1974 Chieftain 25 "Adventurer" Restoration

[1975oday22]

interesting design! i still have to install the port wall. but that design is wild looking . i like it....

 

[IslandExplorer]

 

[IslandExplorer]

interesting design! i still have to install the port wall. but that design is wild looking . i like it....

Thanks, I just had to do something different for some reason. Is the retro looking geometric silhouette of an "A" for Adventurer a touch too subtle?

 

[1975oday22]

i think its awesome. you do come up with some wicked ideas. keep it unique , this one is a keeper.... you sell it, i is first in line. lol......

 

[IslandExplorer]

I finally got to find out what the stairs and raised cockpit deck area looks and feels like. Really liking it so far! Aside from the six 1.5 cu ft blocks of flotation down in the center stairwell section there is also a nice big empty storage area (I'm hereby calling it the hold!) measuring about 24"W by 30"L by about 3 feet deep. This will be an awesome place for carrying around random bulky items like a raft, or some beach chairs, or scuba gear, or stowaways, or hoards of lobsters, or a keg, or a crank driven margarita maker, or whatever- all out of sight. The steps aren't too steep or doorway too small which was something I was concerned about. Got the dining table mounted too. Converted it from the approx 2" pedestal post to one of the sturdier 3" ones like for chairs. Figure standardizing now is good for the most table and chair reconfig possibilities.

 

[1975oday22]

your making me wish i had something bigger ..... man i need a full blown cabin cruiser..... keep up the great work ....

 

[IslandExplorer]

Can't keep feeling like I'm avoiding it, transom time.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Test fit of the single thickness transom shape I cut. Much to my surprise considering I only did a really quick measurement job with just a tape measure- it fit first try. Was mainly worried about the angles on the sides being right. I recommend if doing this yourself to take accurate perimeter measurements of each flat side. Cut top and bottom then arc from those ends the two measurements to find where they intersect which will be the corner where the chine is. Worked out great for me anyway. Thinking this piece fits along sides and bottom great but I will trim off a 1/2 from the top edge so it sits in there with a small gap at the very bottom edge, just above the aluminum channel that it sockets into. Thinking small clearance in there along with a few small drain holes will help keep it dryer at the bottom edge and avoid soaking in water. We'll see. It overlaps quite far into the channels as it is with through bolts on the sides so looks very strong.

 

[Moserkr]

Man you work fast!! Keep it up and you could be boating before the end of summer.

 

[1975oday22]

if you get there before me, im gonna cry. lol keep it up. your doin great.

 

[IslandExplorer]

Thanks guys! I'm cranking away at it as fast as I can. A little too fast, actually. In my near heat stroke delirium today ("real feel" was 107° by the way) rushing the transom along with no shade I fed my finger into my 18V router... There was a lot of blood for a relatively small cut lol but it didn't stop me! Well, not for long anyway. Bandaids ibuprofen and Sambuca fueled a decisive retaliatory strike and I finished routing the edges and got the whole thing quickly painted with the help of my better half. It will get lowered in tomorrow and with a little luck the motor will be getting hoisted in next!

 

[IslandExplorer]

 

[Moserkr]

Bet that cut woke you up quick! Anything into the nail bed does not feel good. Glad that was all.

 

[junkman306]

IslandExplorer, if I had 1/8th of your motivation and drive, who knows what I'd get done around me house. Lol.

 

[1975oday22]

minor battle wound. lol..... keeps marching on for sure. cheers

 

[IslandExplorer]

Bet that cut woke you up quick! Anything into the nail bed does not feel good. Glad that was all.

Sure did! lol

 

[IslandExplorer]

The motivation to be back on the water is stronger every year it seems. Whenever you work on your boat, no matter what a pain it is at that moment, just keep thinking about all the good times past and to come and you'll plow through these projects battle wounds and all. Honestly, dragging them out is probably more expensive and definitely more painful in my opinion. Life's too short to do so anyway so get it the way you want it and out there asap!

 

[IslandExplorer]

Todays progress so far.
Getting dangerously close to completing the cockpit deck and dropping that V8 back in...

 

[IslandExplorer]

Trimmed top edge at an angle to make it sit flush since I didn't do this before dropping it in. One of the now unused side step/ledge pieces made a great donor to make a nice trim piece to seal the transom slot. Once the paint on the transom top edge dries it will be ready to be sealed up below deck. Still need to drill the through bolt holes and then do the screws from the inside.

 

[junkman306]

Todays progress so far.
View attachment 386127View attachment 386123View attachment 386125View attachment 386126View attachment 386124View attachment 386130View attachment 386129View attachment 386128View attachment 386131Getting dangerously close to completing the cockpit deck and dropping that V8 back in...

That's lookin good with paint on it!!!