1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

[sprintst]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Looking good man. Get used to the compliments. These cool old boats have great lines.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Outside hull painting is done. I have a few small sags to tend to later. The first coat of that white on the bottom was so hard after a week red skotch brite barley touched it!

Yes, hoping to deflip next weekend.

The compliments never get old.

 

[Rghammond]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Great job on the paint. You did the old girl proud, she's bound to get some wolf whistles on the water

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

MP, you did yourself proud on the paint job!!!!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Wolf whistles...Too funny.

Wood - Got a few small sags in the black that I might need coaching on to remove. I'm no body man but I have a DA and automotive buffer (don't ask why). Going with your rusto formula for the top sides.

Well here she is in her new party dress wearing no tape. Overall I'd say its a 10' paint job the pics make the texture look worse than it seems in person. That yellow frog tape made much better lines than the green so it will be my recommendation going forward. After these shots we masked the sides again to paint the splash rails with rusto chrome.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Looks great!!! You got the worst part behind you now. Should be smooth sailing from here on out .

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks BN. Everything else will be a piece of cake compared to this. Next is replacing the bunks and removing globs of old paint on the trailer. Picked up the materials yesterday. Factory used 2 x 6 PT so I'll do the same unless its a mistake.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

The black white combo is sharp!!!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Wood - Got a few small sags in the black that I might need coaching on to remove. I'm no body man but I have a DA and automotive buffer (don't ask why). Going with your rusto formula for the top sides.

For sags, and runs, just wetsand with 320grit. Go easy and be precise.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Some progress...The rub rail trim is done and all the paint is definately hard enough for a flip. Today a buddy tweeked his back so I need a replacement buddy. Been collecting etch primer bare metal primer and white rusto for the topsides. Thinking of a 3/4" or 1/2" wide pinstripe between the black and white. Seat order is in at Cabellas and getting ready to do a hardware order. Weather window for painting is closing fast here.
The trailer has new bunks and I scraped off all the old paint drips the PO left behind. When I find my wire brush I'll finish it. Thinking of replacing the bearings but its scope creep.

Thanks for the advice there Wood but the reality is that if your close enough to spot these small sags your also going to see small dents here and there. I'm calling this a 10' paint job. Not so much because of the paint job but what I started with. (Never noticed most of the imperfections till the black went on.) Calling it good for now and moving forward.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Aw sheesh, I can't see any of your work there Michael.

I need a replacement buddy

You could check craigslis or eBay maybe. Kinda hard to find sometimes, bit rare ya know.

 

[yooperangler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Sounds like a lot of progress but I have the same problem as Jas (hmmm that sounds bad) can't see it.

I need a replacement buddy.

Just fill a cooler with beer and stand in the yard staring at the boat if You have nieghbors nearby it won't take long

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Well after checking craigs list and standing one the side of the road wearing a sandwich board near a cooler of beer I still didn't attract a replacement buddy.:facepalm: But my buddy is feeling better and wants to help. Hope to get a couple more this week.

I'm all ready to deflip but using this time to recondition my rub rails by covering with vinyl paint. I tried a couple spots and it seems very durable. Also looking for pin striping (1/2" silver) to go between the black and white along the water line.

Cradle is modified to carry her right side up. Next is painting the interior and top sides so keeping it in tha garage at night is a must since its getting cold. 37? Sat morning.

Dug out the flotation foam I stored under a tarp. Turns out it made a nice mouse motel 6. Had to clean every piece. I have 20 cu ft so it will be more than enough.

It may seem premature but Cabellas was having a good sale on seats so I snagged them and some pedistals.

Eyeballing that splash well. Gonna cut down a bit.

 

[Rghammond]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Have you used that cradle yet? I take it you roll the boat top towards the plywood, right?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Haven't flipped yet but when I do it will rest near the center of the hull. The carpeted bunks fit between the strakes. I made it up side down on the hull so it takes the true shape of the hull. and yes, the front of the boat happends to be toward the far side in the pic (plywood side). Hope this answers your question.

Got all the rubrails cleaned and painted last night.

 

[yooperangler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Good to hear Your buddy is feeling better MP hope You can get her flipped soon. Looks like pretty much the same seats I have just different color nicer pedestal though but bet I have more of em than You

 

[Rghammond]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Great idea, let me know how it works. I won't be getting back at mine til this weekend but I may try that, thanks

Haven't flipped yet but when I do it will rest near the center of the hull. The carpeted bunks fit between the strakes. I made it up side down on the hull so it takes the true shape of the hull. and yes, the front of the boat happends to be toward the far side in the pic (plywood side). Hope this answers your question.

Got all the rubrails cleaned and painted last night.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

The cart worked great to carry the boat up side down. Now it's modified to carry it right side up I'm pretty sure it's going to work fine. Just wish I had the material to make the bunks longer than 3' but it should be ok until I add too much weight.

Last night I installed the rub rails and pin stripes along the water line. Just have to get the splash rail end caps on and the hull is 100%. By the time I was done it was too dark to take pics. Now its pouring out and weather is supposed to be iffy through the weekend. More to come soon.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

The darn weather always holds up progress. It's 38 degrees here right now, I'm not to motivated to do anything on mine at the moment.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Rounded up nearby skateboarders and had a flip in the rain. The new cart works perfectly and I can move the old girl around with one hand.

Had to try the new belly tank and that fits fine. Got the last one like it at GLS. It's bowed inward quite a bit on the bottom but they gave me a pretty good kick back. Thinking about pressurizing it and heating it with a salamander. Thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Sample Starmada hat came in too. Plenty available.