Hull integrity before upgrades

[WhiskeyBusiness78]

Dragged a 1989 Starcraft Mariner 230 out of storage and thinking about giving it new life with a Suzuki 150. Transom feels solid but I tapped some rivets and they weren't happy. Before I start throwing upgrades at it, does anyone have advice on reinforcing these boats for saltwater use?

 

[ricochetrobots1]

Cool project but for this, you can try sealing or replacing the the rivets to prevent future issues.

Does the hull have any hidden corrosion? Using marine-grade epoxy or additional bracing could help for saltwater durability. hope this helps!

 

[Hawkins91]

Dragged a 1989 Starcraft Mariner 230 out of storage and thinking about giving it new life with a Suzuki 150. Transom feels solid but I tapped some rivets and they weren't happy. Before I start throwing upgrades at it, does anyone have advice on reinforcing these boats for saltwater use?

Which areas are you most concerned about reinforcing, just the transom and rivets, or are you also thinking about sealing the hull and upgrading hardware for corrosion resistance?

 

[WhiskeyBusiness78]

@Hawkins91 I'm leaning toward a full-court press on this, not just patching up the rivets. Has anyone here had much success using Gluvit or a similar epoxy sealant on these old Starcraft seams after replacing the rivets?

 

[castingcouchcaptain22]

Gluvit is great for sealing seams on older hulls. Just make sure to clean the surfaces particularly affected by rivet replacement and completely dry to ensure a good bond, especially before they get exposed to saltwater

 

[WhiskeyBusiness78]

@castingcouchcaptain22 Good tip on surface prep. Did you topcoat the Gluvit with anything for UV or abrasion protection or just leave it as is? I'm planning to reseal and paint by early September before dropping the motor.