1973 21' Starcraft Chieftain project

[jpormen]

A couple years i go i redid a 1982 crestliner with some help from the boats forum. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...ir/535186-1982-amf-crestliner-got-it-for-free
Well while at the casino drinking i got a text about this starcraft I inquired about, so yesterday morning i went and picked it up for real cheap., $500 with about $100 in gas to go get it. The previous owner put a new transom in it and tour out most of the interior, the only thing that needs torn out is the cab interior and floor. The motor supposedly ran before he tour everything apart, its a mercruiser 165hp incline 6. It came with two outdrives one supposedly good and one is no good. The exhaust manifold? is not installed but i do have it, he also gave me both gas tanks that have been refurbished. I've been looking for a project boat, and this was a good price, but it may be too much boat for me right now. I may have rushed into buying it, but i couldn't pass of this much of boat for this little of a price.

Does anyone know of a post or thread on how to go about seeing if the mercruiser is going to run?




This is the bad outdrive, but the casing is in good shape


This is the "good" outdrive














Thoughts?

 

[jbcurt00]

Got the missing transom corner cap? That the only hardware missing if you don't have the corner cap?

What's on those 'refurbished' gas tanks?

Are you 100% positive the transom isn't pressure treated (PT) plywood?

Otherwise, looks to be a good project boat for not a lot of green. But the transom does look like PT, and that may change it from a good price for a good project to an ok price for a so-so project boat. Not a deal breaker and it can be fixed, may just be very involved.

Did you poke around the Starcraft forum while working on the Crestliner? Lots of helpful info there:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/owners-groups-by-manufacturer/s/starcraft-boats

And quite a bit of suspected PT damage/corrosion repair has been posted

 

[jpormen]

I do have the transom corner cap, he put a new liner in the tank and put bedliner on the outside to help prevent corrosion and i believe he said it was PT transom

 

[jbcurt00]

Transom NEEDS to come out, sooner then later.

PT lumber is corrosive to aluminum

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Definitely a project but I'd say well worth the price of admission.

 

[jpormen]

Within the next couple weeks and my pops are going to try to see if she runs, if she runs I will work on getting on the water by next summer. If we get it running i'm going to probably put her back up on craigslist.

 

[Bondo]

Transom NEEDS to come out, sooner then later.

PT lumber is corrosive to aluminum

Ayuh,..... Sorry to say it, but that needs repeatin',.....

Does anyone know of a post or thread on how to go about seeing if the mercruiser is going to run?

Ayuh,.... That's what the Mercruiser I/O forum is for,..... come on over, 'n start a thread,...

Check out Don'S Adults Only section linked in my signature for Alota helpful Info,....

 

[jpormen]

Is it possible to pull the transom and replace it without pulling the motor all the way out?

 

[kjdunne]

Looks like maybe PT under the front motor mount too. It's all got to go. Looks like a great project, good luck with it.

 

[jpormen]

As far as checking for leaky rivets would it be best to back the boat down the boat launch and wait a few and see if I notice any water or should I fill the boat full off water?
Also I was looking at the boat today, was curious if I could cut the top of the cubby off and just make a big open boat, would it compromise the structure of the boat?

 

[jpormen]

Is there any way to get this thread moved over to the starcraft section of the forum? i would of created it there but didn't know about it.

Did some work on the ol girl today. Got the wall taken out and a section of floor taken out, also got all the trash thrown out of the boat.

My cushions that go in the cabin of the boat are actually in great shape just need cleaned up a little.

 

[jbcurt00]

Moved it to the SC forum

 

[g0nef1sshn]

Ooooooh new eye candy. Nice score! I patiently wait for the day i can tear into a larger one!

 

[jpormen]

Travaco Gluvit Epoxy Waterproof Sealer, 1.8 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001446LH2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_qXkawbXGN9617

Is this what I need to fix leaky rivits and seams?

 

[64osby]

That will would be the stuff. :happy:

 

[jbcurt00]

You will want the larger size GluvIt. The small 1.8lb probably wont do the 21ft Chief.

Iboats sells it too

http://www.iboats.com/Gluvit-Epoxy-Waterproof-Sealer

And offers a 5% discount to forum members as well as price matching on a lot of items.

 

[jpormen]

I'm just doing the inside of the hull rivits and anywear it may leak I'm not gona cost the whole hull so I think the small can may be enough

 

[g0nef1sshn]

I'm just doing the inside of the hull rivits and anywear it may leak I'm not gona cost the whole hull so I think the small can may be enough

Small can was enough for two coats on mmy 16 SS. Although i only did 1, if ihad bigger i know to get more like jb suggested.

 

[Grandad]

Is it possible to pull the transom and replace it without pulling the motor all the way out?

That's how I did mine. Now mine is only a 4 cylinder, but I don't think it would be much different. I left the front mount intact and provided a level wood platform for it to slide forward on. I managed to fasten blocking to the rear of the engine such that with a friend using his brute force and my ignorance, we managed to sneak the engine forward a few inches. Obviously everything connecting to the transom had to be disconnected, but it enabled me to do the repair without an overhead hoist in the limited storage space available to me. Since the front mount plywood cross-member was in excellent condition, I was able to reassemble everything with minimal effort. - Grandad

 

[jpormen]

I'm hoping to get gluvit down and new floor put in back to the motor before winter hits. My dad will be helping with motor issues so I feel better having a solid floor for us to stand on vs standing in the Hull with no floor. The motor does fire, so this spring I'll do the paint work and work on getting the motor and outdrive fine tuned