My New 1970 Starchief

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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just wanted to say I also just purchased a1970 starcraft starchief 18 ft ob dave from upstate ny
 

GA_Boater

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Motley - Welcome aboard.

Gave you a thread of your own. Pictures?
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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thank you i have read almost every starcraft post on here boat is presently at a reputable marina having a brand new 90 hp four stroke Yamaha installed bought the boat private sale I know enough to check transom I thought it looked good and the mechancics at marina say its good wanted to know for sure before I spent ten thousand dollars on new motor after reading here about the sides of hull splitting sometimes on 70 s era starcrafts how concerned do I need to be will be running on lake champlain can get pretty rough the hull seems real solid I filled it with water no leaks must have been stored inside most of it life btw reason for new motot it had a 70 something Evinrude electric shift which I don't even want to fool with when I figure out how to get pics off my girlfriends phone I will post some so I must have one of few that transom is not bad
 

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Jan 12, 2013
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13,753
Welcome aboard Dave :wave:

Inspection of the boat for cracks and it being used in good condition dictate issues with cracks in the older boats. Most times but not all from what I've seen, the side cracks will develop when the boat is used with compromised decks and side panels and usually the IO models suffer the worst.
 

classiccat

"Captain" + Starmada Splash Of The Year 2020
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Dec 20, 2010
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Welcome!

Looking forward to see pics of your old chief with that new Yammy! :madgrin:
 

bchaney

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 3, 2018
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246
Welcome and congrats on the boat and new motor. I'm here for the pics :pop2:
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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thanks for the w elcome and support and advice on the side splitting issue the few posts I read on here about that made me nervous because im sure this boat has never been redone floor original I just peeled up the old blue vynil I didn't really want to get into a big resto this summer I just want to use it for afew years I hate to tell u this but I picked it up for 750.00 with a nice galvinazed highlander single axle trailer pics coming when my boy gets home to help me hes better with computers
 

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Yeah it would concern me too with the deck and panels being original. Even if not compromised with rot the old blind rivets will be on their way to being loose or worse yet failing with 50 years of age. The side spray rail chine split goes hand in hand with rib end cracks. Replacement of loose or damaged large flange blinds that tie the deck and side panels together may be all you need for peace of mind.

Just know this issue does take years of use with the bad structure and will be accelerated with rough use in choppy water pounding.

The main thing is you know the issue and are aware of the possibility and what causes the failure. I recently saw a guy on the SC FB group with a 5' spit out of his older boats side. The usual just weld it up crowd chimed in and he ignored my advice on how to address the reason it happened to begin with.
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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ok thanks when I get boat back from marina I will make sure floor and side rails are tied together real good before splash
 

motley crew

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This is all the pictures I have at the moment. Will be posting more once I get up to the marina.
 

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Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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:thumb:

fetch
 

motley crew

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since i first got my 70 starchief have been promising pic of the new 90 four stroke and cabin have put in porta potty and flat screen tv cuddy makes into about queen size bed my girlfriend and i have spent nite on lake 4 times it works the new yammah has tons of power and great gas miliage hope you what ive done so farWIN_20210607_08_06_48_Pro.jpg
 

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Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Looks like you have a great memory making machine there, these little Chiefs are one of my favorite Starcraft boats. (y)
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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Looks like you have a great memory making machine there, these little Chiefs are one of my favorite Starcraft boats. (y)
yes we talked before mines not as nice as yours but little at a time going out tonite to spend nite on lake champlain
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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dont know why the pic wont come out bigger sorry yea the pics come out big again
 
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oldhaven

Chief Petty Officer
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Aug 30, 2015
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568
I have a similar Starchief with a 4 stroke Mercury. Just curious...what size and pitch prop are you using and what kind of performance does it give you?
 

motley crew

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Jan 9, 2020
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I have a similar Starchief with a 4 stroke Mercury. Just curious...what size and pitch prop are you using and what kind of performance does it give you?
when igo out to boat i will get you exact prop size what i can tell you right now is planes out between 2 and 3 grand at 3500 it will do around 20 mph at45 to5000 grand just shy of 30mph if lake is calm i will cruise at2500 planed out very quiet great gas miliage sometimes have to play with power trim a little also have a 50 pound steel weight i move side to side if needed as i have no trim tabs two heavy r/v batterys as far front as could get back with prop size later
 
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