1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Thanks everyone!!! My wife and step-daugher will be moving to AZ from WA in a month.. I have little time to get this boat done and the house in order!!!

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

A few pics.. covering starboard side panel... ran out of monel staples...dang it!!! Lowe's is closed!! WTH??? I use steel and replace them w/ monel tomorrow.. lol Have to get all the nautolex done before Mrs Smith moves down here!! I don't think she'd like the kitchen turned into a workshop!!

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

The kitchen table is the best bench I ever had. After rebuilding a carburetor on it years ago, I had to build a shop. Mama was not a happy camper. Looks good man.

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Nice work on the side panels Tom. Hope the new Mrs Smith likes glue fumes and Nautolex offcuts on the kitchen floor!

TII

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Nautolex 88 adhesive has no fumes!!! She should be ok with it, then....right??? lol I stongly suggest wearing leather gloves when working with Nautolex. Stretching it cause massive blisters!! GLoves make it so much easier... Here's a few more pics:

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Both side-panels done. One hatch covering the fuel lines/connections will complete the deck!! Just coated it with spar-vanish and will cover with Nautolex tomorrow and get it in!

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Very nice work Tom, that interior is looking fantastic. Glad the glue isn't fumey... I used a contact adhesive on the screen seal of my boat and on a hot day you can still smell the stuff two years later!

TII

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Nawww... the Nautolex 88 reminds me of Elmer's school glue! The house does smell like spar-varnish right now though!!!

 

[Broadcast]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

That interior is looking schweeet Tom!

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Finally came up with an easy way to cut recesses on the edges of my hatches so that the Nautoel will wrap around and not add any heighth to the hatch. I used a table saw set at about 1/16" high and set the rip fence on the left side of the blade 2" out. This way I cut an almost perfect recess with little effort... VIOLA!!! Too bad it's the last hatch!!! It's par for the course.. I usually find a great way to do something on the last one!! LOL

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

1st: Finished hatch with loose Nautolex for hinge.
2nd: Recess for hinge and loose Nautolex that will glue over it
3rd: Hinge placement
4th: battery holding the Nautolex back to screw the hinge in place.
5th: The "Old battery hold down method"!!

SO...I have the deck and side panels completely covered in Nautolex.. Still have to secure the panels and small deck pieces under the splashwell. I need to hook up the control cables and mount the new controls next..

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Great thinking on material removal tomy!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

That interior is looking awsome, great job Tom

 

[fshngho]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Sorry you discovered that trick towards the end of your project, but you helped all of us before we got to that step. Thanks Tom

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

thanks guys... I will fix my hatches later...lol... it's not that big of a deal, but the LAST one looks really great!!! It's just real nice to have them as flush as possible to the deck..

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Ok... trouble.. I bought Hi-Lex controls a looonnnng time ago.. they have instructions for Johnson, but I think I must have the wrong cables... can anyone tell me for sure?? The cables must secure the slots in the 2nd pic, but how? one cable has an octagon section that "ALMOST" fits, but I'd have to bend the tabs out a bit. Any ideas? Also, I flipped the throttle lever over per instructions so it will push (instead of pull) the cable, but it strill seems to pull..???

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

It sounds like there may be a way to get those controls rigged up with the Johnson.

Maybe start a thread over in the Johnson/Evinrude forum on iboats, they will most likely have some info that can help you out.

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

I'm pretty sure I need the universal cables. I found them on ebay for $15 ea. They have a notch that holds them into the controls and the ends are threaded and will attach perfectly. Anyone need any 13' cables??? CHEAP!! lol.. Minor set-back.. I should have double-checked those controls a long time ago.. haha..

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

YEP! The universal cables work fine!!! I haven't done much to the old clunker lately other than cut out a hole to mount the controls and check to be sure the new cables will work. I'm flying up to WA state Friday to drive my new wife and daughter home! I'm so glad she loves the crazy boat I've built and won't be asking me to sell her to redecorate or anything!!! I haven't seen much action on everyone's Starcrafts lately...how y'all doing??

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1973 Starcraft Chieftain restore

Update:

Controls are in, deck and side panels are in. Was going for the test run last week and........Motor barely turns over.. lol Tested batteries.. none passed a load test. Bought new starting battery at West marine. Charged it fully...and.... no good!!! Maybe I need starter.. investigating that right now in a different forum. Soon....VERY SOON!!