Leaderboard

We've got a deck that runs the full 50' across the back of the house and although the frame is still in excellent condition the floor was showing it's age so I decided it was time to spruce it up. I pulled all the old boards off and replaced them all with new pressure treated and it turned out really nice. I'll leave it alone for the summer then seal it all. The brown pressure treated boards look much nicer then the green ones we used to get. Biggest job now is cutting up all the old boards & hauling them to the dump.

So does thick skin 😎😎

So, after 28 years of beating up my boat, the options were buy a new one, or rebuild mine. New boats are ridiculously expensive, and good used ones even more, so I rebuilt mine. Its a 1993 Starcraft 16 Widebody. Nothing fancy, but it has served me very well, and is very versatile. I take this rig to backwoods speck lakes, and troll the great lakes on the right days, and also hunt it right until I can no longer break the ice, so its seen its share of conditions, been swamped twice, and sunk at the dock once Lol. I dont think i could ever part with it to be honest. Anyways, here's some pics start to finish.

now you are just making me feel bad for my passengers in my single console bass boat 🤣

Looks great Lew...The family did ours about three years ago on a Saturday...The Ramp was done by a contractor as it was covered by a safety grant from March of Dimes...

Along with Fisherman's suggestion. If there is a pull left or right on the tiller, while at speed; you can easily adjust that out. The vid is of a merc but the idea is the same.

I have bought from them for years. They are great

I have dealt with Them a couple of times and I am very satisfied for sure, They know how important customer service is. Mike

For years my brother always had a 14' tinny & then 20 odd years ago I bought a Crestliner with a side console. He used to fish with me all the time and one cold rainy day down at Quinte we were running down the lake and I was warm & dry behind the windshield while he looked like a drowned duck. He looked over at me and asked "why the heck didn't you buy a boat with a windshield for me too and I said "because you didn't offer to pay for 1/2 the new boat" He didn't laff but I thought it was hilarious LOL 😁

Just read an article today about the demand for lumber. I remember a couple of months ago when I first started the deck I came home from work and the wife said while doing the dishes a pickup stopped in front of our driveway and 2 guys were looking at something and drove away. No doubt it was all that wood that was sitting there. Into the garage it went.

Glen, I hear you on having guests over, it's been far too long for sure. Norm, great deal on having the cost of the ramp covered and it looks great too. LostAnotherOne, the price of lumber has gone thru the roof but sometimes we just have to bite the proverbial bullet and get on with it LOL

Great to hear the floatation foam worked! I wondered how you swamped it. Mines only around 72” at the gunnels. 61” beam. But it has the big splash well. I’ve got a 50 hp evinrude triple right now but a 70hp on the stand for this winters rebuild plans.

Yep. It would cost me 30 grand to buy a similar new boat right now. I almost bought an 18 foot starcraft freedom with a 90 yammy tiller, but my wife made me a deal that if we spend the money on rebuilding this one, in 5 years we buy a new big boat for the great lakes, and traveling around on. How could I pass that up? The complete rebuild cost me about $1800 all in, and took almost a month, working on it in the garage after work in the evenings. The worste part was covid and sourcing/waiting for materials. Could have done it in a week if I had all the materials on hand at one time. S.

My foam was all above the floor, and bone dry so I left it alone. It works, because I found out the hard way several times lol.... I replaced hundreds of rivets. I have to thank Irishfield for his knowledge on that part of the project. He led me to the right tools and places to get supplies. The solid rivets took a few tries to get good at, but once you've done a few, they are easy, and strong. I replaced every single pop rivet in the boat. What are you powering it with? The SS is a much bigger boat than mine. Deeper for sure, not sure about width. Mine is 84" wide at the widest point of the gunnels. Long transom, but no splash well.....the reason I swamped it twice. Both times I was coming to shore on a beach on lake Ontario with a full load of duck decoys and gear, with breaking waves. My own fault. No damage or injuries lol S.

Looks great

That’s one slick looking rig! You can take a 50 year old Starcraft and make it new again!

I find the direction my body is facing makes a difference. Trolling, my body is facing the side of the boat. I turn my head to view my course. On plane, my body is facing my course. Running chop with your head turned 90 degrees is not fun. Surprised no one has suggested this one.... Any time above trolling speed you really should be tethered to the kill switch.

The face saver is great for the tiller. After 30 mph your eyes start to water. Great on cold days

Hey Bri---keepin them lines tight?

They can't make you pay retro unless they can prove I actually drove my truck, which I didn't because of covid. And your insurance doesn't get notified of an expired sticker charge either, for the record. Anyways, I will deal with it when its mandatory for me to have one, and until then i will carry on driving for free. S.