1974 24' Chieftan Express project

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Nice, did you make the vroom vroom sounds while it was on the water??

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Nope, WnW but I sure thought them! Progress is slow, but that's because I've been repainting the top of the Mariner and prepping it for use this summer. But even small steps feel good!

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Looks great seeing the monster tin afloat! :thumb:

Forward progress is what we all strive for, no matter the size of the accomplishment.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Looks GREAT!

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Are keel rollers needed on a roller trailer? As the Chief sits, the 2 keel rollers are about 6" too low. I can buy taller ones, however I have never owned a roller trailer before and am not sure of their purpose as they are fairly far forward so can have all that much weight on them

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

I think at least one on the rear of the trailer to pick up the bow/keel so the boat isn't banging the trailer cross member before the hull contacts the rollers. And on a tinny, keel rollers help support so the tin isn't dimpled by the hull rollers.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

GA, there are none on the stern, just 2 forward. 1 where the tongue meets the angled piece and one about 3' farther aft. It seems odd to me as bunk trailers normally have several spaced out along the length of the hull. I'm wondering if they are primarily to keep the hull off the tongue if the hull sat deeply enough on the trailer?

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

The roller on the front cross member will keep the keel off the frame when loading and unloading. With roller trailer it is only necessary to dip the back rollers in the water and allow the boat to go on and off from there. When in the water the stern of the boat rises off the trailer and the bow dips which could result in it hitting the frame so the front roller is mostly a safety precaution. I will be putting one on my trailer as my clearance is only a couple inches. I would believe the other one on your trailer was there for the same purpose but for a steeper V boat like I have seen on some glass boats where it would take the load before the hull would fully contact the rollers while loading/unloading. Make sense??

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

starcraft on the water!!!!

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Thanks WnW, that makes a lot of sense! When I floated it on I buried both sets of tires under water up at Lexington... I guess it's a learning curve.. it would be nice not to have to back in so far

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Yea, I recognized the port in your pic, we went out of there last weekend to do some fishing. And if you decide to launch out of 12th st in Pt Huron you certainly don't want to put the trailer in that far as that is a much steeper launch angle. But she sure does look good on the water.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Chief - nice progress. Sad to see the Barrelback go, hope that Merc keeps running for the new owner. New funds for this big girl are a good thing.

On my Mariner the back rollers are at water level and then you just crank it up and on. It can take a couple minutes and gets a little heavy near the end on the steeper ramps. I'm looking at putting an electric winch on mine.

The keel rollers on mine are just to protect the keel from hitting the frame and not to support the hull.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project



Yeah 64, it was sad seeing her go! But I would not have used her much with 2 other boats.

Busy last couple of days, I dry fitted the transom and got it started with the coats of spar. Then I bought a donor boat... for the seat pedistals! $80 for a boat and trailer... keeping the pedistals and selling the rest

Then drilled the rivets out of a flooring piece and pulled it up. Some of the foam was damp, but not soaked. Only 1/2" ply too which kinda surprised me. I was expecting it to be thicker.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

I think 1/2" is the norm for Starcraft. Aluminum boat, lightweight materials. Good luck with the deconstruction.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

wait. so you did the splash before the demolition? are you a Time Lord in disguise?

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Barato, I wish! I had the transom out but I bolted a piece of ply over the outside of the keyhole using the gimbal housing bolt holes. I wanted to swap it to its new trailer so I could sell the old one. I figured floating it off was the safest way to swap trailers. But not that I have seen her in the water, I REALLY REALLY want to finish her!

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

it's a good incentive plan. and the pix of it floating have got to help with the Admiral!

 

[64osby]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

floating it is a much better option, and the mob get all excited seeing a floating hull. :watermelon:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Chief - Did you get to leak test at all or just a quick swap over?

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 24' Chieftan Express project

Yeap 1/2" decking is what SC used on my Chief too.

I did the little known leap frog method on my trailer swap. Drop the tongue of the old trailer in the dirt, chock tires, remove the winch stand, back new trailers bunks/rollers up to the bow of the boat and winch it onto the new trailer. 15 minutes and your done.