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[jasoutside]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Oh, hey, forgot to mention...

Your Starcraft annual dues are waived!

(Throw away a rotted out nasty glasser in favor of a sweet alloy built boat bylaw:congratulatory

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Awesome guys, the more ideas the better. I've got plenty of time to pick one before I commit.

Hmmm....single side console....

Single side console would be my choice too... they're small and out of the way.

 

[saginawbayboater]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

I'll be following along as well CW. You have some work ahead of ya!

I dig the center console idea!

 

[Teamster]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Have you thought about a bigger fuel tank????,.....18 gallons seems small if your traveling any distance,..

How about a "kicker" motor for trolling,........They also use up some fuel,.....

Looking at the picture it looks like there is almost enough room for two to sleep in the cabin if you wanted to drop anchor in a cove and spend the night,..........

I've thought about doing something like that with a smaller cuddy boat to save on motel rooms if I start taking weekend trips to Lake Superior or Lake Michigan again,...

 

[laurentide]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Oh, hey, forgot to mention...

Your Starcraft annual dues are waived!

(Throw away a rotted out nasty glasser in favor of a sweet alloy built boat bylaw:congratulatory

Haha...sweet!

I may even turn the old bunk trailer into a utility, in which case that boat's final ride will be on its original trailer (I don't have a truck).

Guys, I've got a football game to watch right now...I'm not ignoring your invaluable insight for the next couple of hours.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Single side console would be my choice too... they're small and out of the way.

Doing that would might also allow for a big casting deck with below deck rod storage,......

Man I wish I could find a sweet deal like that,....I'm having a blast thinking about the things he could do with this rig!!!

 

[saginawbayboater]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Oh, hey, forgot to mention...

Your Starcraft annual dues are waived!

(Throw away a rotted out nasty glasser in favor of a sweet alloy built boat bylaw:congratulatory

Don't listen to him he's unstable!!!:wacko:

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

What he said x 2 /\

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Um guys, I'm very "special". My mother says so:becky:

 

[dozerII]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Wicked nice boat and deal CW, they don't ever come a long like that in my neck of the woods. I'll be watching your progress along with the mob.

 

[laurentide]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Thanks for all the kind words. I'm really excited about this rig. My dad just checked it out and threw another wrench into the design plan...he's a guy who currently owns a downeast work boat hull with a center console, and his advice was to leave the cabin. He's tired of getting wet on his open boat. I'm really torn on this now. That cabin is pretty sweet looking, in its 1974 kind of way, and it's, well, a cabin.

So I guess my next question is one of a practical nature. I do like fishing, but it's not going to be the only purpose of this boat...probably 50% fishing, 50% cruising/anchoring. In the past I've always cast or dropshot for smallmouth, pike and lake trout (springtime). I've never done any trolling, but that's the only way most people catch lake trout in the summer here. I also did a lot of salt water fishing on a walkaround cuddy (my dad's Mako). That was a great setup, but the Chieftain obviously doesn't have that bow access. If I were to leave the cabin on this thing, would it still be an OK "all around" fishing rig, or would it be considered exclusively a trolling setup? I'm definitely open to getting a kicker and a couple of downriggers, as per Teamster's suggestion.

Sorry I'm all over the place on this thing. I'm just trying to avoid making a major mistake that I may regret later. And that cabin...it's just so weird and awesome looking. And all the glass except for the lower windshield is intact...and I think that one is plexi.

If any of my blathering makes sense, I'd love to get an opinion on leaving her mostly "as is" vs. chopping it off and most likely building a side console with a bow casting deck or a simple center console.

...and if my overwhelming hypocrisy that went from "I'm definitely gutting her" to "well, maybe it is pretty damn cool" is too much, don't be afraid to say so! I guess a lot of this is just thinking out loud (or on my keyboard), but it can't hurt to get some outside perspective.

Thanks!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

The cabin is cool, and converting it to an open boat will take more time and money. Time in demolition and then building/framing the deck that was the cabin... more money in aluminum framing material.

I see no problem with drop shotting from that boat, and you can put a little transom mount kicker or strong trolling motor on her and still cruise down the shoreline and cast to the bank... though I would choose a shoreline with a quick/steep dropoff to keep from running aground.

I'd concentrate on the structural and safety stuff first:

1. Making sure the hull doesn't leak and fixing any leaks if you have them.

2. Floatation foam below deck.

3. Decking.

4. Roughing in the cabin deck and walls... you can make the cabin pretty if you want next winter.

5. Miscellaneous necessities like motor/steering, lights/gauges, depth finder (you definately want a good sonar unit on that boat to keep it from being a beached whale).

If you decide you hate the cabin this summer, you can always cut it off next winter and do the console thing. when you have more time... spring is just around the corner yanno.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

I do a whole lot of "thinking out loud" too man, it's all good. The guys will mock you just like they mock me!

Keep stewing on it, the answer will come.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep it a cabin boat for all the reasons you mentioned and more. Then, I grab a second alum open bow/center console for all the reasons you mentioned, and more.

Hey, best of both right!

 

[laurentide]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Thanks, jigngrub and jas. That all makes a bunch of sense. And you're right about expediting the process for now.

Hopefully my next posts will document some progress. As stated in my previous, failed project thread, my wife is going to Australia for most of February, which is almost three weeks of cold weather boat work time! Cheers.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Ok, you asked so here goes:

Cabin on:

• Even if not an overnight, out of rain & sun if only briefly or for other crew members to chill while you motor place to place :rain:
• W/ 2 guys fishing, there can be some gear & tackle under foot, cabin = somewhere NOT under foot, if only the lunch cooler. The beer cooler & fish cooler will be getting too much use to be that far away.
• Store the trolling gear when casting/dropshotting (???? probably some sort of fancy big water fishing term....)
• Somewhere to lock gear that stays on the boat. May only keep honest people honest, but.....
• May not want to overnight on the boat now, but you've never had the option. W/ a cabin that may change. Fishing late, hanging w/ the admiral, just anchor & crash til day break. Being OUT on the water at sun up is totally different then getting to the ramp pre-dawn & motoring out......
• If you wanted to, there's a bow hatch that might give access to the bow for casting
• Your dad agrees
• Rough & ready for this coming season may mean removing the upper glass & the convertible top, and using it w/ out them this year
• Getting a serviceable cabin, seeing how you use the boat, make some plans thru the season, and next fall start putting the cabin back 'right & ready', put the upper glass back on, and get some new canvas...
• Follow Jas suggestion to get a smaller tin rig to make a fish finding machine...
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: The admiral thinks it's kinda cool as it sits in the driveway.:faint2: This takes vision.... Counts for 1000pts + for leaving the cabin.....

Cabin off:

• There are probably some pro's to going topless, but right now I got nothing besides the obvious :watermelon:

Lastly, have you decided where the batteries are going? See Jas's last post :cold:

 

[GWPSR]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

The Chieftan is a very cool design. The cuddy makes a great place to stow gear while trailering (sometimes PF vests, and even coolers levitate out of a bowrider on the highway if not tied down - ask gwpjr )

It'd be a shame to sex-change that proud vessel from a Chieftan to an Imperial. And it wouldn't even be a real Imperial.

 

[laurentide]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Awesome stuff, fellas. jbcurt, your last point was once again confirmed this evening as I discussed the project with my better half. She digs it the way it is (well, ya know, design-wise, not full of flotsam-wise). Also, I'm curious about your recommendation to take the top glass panels off...I'd assume so I can get that huge dash-top area fixed?

It may even be a planing aid with that weight forward of midships.

GWPSR, yeah, it's a pretty cool and unusual design.

OK, dudes, something's starting to gel here. I really appreciate the advice.

EDIT: jb, "dropshot" is just a rig for bottom fishing, anchored or drifting. I caught a lot of smallmouth this summer with that setup.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

I do a whole lot of "thinking out loud" too man, it's all good. The guys will mock you just like they mock me!

Keep stewing on it, the answer will come.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep it a cabin boat for all the reasons you mentioned and more. Then, I grab a second alum open bow/center console for all the reasons you mentioned, and more.

Hey, best of both right!

All of this is true... especially the mocking part...

If I were you, I'd lean towards keepin' the cabin....

Since you live in Vermont (and I imagine it can get chilly there), I would say having it could not only extend your boating season, but make outside ends of that season more enjoyable/comfortable... Plus, you can avoid the brain-damage of doing a sex-change to your boat.

You will be able to fish plenty-well out of that rig...and maybe even enjoy an overnight trip..

Just my .02... The right answer for YOU will come to you... and don't apologize for thinking out loud... We all do it and that is what is so great about this forum..

 

[Teamster]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Now here is a great idea!!!

Keep the cabin,...Look back I might have given that as one of the options I thought about yesterday,....

Get the aluminum boat done a functioning so you can use it,...

And then finish the glasser and make it into your fishing only dream machine,....Best of all worlds!!!!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

Re: Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

The upper most glass won't do much for you in a Rough & Ready push to get it in useable shape for this coming season, unless you get new canvas. Canvas won't be inexpensive, so may not be a 1st year priority.

If you remove it, you'll have a smaller front profile, so less wind resistance while towing. Less structure up high, so a light weight (compared to a similar size glasser) tinny may not get blown about as much when anchored or slow trolling.... Less weight up high also lowers the center of gravity, which to me over comes the weight reduction of removing the upper glass.

The holes in the upper canopy might be a problem to seal temporarily, but could probably be done & made to last a season....

It would look similar to this:

1963 SC Starchief from here

Makes it look less massive, and w/out canvas top, I'm not sure how much benefit the upper windshield will be except in the lightest rain at about full throttle............