wait a few weeks.....but i want to pull the trigger before real winter sets in.

In the mean time i am trying to learn about the straight 6 cylinder mercruiser I have in this boat......seems cheaper to rebuild than an outboard!!

bob

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

I'm on my iPad so I don't have the file, but tomorrow I would be able to get you a link for that 165's manual

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

got her home today

this is where she sat, when i first found her.

this is what the spot looked like at 2 pm today

down in the field.. I drove the trailer down into the field because the side angle was so steep i though the truck or the boat would tip...then i turned around in the field and drove straight up through his yard.

the hill was crazy steep in two directions...I had a hard time getting my truck there, and it felt like the truck was going to roll over!!! I was extra nervous about attaching the boat. I found out the father in law back in into that spot 24 years ago, with his tractor when there was NO deck on the house and a 22" dia tree wasnt even planted yet...all on the only kind flat spot in the back yard!!

now it sits in the yard next to the 180 SS.

tires rubbed bad on the fenders..i tried to cut them off...used up the last cut off wheel...the tounge was about 400 lbs!!!

i stopped about 5 times in the half mile to my house trying to pry the fender higher....didnt go over 3 mph

bob

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Glad the exhumation is over. Now it's time to breathe new life into the zombie.

Your fenders were rubbing because the weight was only on one axle and overly compressing the springs. It will be fine when the second axle is in place.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Sweet!

Congrats on getting her unearthed, pulled free & towed home!

Some guys pay big money to get their tires siped. Never heard of DIY siping for trailer tires, but glad they carried it home for ya!

 

[dozerII]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Good to see her home, and ready for some restoration.