1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Sounds healthy, those I-6 chevies are pretty bullet proof. On this Thanksgiving we are thankful for rotten stringers in glassers.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Yeah baby! Rumblin grumblin! Get some!!!

(edit: i was yelling but iboats corrected me)

She's a runner man, sweet!!!!:thumb:

Oh Heck yeah budro!!!! ol Merc 165 power.. roh roh rooh roh rohh..... <---- My best Tim Allen impression via iboats

Motor sounds real good, fixing tin boats would be real expensive if it was for old soggy Glassers.

Happy Thanks Giving.

Sounds healthy, those I-6 chevies are pretty bullet proof. On this Thanksgiving we are thankful for rotten stringers in glassers.

Yes, very thankful. I'd be dancing ... if I could dance. So, I'll just sit here and grunt (talking like Tim Allen).


____________________________________

I told the donor boats PO that this boat was going to be rotten and he acted really surprised. I'll admit that I've seen worse, but this boat would probably be at the bottem of the lake had he tried to take it out. There was about 1 gallon of mulch in the bilge from the transom. Three of the bolts broke off from the transom bracket due to corrosion.

The old American is down by the swamp so it's out of my way for now. I've got everything I needed from it except maybe the rub rail. It's for sale on CL and hopefully someone will need it's trailer.

I took the day off to rest up and took that opportunity to look through a bunch of Chieftain threads. I noticed that there are more abandoned Chieftain threads than there are completed projects. I can see why... these things are a little intimidating. Tomorrow is the start of the paint stripping ... I might be a little aggressive with my Spring splash date goal, but we're an Air Force family... 'Aim High' , right?

Thanks for stopping by

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

I told the donor boats PO that this boat was going to be rotten and he acted really surprised.

Just about every boat I have hauled on the property (alum and glass) came from a fella that felt his boat was in "great shape, solid boat."

NONE have been even REMOTELY close

I took the day off to rest up and took that opportunity to look through a bunch of Chieftain threads. I noticed that there are more abandoned Chieftain threads than there are completed projects. I can see why... these things are a little intimidating.

The Chieftian is a big boat and you are right to be intimidated. There are a heckava lot of steps in these cabin builds. It's just about like rebuilding a small apartment inside of a boat - uh, yah, that you are also rebuilding.

Best advice I can give you is: pace yourself - take small bites - just put one foot in front of the other - keep the blades turning - keep in mind the long view but focus on just the next basic steps in the process.

If all that fails you, buy smaller boats and rebuild those to break things up a little

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Cj, nothing wrong with setting back and observing and debating on you next plan of action. Although I would love to quickly finish my Chief I find myself at times just standing around her or in her visualizing my next step and how I want things laid out and what order I need to install them. My biggest hurdle right now is deciding on the design of the seat box arrangement as I don't want them to take up a lot of room but yet want storage area inside them and possibly a rear facing seat area incorporated in them.

Enjoy the build and she should come out the way you desire.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Just about every boat I have hauled on the property (alum and glass) came from a fella that felt his boat was in "great shape, solid boat."

NONE have been even REMOTELY close




The Chieftian is a big boat and you are right to be intimidated. There are a heckava lot of steps in these cabin builds. It's just about like rebuilding a small apartment inside of a boat - uh, yah, that you are also rebuilding.

Best advice I can give you is: pace yourself - take small bites - just put one foot in front of the other - keep the blades turning - keep in mind the long view but focus on just the next basic steps in the process.

If all that fails you, buy smaller boats and rebuild those to break things up a little

Great suggestion Jason... I think you're encouraging mbs. You know I'm a confessed addict and the only cure that worked for me was having to move.

Cj, nothing wrong with setting back and observing and debating on you next plan of action. Although I would love to quickly finish my Chief I find myself at times just standing around her or in her visualizing my next step and how I want things laid out and what order I need to install them. My biggest hurdle right now is deciding on the design of the seat box arrangement as I don't want them to take up a lot of room but yet want storage area inside them and possibly a rear facing seat area incorporated in them.

Enjoy the build and she should come out the way you desire.

Oh yeah, I agree Willy. I especially like the idea of having a seat facing backwards on the back of the gas/tank seat box. I like to anchor up sometimes and fish for catfish. I'm thinking having that back seat will keep my feet from dangling while facing backward.

I also don't think I want the seats next to the doghouse. If I do, they will be some kind of fold down seats.

And... by the way, I really like the cabin bulk head you did. That's some quality work!

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Yea, no seats by the doghouse. Don't want anything in the way for setting the fishing lines or while fighting the fish. This is the seating configuration that I am contemplating. It is from my buddies Islander.

 

[laurentide]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Just wanted to drop in to tell you that I was intimidated too, and my Chief is a couple of feet shorter than yours. What helped me was admitting to myself that it doesn't have to be "done" to get it in the water, and it doesn't have to be perfect. There are several members here who do absolutely amazing restorations on these old tin boats, but I ain't one of 'em. However, I've used my spartan and unfinished boat every week since getting it water ready, and I'll have lots of smaller projects for next spring. One step at a time, and have fun!

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Hey CJ, permission to come on board. I'm not only a fellow SC owner, I'm a Chief tear downer. Yet to be a rebuilder but I have ambition and a vision for my tin tub. Hope you didn't think my Chief thread was dead. Reading other threads like yours make me look forward all the hard work and future accomplishments.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

If all that fails you, buy smaller boats and rebuild those to break things up a little

i think that's actually part of why i bought the Holiday....same hull as the Starchief, but less intimidating to redo. i'll likely get back on the little chief once the Holiner is living in the land o manana.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Just wanted to drop in to tell you that I was intimidated too, and my Chief is a couple of feet shorter than yours. What helped me was admitting to myself that it doesn't have to be "done" to get it in the water, and it doesn't have to be perfect. There are several members here who do absolutely amazing restorations on these old tin boats, but I ain't one of 'em. However, I've used my spartan and unfinished boat every week since getting it water ready, and I'll have lots of smaller projects for next spring. One step at a time, and have fun!

Yep, you're right. I do enjoy rebuilding these old boats. I'm no where near the level of expertise most of these guys are, but doing it is how ya learn.

Hey CJ, permission to come on board. I'm not only a fellow SC owner, I'm a Chief tear downer. Yet to be a rebuilder but I have ambition and a vision for my tin tub. Hope you didn't think my Chief thread was dead. Reading other threads like yours make me look forward all the hard work and future accomplishments.

You bet Watermann. I've been following your thread and especially like the keg - er- rator! I was reading some threads over in the regular iboats rebuilding forum and noticed quiet a few old threads where someone bought a chief or islander... started tearing it apart .... and then disappear. I understand this, since these things are so big. I can only imagine stepping into 25 footer :faint2:
Although... that's probably my next boat if we retire in this area.

If all that fails you, buy smaller boats and rebuild those to break things up a little

i think that's actually part of why i bought the Holiday....same hull as the Starchief, but less intimidating to redo. i'll likely get back on the little chief once the Holiner is living in the land o manana.

Oh man you got that one right B2. I wish that I could've kept that little 16' SS. That boat was sweet and fast!


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The stripping has begun! I've not got down to aluminium yet, but I'm ok with that. I mostly need the stripper to take off the truck bed liner paint and 3 coats of PO's colors. I'm too shy to go completely naked anyway.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Some progress has been made this week. It's been pretty cold to use the stripper, but I'm working with it the best I can. I'm able to get most of the paint off with 2 or 3 applications of stripper and pressure washer. Then, I finish up with some 220 on a DA sander.

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[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Nice work on the hull. Going bare or just to correct the errors of the past?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

You're making some great progress against the old paint, CJ.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Isn't that a lot of fun, I really wish mine wasn't finished with that job, now what am I going to do
Looks like your getting right at her, I really wish it would warm up enough so I could rinse mine of with the pressure washer. No matter how you look at it or go about it, it is the worst job on one of these restores.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Nice progress on the paint removal. I bet you'll be happy when that task is completed.

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Nice work on the hull. Going bare or just to correct the errors of the past?

Just correcting the errors JB. There has been a bunch of body work done so no nudity found here.

You're making some great progress against the old paint, CJ.

Thanks GA

Isn't that a lot of fun, I really wish mine wasn't finished with that job, now what am I going to do
Looks like your getting right at her, I really wish it would warm up enough so I could rinse mine of with the pressure washer. No matter how you look at it or go about it, it is the worst job on one of these restores.

Oh boy, I hear ya Glen... you're welcome to come down south a little and get your stripping fix. Bring the 18' r and you can use my pressure washer

Nice progress on the paint removal. I bet you'll be happy when that task is completed.

Thanks WnW. I think there's another 2 or 3 weeks of stripping, if the weather cooperates. I need to build a pole barn like Jas... or, better yet a MEGA garage like Glen has.

 

[Sc25175]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Is there any chance you can take a picture of your buddies islanders seating panned out further. That is the seating arrangement I am thinking about for my 25 footer but want to see the relationship to the steering console.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Oh yeah, wonderful and rewarding work that is stripping paint. :nightmare:

Good progress there for sure, I had a tough time getting motivated on my Chief's paint stripping and you have more acreage than I did. So do you have an idea how to get after the bottom of your hull?

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Is there any chance you can take a picture of your buddies islanders seating panned out further. That is the seating arrangement I am thinking about for my 25 footer but want to see the relationship to the steering console.

Hey Steve, WeepNwilly may not see your request, but here's a couple of pics I found on the internet. This is kind of what I'm wanting to do to my Chief.

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[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Chieftan 21' 165 Mercruiser I/O

Oh yeah, wonderful and rewarding work that is stripping paint. :nightmare:

Good progress there for sure, I had a tough time getting motivated on my Chief's paint stripping and you have more acreage than I did. So do you have an idea how to get after the bottom of your hull?

I don't have a plan yet Watermann, but I really need to flip her. The other boats I've done I was able to turtle pretty much by myself. However, this one feels heavy and awkward. None of the trailers rollers are any good so sliding her off the bow stop the other day was done with a ratchet strap and a tree. The trailer needs some serious work, so the Chief has to come off.