1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Hey CJ - Does that give a satin look to the AL?

Yes, it's not removing that much oxidation.

Get the scotch bright pad with a handle on it, spray some de-ox like JVV's best and it makes trim shine without much elbow grease, finish with a water rinse.

Thanks for the tip Watermann. Could you tell me what JVV stands for?



A little more progress:

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I'm not sure how it's all going to work out, but I'm changing the cabin step down. I want to try and let it go all the way to the bow. It was pretty tough for me to access the bow hatch. I might loose some storage capacity, but I need access without breaking my neck or back. I just don't bend like I used to.

Here's a reference picture of before:

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[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Looks good with the new wood. Changing the step down to suit your needs sounds like a good idea. You're personalizing! :joyous:

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Awsome seeing some decking going in!

Hey it helps if I would spell it correctly, sorry. Here is a google search result with the correct spelling JJV's Best.

Google

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

CJ, i like your reasoning there. and no reason you can't make a removable shelf that drops over the front portion too, in the event you need a level platform or seating for another person forward of the table.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

A little more progress:

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I'm not sure how it's all going to work out, but I'm changing the cabin step down. I want to try and let it go all the way to the bow. It was pretty tough for me to access the bow hatch. I might loose some storage capacity, but I need access without breaking my neck or back. I just don't bend like I used to.

CJ take a look at your forward cabin deck support piece location and now look where mine is. Seems yours is a bit too high up on the sides of the bow walls. I don't know how anyone would be able to crawl up in there and get out the hatch being up that high.

 

[arnoldclan]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Awesome job, you've inspired me. I am a new Chieftain owner and getting ready to start my restoration this fall. Need to remodel the shop a bit 1st. I really like your lowered cabin deck, that is my plan also. Yours looks great.. here's a link to my Chieftain project
arnoldclan's Library | Photobucket

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Looks good with the new wood. Changing the step down to suit your needs sounds like a good idea. You're personalizing! :joyous:

Thanks GA.

Awsome seeing some decking going in!

Hey it helps if I would spell it correctly, sorry. Here is a google search result with the correct spelling JJV's Best.

Google

Ah..... that stuff... that's a great product. I remember my dad using that stuff on his toon a long time ago and it worked great!

CJ, i like your reasoning there. and no reason you can't make a removable shelf that drops over the front portion too, in the event you need a level platform or seating for another person forward of the table.

That's a great idea B2. I forsee a little bit of head scratching and wobbly pops in my future figuring all that out.

CJ take a look at your forward cabin deck support piece location and now look where mine is. Seems yours is a bit too high up on the sides of the bow walls. I don't know how anyone would be able to crawl up in there and get out the hatch being up that high.

Interesting Waterman... that there is a difference between the 18' and 21' I've not noticed before. It was very difficult to get out of my hatch even for my 16 year old. I wonder how the bigger chiefs are?

Awesome job, you've inspired me. I am a new Chieftain owner and getting ready to start my restoration this fall. Need to remodel the shop a bit 1st. I really like your lowered cabin deck, that is my plan also. Yours looks great.. here's a link to my Chieftain project

Thanks for stopping by arnold! I snuck by your drydock the other day and had a beer. I remember thinking about some of my extra 165 engine parts that you're gonna need, but there's alot of miles between our docks.



Yesterday's progress ... watching spar dry.

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about the time I finish a coat it's time to start the next one..... that's alot of deck man

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Wood work is looking real good cj, watching spar dry is a beer drinkers/tinboat builders dream come true time. You can just sit there with a cold one and figure out how it's all going to go together.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

You're doing a great job on this boat. Love the blue with the pin stripe.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Seeing decking go in is like seeing the first robin of spring after a long winter.

On your cabin forward deck, there is no way I would put a deck up that high, not sure about different sizes of Chiefs either but our bow covers and hatches are the exact same and I bet you the same dimensions other than length are as well.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Wood work is looking real good cj, watching spar dry is a beer drinkers/tinboat builders dream come true time. You can just sit there with a cold one and figure out how it's all going to go together.

Thanks Glen. I'm doing lots of that sittin and figuring.

You're doing a great job on this boat. Love the blue with the pin stripe.

Thanks EZ.

Seeing decking go in is like seeing the first robin of spring after a long winter.

On your cabin forward deck, there is no way I would put a deck up that high, not sure about different sizes of Chiefs either but our bow covers and hatches are the exact same and I bet you the same dimensions other than length are as well.

I bet you're right Watermann.



I tried gettting through the bow hatch today and made it, but was very uncomfortable. I guess that I'll end up with some kindof anchor winch or a pully system on the side of the boat. I made a system on my 16' kayak that I could set the anchor while sitting down. Then, I could move to the front or back with pullies.

The floor is installed and ready for joint sealing.

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I worked on the lower winshield today but will have to wait and finish it after this snowstorm.

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I'm not sure if the lower windshield is supposed to be 1 piece or 2. It came to me in 2 pieces so I'm going to try and save some cash and use the plexi that I have. We'll see if I can make it seal and look right.

 

[classiccat]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Whoa CJ! you may have set a record for most progress without a hanger...through one of the worst winters in history!

more snow :facepalm:

lookin' good man! :thumb:

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Exactly what I was thinking ^^^^ We should have a hanger free SC rebuild award.

Looks like you used screws to fasten the decking down. So what's the plan for deck covering?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Exactly what I was thinking ^^^^ We should have a hanger free SC rebuild award. Looks like you used screws to fasten the decking down. So what's the plan for deck covering?

^^^ agreed

I also think we need to add a 'Back from the brink' SC award in BF's honor.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Whoa CJ! you may have set a record for most progress without a hanger...through one of the worst winters in history!

more snow :facepalm:

lookin' good man! :thumb:

Thanks Blue. I need to build a hanger even if it's just an oversized 1 car with a 12' high door.

Exactly what I was thinking ^^^^ We should have a hanger free SC rebuild award.

Looks like you used screws to fasten the decking down. So what's the plan for deck covering?

Thanks Watermann. Yeah, I used hardibacker concrete screws with the self tapping countersink heads. Is that bad?

Once the snow melts, I'll get some 5200 into the joints and cover the screw heads. I plan on covering the deck with Nautolex Shark Grey. I abandoned a cart the other day on defenders website to see if I could get free shipping or something.

^^^ agreed

I also think we need to add a 'Back from the brink' SC award in BF's honor.

Man, no kidding. BF's doing some amazing work on saving his tin!

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Cj you're moving right along and she sure is looking good. I haven't addressed the front (lower) windshield yet. I can only assume they were 1 piece but mine was in 2 pieces also, looked like it had been replaced and someone tried to semi flatten a piece of aluminum angle to make a middle section and did a poor job at that. There is a place not too far from me that sells and works with the smoked polycarb and I am hoping that they will be able to come up with a 1 piece otherwise will have to bend some aluminum to get a center channel to put the 2 pieces in.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Cj you're moving right along and she sure is looking good. I haven't addressed the front (lower) windshield yet. I can only assume they were 1 piece but mine was in 2 pieces also, looked like it had been replaced and someone tried to semi flatten a piece of aluminum angle to make a middle section and did a poor job at that. There is a place not too far from me that sells and works with the smoked polycarb and I am hoping that they will be able to come up with a 1 piece otherwise will have to bend some aluminum to get a center channel to put the 2 pieces in.

Yep, I hope those guys can get that smoked poly to work for you. That'll look sharp with your tinted side windows. My PO used a piece of flat 1" stainless on the outside and screwed it into the top and bottem channel. (and the appropriate 5 lbs of silicone ) I'm thinking about making a channel of some kind like you're talking about. Sorta like the way my top windshield goes together.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I don't know how bad it is using ferrous metal screws but as we know everything will rust if it's steel or corrode if it's aluminum so that leaves stainless. Due to the huge cost of 1" bite SS rivets, I plan on using large flange AL blind rivets and have them on hand already for the deck job. I've used SS screws in the past but keeping screws tight in a deck is almost impossible so I'm hoping the rivets do a better job of not working loose so fast. The main reason deck screws work loose and fail is that they'ye not really sunk into anything good. The 080/090 AL doesn't hold them well at all and it lets go of the tiny bit of thread their holding onto pretty quick.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I don't know how bad it is using ferrous metal screws but as we know everything will rust if it's steel or corrode if it's aluminum so that leaves stainless. Due to the huge cost of 1" bite SS rivets, I plan on using large flange AL blind rivets and have them on hand already for the deck job. I've used SS screws in the past but keeping screws tight in a deck is almost impossible so I'm hoping the rivets do a better job of not working loose so fast. The main reason deck screws work loose and fail is that they'ye not really sunk into anything good. The 080/090 AL doesn't hold them well at all and it lets go of the tiny bit of thread their holding onto pretty quick.

I used large flange Al rivets on the 18 SS I did last year, but screws on the 16 SS the year before. The 16's floor was non-existant when I bought it, but the 18's floor was rotted but still there. When I removed that floor there where only a few rivets left and most of them had failed. Of course that floor was 35 years old.

I still have some of those large flange rivets and could order some more. I guess it's not too late to change the screws out.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I ordered my Nautolex yesterday afternoon from defender.... it showed up this afternoon :faint2: Those guys are crazy.

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