1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Great thinking on that jig for your chaninsaw

Ahem....You didn't really take that hook line and sinker did ya pal?:facepalm: This is a tin boat so no need for a chainsaw here.

This would be more reasonable.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Are you playing games with my mind Michael? Too easy eh buddy

I thought you might be a little over powered there, still looked good though

 

[erwinner]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Now that's not very nice there, tricking Jas like that.
Great looking work and the extra space from the shortened spashwell will go to good use!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I'm really not surprised he went for it considering how busy he is right now with his rig. Maybe not fair but fun anyway and he's a good sport. I am surprised there weren't more takers. Slow around here lately I guess.

Epoxy is taking a real long time to cure these days. I'm prolly going to give the Deck Restore product a try. Now is a good time to get that stuff down.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I'm a bit of a jar head. It's cool, I have come to terms with it

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Ahem....You didn't really take that hook line and sinker did ya pal?:facepalm: This is a tin boat so no need for a chainsaw here.

This would be more reasonable.

That was good one there Michael,lol Right tool for the right job.
Glen

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks Glen...You know I have to admit that I did consider it for a second. :facepalm:

Update on the Deck restore stuff..... I spoke with tech service and they say "Restore does not adhere to epoxy well". When I asked about a tie coating he said "the epoxy will have to come off". I don't friggin think so.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Just ordered Nautolex and the 88 adhesive from Defender. Went with Shark. No cure time to service, no temp issues no problem. I don't have time to screw around. Besides its touted so highly here I'm sure I'll like it. The price wasn't terrible even with shipping.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

You'll love it.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Looking for some help to get out of a mess. One of the boards I epoxied last Sunday isn't curing very well. I thinned <20% with Petit 97 epoxy thinner to help it spread and penetrate better. This piece got a quick second coat about 30 minutes after the first coat. I did this piece first and when I was done the rest I had some mixed epoxy left so spread it. The other parts cured fine but took a full 2 days. I did them outside in the afternoon and temps were in the mid 60s. I left them out over night and a frost hit them. They all have spots too. It's been in the garage over the last 2 nights heated for about 5 hours and its still tacky this morning. Should I wipe it down with Xylene and/or just wait? Bring it in the house? My plan is to lay on Spar varnish ASAP, this is the big piece that goes in the cuddy and could be a bottle neck in the project. Last couple nights I've been doing other parts thinning 10% with Xylene and cranking up the wood stove in the garage to around 80? and temps over night dropping to the 40s and they cure over night. This garage isn't insulated and chills down after a few hours. Any help is appreciated.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I have learned warm and dry = faster cure time. So, anything you can do to help that along will certainly be to your benefit.

I know thinning epoxy is a fierce controversy around here so let's not go down that road

Seems like I have had a piece or two take a while to fully cure. I hit em again with epoxy, then moved em to a nice warm spot and they cured up fine.

Living room? Kitchen maybe? Ah, the wife won't mind Michael

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I had some batches that didn't want to cure as well. I think sometimes waiting doesn't even work, you need to coat it again with a fresh coat, mixed well.

My issues were from not enough mixing I believe, not sure though.

Your Chieftain is looking great, excellent work.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks for chiming in gents. I think my problem was letting it sit outside overnight too soon (too cool and too wet). I decided to cover the cuddy deck with vinyl so even if it takes months to cure it wont matter.

That would be something else to get up in the morning and find the cats stuck to it. Sort of like those sticky mouse traps but 4' x 5'.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

99.9% of the time when epoxy does not cure correctly and in a timely fashion it is due to an improper mix ratio. Your thinning procedure along with the temps and your hardener/resin ratio's all play a part. Time will be your friend but... if the mix is to far off, then a scraper will be needed.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks for the advice Wood. Good news is its hardening up pretty well now so time has indeed been my friend. Applied more epoxy last night on other parts, put them on a rack near the ceiling and cranked the wood stove all evening. That's been working pretty well but still takes a couple days to be sandable. I'm using the USC pumps so the mix should be OK.

One slightly thinned coat is sealing these adequately. A second coat won't penetrate but makes a good even finish. looks like I will have used only 1 1/2 gallons for the whole project.

Nautolex showed up last night. Only took 1 day to arrive!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Nautolex is down and my vinyl showed up. Pics soon.

Bit of bad news..As some of you know, my company had a 40% downsizing this summer and I was spared. Monday they had another huge layoff letting go of 32 out of the 85 that remained. This time I my number came up. Time for new opportunities and despite the tough job market I'm kind of excited to find my next challege. The company gave us all a generous severance package so we're set for a while. At least I have more time for my tinny and hunting....at the moment.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Bummer on the job front man. A whole lot of that happening in my home state too.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Crap, MP. I'm sorry to hear that. Too much of that all over. Good luck, buddy.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Can you speak Chinese? I hear they're hiring!!!!
I can't tell you how sad I am to hear this. I'm almost to retirement but they keep moving the age so I guess I'll just keep working till they tell me to go home too! Michael, hard working guys like you always seem to hit the ground running so, I'm not gunna worry about you to much. Keep on Keepin on, my man!!!!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks for the support bros. I'm not afraid to work but its a really tough market out there. More so than 12 years ago when I found this job. Knowing a second language sure would help. French was all I spoke till I started school but I lost most of that years ago. Already have a couple sticks in the fire and I will keep on keepin on!

MOVING FORWARD...

I've got pics this time. The deck in the cuddy is all covered in vinyl and hinges are on order. Found a good deal on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Angl..._Accessories_Gear&vxp=mtr&hash=item3cb42c013c

I took a shot of the bulkheads in place to see how the natural wood would look. Admiral says it wont match so there now covered with carpet on the inside vinyl outside. I'm already really liking that Nautolex. Glad I followed advise on that.

I'm having trouble finding the little SS hinges for the hatch. Any leads? They need to be 2" wide.

Side note: The Grab It calking doesn't stick to PE.