satx78247
Well-known member
Friends,
As I said elsewhere this week, I bought a 16 foot STARCRAFT 1973 SUPERSPORT tin boat, "for peanuts" & on a good DILLY trailer.
(Supposedly, the hull's seats & interior was removed & stored BUT I found out this PM that the seats, etc. have been "tossed out".)
The PO offered to refund my money but, after thinking it over & looking at the period photos on www.fiberglassics.com, I've decided to keep the hull/trailer & CONVERT the boat to a "somewhat bigger" STARCRAFT SPORTSMAN, which is a BIG, open, fishing machine for BIG LAKES & SALTWATER.
My inclination as of today is to:
1. Finish stripping everything that is "removable" out of the hull,
2. Tear out the carpet/flooring & replace the "waterlogged" foam flotation,
3. Replace the current "soft" floors & worn-out carpeting with MDO & some sort of "saltwater fishing friendly" anti-slip material that won't "catch" fishhooks or absorb fish blood & that will be easy to keep clean,
4. Find/Install a center console with steering system & seat OR make one from wood/epoxy,
5. Find/Install other suitable seating from stem to stern,
6. Install fishing rod holders,
7. Find/Install a suitable 60-75 HP "Johnnyrude" outboard, controls & fuel tanks,
8. Install my "garage sale" VHF marine radio, with marine antenna,
9. Buy/Install a suitable "marine quality" stereo with CD player
and
10. Refinish every part of the hull's interior.
With any luck at all, the conversion into a dedicated saltwater fishing machine will be completed by this Fall.
Wish me luck on my first complete boat conversion project.==== Advice on completing my 1st conversion is WELCOME & SOLICITED.
(I've done several restorations to "factory stock" over the last 4+ decades but this will be a more ambitious project.)
yours, tex
As I said elsewhere this week, I bought a 16 foot STARCRAFT 1973 SUPERSPORT tin boat, "for peanuts" & on a good DILLY trailer.
(Supposedly, the hull's seats & interior was removed & stored BUT I found out this PM that the seats, etc. have been "tossed out".)
The PO offered to refund my money but, after thinking it over & looking at the period photos on www.fiberglassics.com, I've decided to keep the hull/trailer & CONVERT the boat to a "somewhat bigger" STARCRAFT SPORTSMAN, which is a BIG, open, fishing machine for BIG LAKES & SALTWATER.
My inclination as of today is to:
1. Finish stripping everything that is "removable" out of the hull,
2. Tear out the carpet/flooring & replace the "waterlogged" foam flotation,
3. Replace the current "soft" floors & worn-out carpeting with MDO & some sort of "saltwater fishing friendly" anti-slip material that won't "catch" fishhooks or absorb fish blood & that will be easy to keep clean,
4. Find/Install a center console with steering system & seat OR make one from wood/epoxy,
5. Find/Install other suitable seating from stem to stern,
6. Install fishing rod holders,
7. Find/Install a suitable 60-75 HP "Johnnyrude" outboard, controls & fuel tanks,
8. Install my "garage sale" VHF marine radio, with marine antenna,
9. Buy/Install a suitable "marine quality" stereo with CD player
and
10. Refinish every part of the hull's interior.
With any luck at all, the conversion into a dedicated saltwater fishing machine will be completed by this Fall.
Wish me luck on my first complete boat conversion project.==== Advice on completing my 1st conversion is WELCOME & SOLICITED.
(I've done several restorations to "factory stock" over the last 4+ decades but this will be a more ambitious project.)
yours, tex