Chem Backup

[laurentide]

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

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

Thanks, rheagler. Yeah, that makes sense. I'll experiment with that bow line idea, and a winch may be a better investment than pricey tubing that I could easily mess up trying to bend. Thanks for the tips! I'll check out your anchor set-up in your rebuild thread.

 

[rheagler]

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

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

My current anchor setup isn't in my thread. I'll take a pic today and post it here.

 

[laurentide]

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

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

My current anchor setup isn't in my thread. I'll take a pic today and post it here.

Awesome...many thanks if you do.

 

[rheagler]

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

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

Hi Chem. Here is my current setup...


I'm pretty happy with it. The only hitch is that the Minn Kota winch powers the anchor down instead of letting it fall by gravity. When the anchor hits bottom it shuts off. To get more line out I either have to reach through the hatch or try to anticipate current and wind and get the boat moving backward before hitting the down button. This probably isn't as much an issue in a lake as opposed to the river. It also would probably work better if I had mounted the power unit remotely so that a chain could be used. The unit came with a cheesy little chain that was more of a joke than a chain. A real chain won't fit through the davit, or wrap around the spool. The davit that came with it is nice though because it is spring loaded to get the anchor on it's way. My 1st anchor setup (that is in my thread) the anchor wouldn't drop on it's own because it wasn't pitched down. It did look cooler though.

I hope this info is helpful, let me know if you have any questions.

 

[classiccat]

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

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

Belated Congratulations on the Splash Chem!!! Boat looks fantastic inside-and-out & that 70 is dialed-in man! Great Job!!

 

[laurentide]

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

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

Hi Chem. Here is my current setup...


I'm pretty happy with it. The only hitch is that the Minn Kota winch powers the anchor down instead of letting it fall by gravity. When the anchor hits bottom it shuts off. To get more line out I either have to reach through the hatch or try to anticipate current and wind and get the boat moving backward before hitting the down button. This probably isn't as much an issue in a lake as opposed to the river. It also would probably work better if I had mounted the power unit remotely so that a chain could be used. The unit came with a cheesy little chain that was more of a joke than a chain. A real chain won't fit through the davit, or wrap around the spool. The davit that came with it is nice though because it is spring loaded to get the anchor on it's way. My 1st anchor setup (that is in my thread) the anchor wouldn't drop on it's own because it wasn't pitched down. It did look cooler though.

I hope this info is helpful, let me know if you have any questions.

rheagler, that's a pretty excellent setup you've got there. I've got 6' of chain on my rode, and I kind of like having it there for setting purposes. I'm going to be solo quite a bit on this rig, so I'll have to weigh some sacrifices, because I really like this idea. Thanks a bunch for the photos. I hope you're getting out on your 'chief this summer as much as you can.

Belated Congratulations on the Splash Chem!!! Boat looks fantastic inside-and-out & that 70 is dialed-in man! Great Job!!

Thanks, BF! I just got back from a sunset cruise/anchor/cocktail hour. I'm really loving this boat. I got the riggers mounted today, but no trolling yet (my wife isn't "enthusiastic" about fishing....yet).

Nice night here on Champlain:

Nap time (with newly installed rigger 1 of 2 in the background):

 

[rheagler]

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

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

Thanks Chem. I'm out on the 'chief every saturday. Lake Champlain looks really nice. I would love to trailer mine to a big lake like that. Or if I hit the lottery maybe I could just go up the Hudson and get there. Have fun!

 

[laurentide]

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

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

Thanks Chem. I'm out on the 'chief every saturday. Lake Champlain looks really nice. I would love to trailer mine to a big lake like that. Or if I hit the lottery maybe I could just go up the Hudson and get there. Have fun!

My dad actually did that on a rented diesel trawler, from the Poughkeepsie area, I think. He had a blast going through the locks and cruising around the lake. It's huge...I haven't explored even a fraction of it. Gas prices are mostly to blame for that, but this rig with the 70 is a great balance of seaworthiness and fuel efficiency. I'm going to do my best to head north, south, and west whenever I have the time and money. It's an amazing natural resource to have in your backyard.

Oh, and fishing. That could happen tomorrow, hopefully. I need to get my "happy troller" rigged up, 'cuz I don't think the lakers are gonna bite at anything over 2 mph. There were tons of them on my sonar at 80' today.

Cheers.

 

[jbcurt00]

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

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

Sounds like things are sailing smoother w/ the Admiral aboard for a late afternoon, early evening happy hour cruise

Cabin for relaxing/napping, dual captain's chairs for reading & a bow/rear deck for sun, while you fish, sounds like a win/win/win for a non-fishing Admiral.

Pix look like it was a GREAT sunset cruise. Awesome! Congrats on putting an exclamation point on your weekend! :happy:

 

[GA_Boater]

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

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

The Admiral is just showing too much excitement. You should have slipped a rod in her hand and sneak in a little trolling. Nice evening cruise.

 

[laurentide]

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

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

It was a little (a lot) too wet for any non-waterproof electronics like a camera, but I did get in my first "real" sea-trial of the Chief this morning.

Got ready to head out at about 6 am, checked the NWS site, and they had issued a lake wind advisory. North wind, 15-25 knots. Doesn't sound that bad, right? Figured my friend and I could cross the broad lake and troll in a protected bay over on the NY side. Well, due to the geography of the lake (very long and narrow), a strong north wind has dozens of miles to push up seas. I'm sure these conditions exist on the Great Lakes all the time. We ended up giving it a shot in some five footers, decided it was too much and headed back to the ramp...surfed back, really, with the prop surfacing a bunch of times. That's when I realized why we were the only trailer in a usually busy lot.

While it was way too much for a morning fishing trip, I have to say that I was amazed at how well the boat handled the rough, ocean-like conditions. Every time I thought we were going to stuff the bow, she bobbed right up and over.

All in all, a very reassuring trip in the old Starcraft. It doesn't cut swells like a heavy glass boat, but it has the buoyancy of a cork bobber.

Fall fishing gets going here real soon, and I'm pretty sure the big blow today will break up the thermocline. I'll have fish and gear pics next time, I promise!

Cheers!

 

[jasoutside]

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

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

Seriously? Sea trial and no camera? Do you really expect us to believe that kinda hogwash?

http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/gg451/jasoutside/Starcraft Islander/mob-title-1-1.jpg?92

 

[laurentide]

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

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

Shoulda seen that coming :facepalm:

 

[jigngrub]

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

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

It's good that you got the sea trial in... but next time trailer your boat to the protected cove so you can actually catch fish! Lots easier and you don't have to take any chances if the weather worsens before you start the voyage back home.

 

[saginawbayboater]

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

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

Winds 15 to 25, five foot seas. I'd spill my beer!

 

[laurentide]

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

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

Yeah, if we're talking about the smart way to do it...I'll just stay home next time! Football on the tv, couch, etc... Honestly, I had no idea what I was running into until I was in it. Makes me want a canvas enclosure just that much more :flypig: Seriously, though, it's gotta be worth it for early and late season runs.

 

[jigngrub]

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

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

Canvas enclosures can be worth their weight in gold!... especially when those big fat Wall-ice come in to feed shallow on the cold late fall days.

 

[Watermann]

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

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

The Admiral is just showing too much excitement. You should have slipped a rod in her hand and sneak in a little trolling. Nice evening cruise.

GA that's a good way to loose your rod...

 

[laurentide]

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

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

I got a total score today. Had to drive over to NY state, but it was worth it. A guy on a local fishing forum offered me a kicker bracket, said the "price is right," and gave me no other info on it. Turns out it's one of the super beefy Garelick ones. He told me to pay what it was worth to me. Awesome. $50. I would have felt bad going any lower.

One minor issue: it's way too stiff for my little 4 hp Lightwin to move down. Does anyone know if I can just remove one of the two springs on the arms? Otherwise there's no way I'm moving it without a heavier engine mounted. Thanks. I'll hopefully have it mounted up for this weekend with a steering connector.

EDIT: Yeah, I'm going to sand the wood down and epoxy it this winter, but I'm just going to use it as is for now.

 

[GT1000000]

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

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

You might just have to get a bigger engine......JK...:lol:
Have you tried to lower the engine while it is solidly mounted...maybe OK once you have it secured...if not I would imagine that taking off one of the springs would certainly do the trick, they really are only there to help lift the engine when it is no longer in use...
Also make sure all the pivot points are properly lubed, that can help 'soften' it a bit...