1974 24' Chieftan Express project

[1973Chieftain]

Well, that was strange. I took my volt meter out to check if the starter fuse was gone. I turned the key one position. I tried to check the volts and hear a hissing kind of noise coming from the battery area. (The key has been on for about 30 seconds at this point), I turn around to see clouds of smokebillowing from my dash!!! Not good! At least one purple wire running to the key is melted now. Something tells me this is not good....

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Something not good is an understatement. You certainly have a short. Normally if you could assume that all wiring was hooked up correctly you could fairly easily trace the wires and check your continuity but at this point I don't think you can be certain that all wires are hooked up properly. But first off I would check that your ground is good. That would be checking from battery to engine block, starter hot leads to block, and hot to ignition. I have seen a few smoking wires from bad grounds in my job. Then I would double check that all connections are in their proper places. Unfortunately in my line of work electrical problems are a real PIA as it seems someone always has butchered up the wiring harnesses and try to defeat safety switches then bring them to me and say what happened.

 

[64osby]

Hope you're working through the issue and glad your working the Northern border, not the southern one.

 

[Watermann]

Youch, that's some rotten luck Chief. I sure the magic isn't gone when the genie got let out of the bottle. Trace that purple wire back and see if it's been grounded out somewhere along the route.

 

[1973Chieftain]

SPLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, I got her out and she RAN! Fired right up (both in the driveway first and out on the water), and ran like a champ. Feels SOOOOOO good after all the over budget expenses and tons of overtime I put in to pay for it!! Hit 38 MPH GPS with the 17p that came with the outdrive at just a hair under the max rpm of 4200. Couldn't be happier! and hit 5 mph with the 15 hp kicker when I tried that... should do nicely as a backup and for trolling should I end of doing much fishing!


And I totally agree 64, up here is far better then down there was.... especially now!

 

[jbcurt00]

Sounds great, congrats!

I bet it looked even better.....

um, yeah, about that ^^^ pix?

 

[1973Chieftain]

No Title

I know, I know... had to upload them from my phone. I made a few mistakes out there, but overall it went very well

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep, LOOKS great!

 

[Watermann]

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about! There's some sweet victory with all the recent mechanical pitfalls kept coming your way at every turn. Glad she ran without any troubles. Looking good and I bet your happy things are finally going your way with the Chief. :thumb:

I know the feeling you had on your maiden voyage. I had an ear to ear grin when I splashed my Chief this month.

 

[1973Chieftain]

I got the carpet laid and the dog house in. And build a 16" wide set of steps to assist with getting in and out.

I moved your pic into the message, 73. Hope you don't mind - GA-B.

 

[GA_Boater]

She looks good on the water, 73. And nice steps, handy too.

 

[iamsaws]

my favorite boat on the forum. never chop top. its the coolest part!

 

[Watermann]

Nice access thought, makes it easy to get on that big ole dance floor :lol:

 

[1973Chieftain]

No Title

Well, did some boating at the end of season in her and see did perfectly... went up to the Mackinac Bridge and the waves were no big deal. But I hated the roller ttrailer, no matter what I did I could not get all the rollers off chines. So I went and bought a bunk trailer today for $600. Not a bad price I thing, as the 26' roller trailer should sell for more that that. It's a unique shape though, the main beams are straight the whole length and are in a V shape. Different then the bends in every other boat trailer I've seen

 

[1973Chieftain]

No Title

 

[Watermann]

Welcome back Chief, yeah that is a unique design on the trail beams and yeah mine are bent too.

Thanks for the warm blue sky pic too! :smow:

 

[Weep'n Willy]

That's a nice cruise under the Big Mac, an engineering marvel. Did you go over to Mackinaw Island while you were there?

 

[64osby]

Nice pic of the bridge off the stern, sounds like the water was pretty smooth. I've been on the big ferry's when the water wasn't so nice.

Trailer looks nice, good luck setting it up and doing the transfer.

See you have your Mariner up on C/L. No need for a smaller boat?

 

[1973Chieftain]

Willy, we did go over to the island but on a ferry. I had never been there and didn't want to go the first time with my boat in case the waves picked up. Good thing too as the 2' waves when we went over were up to 6-7' on the way back according to the ferry boat captain. Definitely going back up there again sometime though!

64, yes the Mariner is up for sale. I figured the Chief will do all the things I want it to do. And the funds were to go to the engine costs for the Chief. It had been a great boat for us, and fast when I wanted it to be too! I actually was going to be a 1 boat man again... but now I have the MBS itch again. This time for a 14' Feathercraft

 

[64osby]

The Feathercraft is a much better option than a rotten wooden boat.