1971 Starcraft refit

TinBoats.net

Help Support TinBoats.net:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

1Vhull

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2019
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Hello all, starting my first tin boat build. Here’s a quick background on me and the boat. I’ve been fishing my entire life and finally have my own boat. fished the boat all summer and now have a lot of ideas and a plan for the build. I do have access to just about all the tools I think I’ll need, I have a full shop I work from every day. the boat as far as I know is a 1971 Starcraft mariner. I picked it up from a friend with a fairly new merc 9.9 that runs well. ( boats rated for 40 and I’d like to meet in the middle with a 20 or 25 eventually). Anyway here’s a few pictures, I pulled a ton of heavy, and rotted wood out of the boat already, along with enough random scrap steel to build another boat haha. Planning on welding a floor system together and dropping in a aluminum floor.
 

Attachments

  • BACB3368-EA73-46C4-9733-8912B85CA401.jpeg
    BACB3368-EA73-46C4-9733-8912B85CA401.jpeg
    4.2 MB · Views: 2,452
  • 0CB95531-B853-4B42-A7D9-8299276F59D6.jpeg
    0CB95531-B853-4B42-A7D9-8299276F59D6.jpeg
    4.3 MB · Views: 2,451
  • D16A5192-A960-42D9-A1C8-FDCEEE20D815.jpeg
    D16A5192-A960-42D9-A1C8-FDCEEE20D815.jpeg
    4.5 MB · Views: 2,451
  • AB0C7299-6565-4ACE-9A8F-9B7AFC77E466.jpeg
    AB0C7299-6565-4ACE-9A8F-9B7AFC77E466.jpeg
    3 MB · Views: 2,452
Looks like a diamond in the rough.

Keep your floor structure light &it will plane easier with less horsepower.

Insulation board is a good light & stiff material to use, just have it accessible for replacement if it gets waterlogged someday.
 
I agree, I think If I rivet the floor down to the frame then I can always remove the floor from time to time and then clean out or do whats needed under the floor. currently the boat doesn't leak, I'm thinking however of using one of those rivet seal compounds on the inside since im doing all this work now. is that a good idea? I don't want to do a full "bass boat" conversion, I like the open floor plan approach with a nice casting deck upfront. The original owner still has the section for the controls in his attic and im planning on adding that back in. Ill try and post a pic of my floorplan drawing for anyone interested and as always appreciate any input.

side note, when I first got this boat I did a lot of research on people with this merc 9.9. when I got the boat it hadn't ran In several years and the carb was in bad shape. Once I got it all running well the boat does 16-17 mph and that was with all the craziness inside it from the previous owner. Im really interested on what this boat will do once streamlined a little more. also, the setup I was running had me, the battery, trolling motor, fuel all at the transom and it planed out well on calmer days to my surprise. I think the added controls with me, battery and bow mount trolling motor upfront will drastically help. Anyway I like experimenting with this sort of stuff so we will see how well it all works out. looking forward to meeting everyone here.
 
Brazing a few of the holes closed. The PO drilled holes in the front to hold the deck up, which of course bent the aluminum slightly, knocked it back in shape and working on filling the holes.
 

Attachments

  • 88AE1A5A-A896-4B2F-9930-1B6CD5B1265D.jpeg
    88AE1A5A-A896-4B2F-9930-1B6CD5B1265D.jpeg
    402.4 KB · Views: 2,151
Removing all the paint. Getting somewhere now.
 

Attachments

  • 00701D77-8B36-48BB-942A-0D475AB49F37.jpeg
    00701D77-8B36-48BB-942A-0D475AB49F37.jpeg
    2.9 MB · Views: 2,020
  • DD21FC9B-C393-48FE-A435-ACE1280C5A77.jpeg
    DD21FC9B-C393-48FE-A435-ACE1280C5A77.jpeg
    3.4 MB · Views: 2,020
  • C29E2415-B27D-4F85-9296-CF2CBB470ED8.jpeg
    C29E2415-B27D-4F85-9296-CF2CBB470ED8.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 2,020
Love the look of that boat! That blunt nose is something I had tried to find when I was looking for my project boat.

Progress looks good so far - full tear down and strip like I'm doing on my project. I have been looking for a wire cup like like the one in your photo, mind mentioning the model or where you found it?

The hole fill with brazing looks great as well, I have been thinking about how best to fill similar holes and it looks like you gave me my answer!

What do you plan on doing with the finish? Paint or leaving it bare?

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using Tapatalk

 
Churak said:
Love the look of that boat! That blunt nose is something I had tried to find when I was looking for my project boat.

Progress looks good so far - full tear down and strip like I'm doing on my project. I have been looking for a wire cup like like the one in your photo, mind mentioning the model or where you found it?

The hole fill with brazing looks great as well, I have been thinking about how best to fill similar holes and it looks like you gave me my answer!

What do you plan on doing with the finish? Paint or leaving it bare?

Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using Tapatalk

I’m planing on doing a dark blue that follows the line along the edge (not sure what that is actually called) and then dark grey or khaki on the bottom. The wire cup I found at Home Depot and Lowe’s, the bigger ones from rural king or tractor supply type places (make sure and get a softer one, they can be pretty aggressive) however, the main tool I use to strip paint is a Eastwood made tool I’ll add a picture of. I believe it’s called a SCT.
 

Attachments

  • BC19D7D3-4B40-4638-A26F-525C36FF393C.jpeg
    BC19D7D3-4B40-4638-A26F-525C36FF393C.jpeg
    4.2 MB · Views: 2,009
A quick update on the Mariner refit: sanded down, patching holes. Getting ready to weld in a new floor support system. Got the new transom cut and glued with marine ply. Will finish transom by sealing with fiber glass and epoxy. Figured before I get crazy on the floor I’d use “gluv-it” on the inside, really no leaks but it can’t hurt while I’m here.
 

Attachments

  • F10E854C-AFDB-4DE6-B74C-2C9386EF60AD.jpeg
    F10E854C-AFDB-4DE6-B74C-2C9386EF60AD.jpeg
    3 MB · Views: 1,619
  • 43B4CB23-E7E0-4B25-9733-82C2D5E69C67.jpeg
    43B4CB23-E7E0-4B25-9733-82C2D5E69C67.jpeg
    4 MB · Views: 1,618
  • 775117C4-76E2-4EFC-BC37-E4DAAEB541B1.jpeg
    775117C4-76E2-4EFC-BC37-E4DAAEB541B1.jpeg
    2.8 MB · Views: 1,619
  • 73C108B3-FF38-4181-8936-D46632EBBD27.jpeg
    73C108B3-FF38-4181-8936-D46632EBBD27.jpeg
    2.4 MB · Views: 1,618
  • 8288A23D-F9CF-450F-B0F7-750F32E172A3.jpeg
    8288A23D-F9CF-450F-B0F7-750F32E172A3.jpeg
    3.8 MB · Views: 1,619
  • 9B4EC97B-CF8E-4521-A5B3-070A9C1B1DD8.jpeg
    9B4EC97B-CF8E-4521-A5B3-070A9C1B1DD8.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 1,618
  • DA1362A4-8717-4905-B2E5-41D513588462.jpeg
    DA1362A4-8717-4905-B2E5-41D513588462.jpeg
    3 MB · Views: 1,618
It's a perfect all purpose hull...wide and stable. Capable of handling a big open floor plan. I have a similar year that's become my all around adventure boat... perfect for fishing.. diving... testing motors... enough room to pitch a tent and camp....

GYORE0469.JPG

IMG_3268.JPG
 
That hull is so cool! What a great all purpose design. You're going to like the open floor plan.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 
Shaugh said:
It's a perfect all purpose hull...wide and stable. Capable of handling a big open floor plan. I have a similar year that's become my all around adventure boat... perfect for fishing.. diving... testing motors... enough room to pitch a tent and camp....

GYORE0469.JPG

IMG_3268.JPG

Very nice. Big and wide tiller boat! Love those comfy seats too.!
 
Shaugh said:
It's a perfect all purpose hull...wide and stable. Capable of handling a big open floor plan. I have a similar year that's become my all around adventure boat... perfect for fishing.. diving... testing motors... enough room to pitch a tent and camp....

Yeah I really love this style of boat, I wish I had the larger one like yours but even my 14’ feels a lot bigger with that boat design. I’ve seen the larger ones turned into some really cool center console designs. Cool to see another old boat getting used.
 
Getting the bow supports rebuilt. Only wood I plan on going back in the boat. Using maple, seal up with epoxy.
 

Attachments

  • 77FE6210-915B-4020-80A1-1B914A70BB13.jpeg
    77FE6210-915B-4020-80A1-1B914A70BB13.jpeg
    2.8 MB · Views: 1,532
Floor welded together, working on the casting deck, starting paint
 

Attachments

  • BF3C848E-F0CD-46DB-BAC3-F772D6D569DB.jpeg
    BF3C848E-F0CD-46DB-BAC3-F772D6D569DB.jpeg
    3.6 MB · Views: 1,392
  • DACBE946-1693-47F4-8863-4326B0A94C0A.jpeg
    DACBE946-1693-47F4-8863-4326B0A94C0A.jpeg
    3.6 MB · Views: 1,391
  • 4CF6015A-C538-4ABF-9B02-E0C7AE7D9DD5.jpeg
    4CF6015A-C538-4ABF-9B02-E0C7AE7D9DD5.jpeg
    2.7 MB · Views: 1,392
  • 3489D31D-AAC8-47BC-A839-609D3350B27D.jpeg
    3489D31D-AAC8-47BC-A839-609D3350B27D.jpeg
    487.2 KB · Views: 1,391
  • D24AD806-594F-4167-A65B-0256AE4D9659.jpeg
    D24AD806-594F-4167-A65B-0256AE4D9659.jpeg
    2.6 MB · Views: 1,391
  • 868E0043-686E-4061-ABB5-D42842A7AA16.jpeg
    868E0043-686E-4061-ABB5-D42842A7AA16.jpeg
    2.4 MB · Views: 1,391
  • 03D3A1C1-0D25-45D8-9897-90CBD08722B5.jpeg
    03D3A1C1-0D25-45D8-9897-90CBD08722B5.jpeg
    3.3 MB · Views: 1,391
  • 5D6038A5-2E39-4E40-95A8-0C72FC6CD641.jpeg
    5D6038A5-2E39-4E40-95A8-0C72FC6CD641.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 1,392
Jim said:
Awesome progress bud!

Thanks for sharing your project. Looking forward to the end result. :beer:

Thank you ! This forum is great stuff.
 
One more sand and coat on the white part then the decals will be ready. Looking like a boat again. Added tie down eyes on the transom so no more tying to the handles, not that it really makes a difference I guess. Just a cleaner look.
 

Attachments

  • 1694E893-4833-46FE-B2DE-B2487697325C.jpeg
    1694E893-4833-46FE-B2DE-B2487697325C.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 548
  • E003E91C-2311-4342-8BFB-C937E597BC8A.jpeg
    E003E91C-2311-4342-8BFB-C937E597BC8A.jpeg
    2.3 MB · Views: 547
  • FCDD6E4C-D8E3-4511-A0F2-1ECB4C3D4FC7.jpeg
    FCDD6E4C-D8E3-4511-A0F2-1ECB4C3D4FC7.jpeg
    3.3 MB · Views: 548
  • 55C88F07-08BA-4F87-8D1E-A5D13F6F7547.jpeg
    55C88F07-08BA-4F87-8D1E-A5D13F6F7547.jpeg
    2.5 MB · Views: 547
Bottom paint is done, decals on, re bunked the trailer, starting to prime the inside of the boat.
 

Attachments

  • 9C7A29C3-FF9A-490E-A681-78033A59CEA5.jpeg
    9C7A29C3-FF9A-490E-A681-78033A59CEA5.jpeg
    5.7 MB · Views: 537
  • 76B0DF93-12D8-4558-9843-8A617C8625C6.jpeg
    76B0DF93-12D8-4558-9843-8A617C8625C6.jpeg
    6.2 MB · Views: 536
  • D4A0E483-EE92-4563-93A3-C8A36D09B275.jpeg
    D4A0E483-EE92-4563-93A3-C8A36D09B275.jpeg
    5.4 MB · Views: 537
  • F1408EAC-7B1B-4B08-A267-735DFEB30DC7.jpeg
    F1408EAC-7B1B-4B08-A267-735DFEB30DC7.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 536
  • 20C00748-0F5D-4F17-BE7F-EC89EBC9CC6E.jpeg
    20C00748-0F5D-4F17-BE7F-EC89EBC9CC6E.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 537
  • 5881258C-9F05-4358-A1AC-EDD957C660D0.jpeg
    5881258C-9F05-4358-A1AC-EDD957C660D0.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 537
Got the inside gunwales painted up, cut out the floor, epoxied the floor, riveted it down and sealed the spots where I ran rivets. Added a few mods to the trailer tongue. Also, nobody seems interested but if you are let me know. Otherwise I’ll probably stop posting here and save everyone some time.. lol :roll:
 

Attachments

  • 9CC53430-28C6-4B32-B139-6D79795EF77A.jpeg
    9CC53430-28C6-4B32-B139-6D79795EF77A.jpeg
    549.4 KB · Views: 513
  • E3BADC49-5971-4BD2-99B6-C4E337C9DBC7.jpeg
    E3BADC49-5971-4BD2-99B6-C4E337C9DBC7.jpeg
    570.4 KB · Views: 513
  • 64B277C0-68BB-49E9-9C6A-03C00591D796.jpeg
    64B277C0-68BB-49E9-9C6A-03C00591D796.jpeg
    3.8 MB · Views: 514
  • C964A07F-5EBA-494C-B714-65EC6150A44E.jpeg
    C964A07F-5EBA-494C-B714-65EC6150A44E.jpeg
    2.9 MB · Views: 513
  • FD535B6C-2358-4261-BA19-D15042A4AD47.jpeg
    FD535B6C-2358-4261-BA19-D15042A4AD47.jpeg
    3.4 MB · Views: 513
  • 796A062C-506D-4BF6-9BF1-14C9CCDD97C5.jpeg
    796A062C-506D-4BF6-9BF1-14C9CCDD97C5.jpeg
    3.3 MB · Views: 514

Latest posts

Top