1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

[bouttime007]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thats a sweet looking project boat MP, hope you/we get some dry weather soon here.

Unfortunately, then the blackflies will be rampant again...

Good luck with the restore.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Good work on the demo. A piece of aluminum with 5200 riveted to the transom serves well as a patch for the corrosion. It all depends on if you find anymore corrosion elsewhere on the boat.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Hey MP, looks like your having the same kind of fun I am. Is your transom straight across? Mine has a 1" bow out in the center. I'm hoping the new transom and knee brace repair will suck it back in.
Glen

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Bouttime - Nice to see another Mainer here! Hoping this weather doesn't last a month like a couple years back. Black flies already started hatching here in the south but when this weather clears it should be in full swing.

Boatnut - Thanks. I already have a sheet of .072 alum 3' x 4.5' just need to strip the orange and black off. Bouttime should have a good guess at what it is.

Dozer - Yea my transom was bowed 1/2" in the middle but the knee brace looks OK.

Ordered 2 gallons of epoxy yesterday , hope its enough. I know some of you are fans of the 1:1 from Clark Craft but I went with US Composits. They are $6 cheaper and more volume so over all better deal. I don't mind dealing with an uneven ratio. I went with the 3:1. Now I need a cheap source of 5200. NAPA has it but its $18. I know I can do better than that.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I have been very happy with my epoxy from US Composites. I have finished everything on the Islander and I think I have just barely enough left from my 5/1.6 gallon kit to do what I need to on the Jet Star too.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I really hope I can do everything with the 2 gallon kit. I may thin with Xylol for good penetration and better coverage.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Bouttime - Nice to see another Mainer here! Hoping this weather doesn't last a month like a couple years back. Black flies already started hatching here in the south but when this weather clears it should be in full swing.

Did a "curve" sign come up missing on your road MP? LOL

The blackflies were already in full swing where Im at, which is in the boondocks.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I have a chance to get a new teleflex rotory steering set up for a real good price. Problem is I'm calculating my cable length 2 ways and there is a 14" difference. I cut the old cable off when I removed the motor and threw away the end that goes throught the tilt tube. I cut it about 6" max from the end of the outer cover so I measure the rest, add the extra 6" and 18" and get 13'. Now using the A+B+C+ 6" method I get 14' 2". So I'm asking all you 18' Chieftain or Starchief owners with an OB that uses the tilt tube for the steering; What length cable did you order for rotory Teleflex steering? Yes I'm following the Teleflex instructions but its possible I'm getting something mixed up.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Might we see the sun Sat afternoon?

I sure hope the hell so....

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Not in the Portland area. Maybe Sunday here. Its a bit of a challenge stripping paint in this weather. I'll be setting up the canopy if I can't find something else to do. Right.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Saturday turned out to be nice afterall. Managed to get the rest of the ecoutrements pulled of the top sides in between letting the paint stripper work on the transom. Now the transom is about as clean as its going to get.

I'll contact known owners of this kind of boat directly on the steering cable question. I'll probably go with 14' but just wanted some reassurance. Probably use a garden hose to double check.

The heads of the bolts for the knee brace pulled through so I'm having special plates made to solve this. NP!

Threw in a shot of a custom transom cap for one of our bros. Fits good.

Question1. How is the bridge windshield fastened? Got the 2 screws toward the stern but cant see any others keeping it down.

Question2. Whats wrong with putting fenders in the dishwasher?:facepalm:

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Check out post #617 on my Islander thread, that may help ya out on yur windshield there, hopefully.

Cheers!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Perfect! I already have the center trim pieces off, now I'll just slide them out.
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Hey MP, your knee brace looks real good compared to mine, the ears that bolted to the transom are gone completly. I am planning on riveting lengths of 1/4" aluminum angle to the brace after I clean up the broken edges. Paint stripping is coming along.
I can't see a problem with putting fenders in the dish washer, if they fit!! I can't imagine who would have a problem with that, OH probably the head of the household, just like the government there is always someone at the top that doesn't like what your doing.lol
Glen

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Yes I feel pretty lucky that its not worse. When its done it will be better than new. My challenge is attaching a plate to the stern. It has to go on after the transom is in because I'll be drilling for the rivits from the outside. It will just make the flipping a bit tougher due to the weight.
I forgot thats its easier to ask forgiveness than get permission. I'll be scrubbing the fenders buy hand:facepalm:

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I've found a product that I'm considering using instead of 3M 5200. It's Loctite 5510 and/or 5570. Can be painted over in an hour and the data sheets show its bond to aluminum is about 30% better than 5200. Best of all it goes for about $11 per 10 oz tube.
http://hybris.cms.henkel.com/medias/sys_master/8487013017921952.pdf

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Can it be used below the waterline?
GLG

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I've been looking into this a bit more. Talked to Henkle makers of the Loctite brands and they haven't done any submersion testing as their target market is the automotive industry. Found that 5200 gives a stronger bond to aluminum and made for marine applications. Bottom line. 3M 5200 is better suited for our needs below the water line but Loctite 5570 or 5510 (paintable) would be a cheaper substitute for topside applications. Here are the data sheets on both.

http://tds.loctite.com/tds5/docs/5570 WHITE-EN.PDF
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtlx&EO8TVEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Experimenting with 4 different chemical strippers so far and next up is the Kleen Stip in the orange can per Lakelovers suggestion. Its too bad that all the paint is in really bad condition, it's all gotta go! 4" wire wheel works faster and my 7" grinder with a sand paper wheel works faster yet but you've got to be carefull with it.

Got the new transom cut and found some free glass to sandwich inside. This is really heavy mat that's used for protecting items from weld spatter. Its slighly used and dirty so I wiped it down with Xylene. This is so thick I/m wondering if I can wet it out. This is what I call a "Glass-in-Wood Transom" . Did a dry fit in the boat and it goes in fine. I did grind some small tapers along the outside edges to give more clearance on either end. Hoping the epoxy doen't biuld up too much thickness. Have epoxy but just need to pick up mixing bowls stirrers etc before hitting it.

One the pics here shows the remains of the Starcraft logo that someone painted over.

Old transom got the viking funeral last night like the rest of the wood I pulled so far. Damed thing didn't burn but just laid there cooking all evening.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

That transom will be a rock!