TriStar Help!?!?

[NW89ProStar]

My understanding is that Mastercraft stopped using wood in the middle of 83. Does anyone know if this applied to the Tristar as well? A facebook group said the tristars used glass covered wood.

Also, in the integrated swim platform, there appears to be some form of large circle plastic cover similar to the one where the drain plug is, under the foam matting that covers the swim platform. I plan to remove the foam to do some Seadek but was curious if you had any info. Is this a rudder box access port??? I have no clue.

Thanks in advance!

I can try and get pictures of the cover in the next couple days

[88 PS190]

MC has wood after 83, just not in the "hull" itself. So the side boards with the vinyl, or the rear floors, or the removable seats they can all still have wood componentry in them. What they eliminated was wood in the actual hull stringer.

That does sound like some sort of access port. Not sure on that hull but you're probably barking up the right tree.

[waterlogged882]

My understanding is that Mastercraft stopped using wood in the middle of 83. Does anyone know if this applied to the Tristar as well? A facebook group said the tristars used glass covered wood.

Also, in the integrated swim platform, there appears to be some form of large circle plastic cover similar to the one where the drain plug is, under the foam matting that covers the swim platform. I plan to remove the foam to do some Seadek but was curious if you had any info. Is this a rudder box access port??? I have no clue.

Thanks in advance!

I can try and get pictures of the cover in the next couple days

Here's what little I know on the Tristar;

Background on wood - wood stringers went away after 82. The underfloor system was changed with a new engine mounting setup (underfloor) and re-placement of the foam (required by EPA and BIA), which was (post 82) put in the floor with channels laid in there to direct and contain the foam. The channels were thin composite pieces (similar to guttering) and that then became the underfloor system for foam and engine mounts. Stringers as were once known (pre-83) became extinct.

There still remains wood in the boats (up to some point and maybe even today's makes??).

If the Tristar did not follow the post 82 protocol I would be surprised but I have never cut into a Tristar. I do realize the fuel cell is up front and underfloor so I could easily be off base here but I more so think the Tristar would have followed the factory models of the other Prostars, etc. MC got away from wood stringers for a reason and my suspicion and good guess lies as aforementioned.

All of that said, I will say this; I am confident that the entire transom is a piece of wood. There has to be some structural integrity within the transom for other elements of design to tie in synergistically to the hull, etc.

I do know as a hands-on fact that wood is in the transom(s) of the 190 through 94, and again, following protocol, I would also bet the Tristar.

If you look in the bilge area and find a gel coat finish on the vertical position where the engine mounts are, you can bet it is as I described. If not, you will see a matted cloth outline within the epoxy that would indicate a cloth-wrapped wood stringer. However I do not wrap stringers when I put them in.

If you remove the transom cover on the inside and look closely at the transom, you can see the outline of the piece of wood within the transom area.

The rudder is farther forward than the platform as you asked above. Take the cover off and dig into that thing. :-)

I will really stretch out on a limb here hoping it does not break, and say the circular cover type thing is where foam was injected into the unit. That is a wild guess but I'll be close.

To your statement about someone on faceplace...unless people post a photo of their specific and direct hands-on work, about 90% of people (anywhere) are read and repeat.

If I am incorrect about my hypothesis I stand to be humbly corrected. But I am not wrong ...LOL. There are several folks here that have extensive hands-on working knowledge and share, so good on them.

Best on the Seadek. I have a (new) scrap piece in my shop that may fit your machine. Grey in color.

photo credit to owner.

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Gel coat look on the vertical (photo credit to owner) and the post- setup.
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Here is one I worked on with the matted look I spoke of.
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[NW89ProStar]

Thanks for all the info, I finally got back down to the shop. It is definitely an access port for the rudder. However i do not think it is factory. I would like to meet the moron who drilled an 8" hole in the back of the boat just to do the rudder. No im trying to figure what to do in regards to the seadek. Grrrr
also found my paint code sticker. Master craft does not have my boat on file, but they emailed me a list of years and colors. However i cannot find the color platinum in the list???

[waterlogged882]

Thanks for the update. I have learned a little about the Tristar configuration. Best on the fix.

I did not imagine an opening that size.

I will say this; if that hand hole access port was not there, how would a fellow get to the rudder port for service and the tiller arm to replace the steering cable? Maybe from the inside access?

Here is the color chart from the 88 brochure, leaving a lot to be desired.

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[NW89ProStar]

So do youbthink that the light grey gel coat is the platinum color i need?

[NW89ProStar]

I plan to screw a piece of plywood larger than hole underneath, then fill the hole with fiberglass bondo. Then seadek over it. Can always unscrew the plywood and punch out the bondo if needed

[waterlogged882]

So do youbthink that the light grey gel coat is the platinum color i need?

I could only guess but that is about as close as I could determine at this point.

Here is a possible cross walk for color comparison; look on Spectrum Color dot com for something that may get you spot on. Merely a shot in the dark. Maybe a phone call...they are pretty good about color matching with gel coat.

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[waterlogged882]

I plan to screw a piece of plywood larger than hole underneath, then fill the hole with fiberglass bondo. Then seadek over it. Can always unscrew the plywood and punch out the bondo if needed

That is one possible way to go.

Remember the rudder port will need servicing (seals) sometime or another as well as the steering cable replacement. Maybe now before you close it up? Once the seadek is down with glue, it could mess it up to go back in later.

I have a new leftover piece in my shop that is grey if that helps you with a small order.

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[NW89ProStar]

Ok, according to the previous owner it was just serviced. Thanks for offer on the Seadek but id like to do the teak colored one

[robadele]

I plan to screw a piece of plywood larger than hole underneath, then fill the hole with fiberglass bondo. Then seadek over it. Can always unscrew the plywood and punch out the bondo if needed

Why not just put a better gasket / sealant on the cover that already screws in? Add plywood, screws, and some sort of filler will not work well. It does not seem like you need a structural fix. If the existing cover does not leak, why go to all the extra trouble? Just go ahead and cover it with Seadek.

[NW89ProStar]

My issue is I dont think its entirely water tight. Also with how thick the cover is, There would be a substantial bump in the Seadek and not look good at all

[pbgbottle]

Kind of read the thread here that hole is not factory for the rudder you can get to the rudder from inside the boat that hole looks painful. Ouch. Poor old Tristar.

[NW89ProStar]

Forgot to provide an update to this issue. I ended up purchasing a disk of aluminum and counter sinking screw holes. Used silicone on the edge and matched the screw holes to the previous access port and then seadek over it. Actually came out decent and I dont have too many complaints.