1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

[bouttime007]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Youre making progress MP, and getting closer every hour.

As for cutting plexi, Ive found scribing with a sharp utilty knife a few times then snapping it like a piece of glass works pisser.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Hey there BT thats a good tip on cutting plexy. I might just give that a try but I'm leaning toward polycarb for the windshield because it needs a bend right down the middle and I can do it on a hand brake here at work. Thanks for the encouragment!

Progress is a bit slow on the boat this weekend but I saved indoor work for times like these. Transom is epoxied up with that heavy roving. Made quite a mess when I weighed it down with 200 lbs. of stuff. At least I know that there are no voids between layers. Took over a 1/2 gallon of epoxy for that operation and waisted about 12 oz out the sides. I am so glad I did it over a sheet of plastic. Cut out the wood plate that goes on the outside of the transom. Final assy of that will be after the hull is painted. Got the JonnyRude finished except for the stickers. Would have finished it but had family obligations. Maybe I'll do it today but I want to be in the right frame of mind when I attack that. We shall see.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I hope you didn't starve the joint of resin.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

No way I was going to take a chance on that happening.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

No, I meant by applying to much clamping pressure are you sure you did NOT squeeze out to much resin and starve the joint. It CAN happen

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Hope not.....The weight was pretty evenly distributed by laying 2x4s across it. 200# was a rough estimate. I'll post a pic soon.

 

[tomynoks]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

It's coming along nicely, Mike!! I PM'd you about the caps.. Good progress!!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Here are the results of my tests on different paint strippers. Each was applied in as close to optimum conditions as possible. Your results may vary.
My preferred method is to use a good stripper and scrape most of it off with a house type scraper where you can use 2 hands and has changable blades. I sweep/shop vac the mess. Then clean the hard to get places like between strakes and corners with a 4" wire cup wheel (not braded knot) on the 4 1/2" angle grinder and the larger surfaces with a 4 1/2" scotch brite pad, again on the angle grinder. If I want it smoother or decide to chase out some scratches I'll use the DA sander.

1 is poor 10 is best

EZ Off Oven cleaner - 2
5F5 - 7
Citristrip - 7
Aircraft (spray can) - 6
Kleen strip (regular in spray) - 6
TA 661 - 3
Zip Strip - 8
Kleen Strip (orange can) - 8
Super Strip (Sherwin Williams) - 6
Brake fluid - 1

 

[yooperangler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Great progress and great thread man wish I had read it before stripping as it tells me all the stuff I learned ( sadly at nearly the same time though). Keep at it and btw your not behind me only reason you think so is your getting ready to pass me a second time My epoxy is still sitting in the basement talking to my gluvit about how slow I am

 

[sprintst]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

You're definitely getting a lot done at the same time. She'll be a solid as a rock when you're done.

Get a hold of a good mask that can filter VOC's as MEK works great from what I've seen to remove the contact cement but will make you mutate just like Xylene, etc.

I don't think my mask was filtering properly as I got sick as hell during the stripping and painting process.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

It's good to see you guys jumping in for the ride!
I'm attacking this project on multiple fronts so i can always have something to do no matter what the weather. Last night it was raining and had to do a brake job on the wife's car and start Tommy's custom cap so not any progress. This weekend I have to pressure wash the outside of the house at some point.:facepalm:
Here is where the stripping progress is at the moment. Now that I'm this far done I have much more drive to get er done! Also a shot of the heap of stuff on the transom after I sandwiched the roving. I really like this epoxy from US. It allows me plenty of time to put it down (but I don't doddle). Did this Sunday and last night its brittle enough to snap off chunks of over runs. Here's a shot of some of my WMDs.

 

[Bighoss]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I think I'm getting two footitis, or something worse. Reading the threads I'm leaning towards the bigger boats. Keeping it moving Mike good job, no matter how much or little. I do the same thing, even if it's just ordering parts or running down tools...progress. Man that's a cool looking boat.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

The more you look at naked Starcrafts, the more they grow on ya. Looking good, MP
Glen

 

[yooperangler]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I must be getting old as I seem to be spending more time looking at these kind of stripper pics than the other kind Boat is looking great

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Thanks gents. Had to mow the lawn last night but I did manage to do something on the boat. Pushed it 1 ft. back on the trailer to clear the bow roller for more paint stripping. It can't weigh more than 300 lbs right now.

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

I must be getting old as I seem to be spending more time looking at these kind of stripper pics than the other kind Boat is looking great

Man yooper you were reading my mind. There are only a couple things that I miss from the other kind.

Boat is looking good there Mike, want to come and do mine for me?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Kelly - You buy the ticket and take me fishing - I'm your's.

 

[KellyC]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Kelly - You buy the ticket and take me fishing - I'm your's.

Dude, if I had the money you would already be on your way here. Go catch some sturgeon as the salmon is kind of sucking with our river so high right now.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

The sides are finally stripped!!!! The last 3 days was a major push to get to this point in the project. The sides of the hull are in pretty good shape but it does have some pitting and a couple small dings that I can hammer out. Worst area are around the holes that mount the rub rail end caps but its all easily repaired. I found some 7" scotch brite wheels burried in one of my file cabinets where I store tools. Those helped to speed things up. Next is sealing the rivits and installing the transom. Then its flip time.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain 18' OB refit

Nice job Michael, great having a bunch of that grunt work behind ya, eh!