7 months of labour love

tomnolan

Cadet
Joined
Sep 7, 2015
Messages
13
After 7 months of ownership, a pain in the butt of a winter, 2 strokes and a son graduating high school, I can finally say. My little 18' Chieftain is finished and ready for the water. With the strokes I didn't get a chance to replace the transom but I was only doing it because it was the only thing not replaced. Maybe in the fall I will do it but until then it's time to enjoy this thing and spend some time out on the ocean.
 

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GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
Good news on the Chieftain, Tom. Getting on the water is therapeutic.

Be careful and head to shore if needed.

Did you put twin 45's on her?
 

Mo1

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Dec 11, 2015
Messages
76
Now it's time to enjoy the fruits of your labor
 

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,747
Nice, sure would like to see some more pics of the ole gal!
 

tomnolan

Cadet
Joined
Sep 7, 2015
Messages
13
GA_Boater I picked up a '98 65 Commercial for 350 bucks not running with the controls. Needed a new gas line, hehehehe. I got that on her for the main now and I got a little '73 autoelectric 25 for a kicker. Final touch-ups on her today and then tomorrow I will be putting her in for the year. I still got a couple things I want to do with her but I'm eager to get her in and see how she does. I still couldn't find a replacement windshield so I drilled a tiny hole above the crack and sealed it, then blackened the cabin windows out and added some curtains and a drop down table . It's no longer noticeable so looks ok until I find a replacement. The misses insisted on the curtains where last summer while we were out in my old tinny the coast guard came up and we were a little busy to notice. Misses was embarrassed but the 5 coast guard guys just smiling. I said you guys here long? The guy says well we had to wait around just in case you needed help. I swear the misses was ready to jump overboard at that moment.
 
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Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,747
What part of 'if this boats a rockin' don't they get? Funny story, dang Coasties :lol:
 

tomnolan

Cadet
Joined
Sep 7, 2015
Messages
13
No Title

65hp on a starchief gives me 35mph on my speedo with myself and wife on board, not water skiing but not bad.
I kept the boat pretty plain because I liked the original design of it.
ere are some pics of how I got it done.
 

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oldhaven

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Messages
568
I can see the appeal of the early Starchiefs with no cabin bulkheads. It feels much more open and roomy. There is the aforementioned privacy problem I guess. Nice job.

Ron
 
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