Delta Dawn- ‘72 Chieftain

[matt167]

Transom replacement is basically the same for any tin StarCraft ob

 

[bam-bam]

Transom replacement is basically the same for any tin StarCraft ob

Thanks. Now if I can just find actual replacement! All of the resto threads are 60-odd pages. My questions specific to the outboard involve the splash well, whether to remove or not, that kind of thing. And as materials change is marine ply still best? Coosa?

 

[matt167]

Splash well generally can stay. You pull the caps and the strip over the transom and in bolt the splash well supports off the transom and it pulls out. Coosa is a good option but not required

 

[bam-bam]

Brown showed up with springs from etrailer today, and I got the trailer all cribbed up. Let’s see if we can make this thing roll again.

 

[bam-bam]

Got it mocked up with the wheelbarrow tires. I think, since I am going to remove the fender bolts to slide the suspension back anyway, I’ll mod the fender mounts to clear bigger tires.

 

[bam-bam]

Back on the ground, everything retorqued under load. Moved the winch stand forward and scooted the boat up a few inches, managed to get at least a little tongue weight. More to come on that after I replace the winch and slide the suspension back a notch or two. Also need to replace and adjust the bunks. On that subject: found some pretty significant pitting where the aluminum has been resting on the bunks. I hope there’s a fix for that!

 

[bam-bam]

I mentioned putting 15” wheels and tires on to match my other trailer, but I’m thinkin maybe 175/80R 13 just to keep it that inch lower. Any thoughts on that?

 

[bam-bam]

Working on Dawn’s little sister SneakySnake, selling her to make room!

 

[bam-bam]

HELP!! Is there a fix for this, or am I screwed? Have had the boat about a month and have been working at getting the trailer squared away. Got new springs, axles, tires installed and slid suspension back to dial in the tongue weight. Next is bunks. With the boat lifted off the bunks a little I noticed some pitting in the hull. I put the plug in and filled the hull with water, and sure enough it’s rotted through in a couple of spots What to do? Yes, it looks like the bunks are pressure treated

 

[BWR1953]

HELP!! Is there a fix for this, or am I screwed? Have had the boat about a month and have been working at getting the trailer squared away. Got new springs, axles, tires installed and slid suspension back to dial in the tongue weight. Next is bunks. With the boat lifted off the bunks a little I noticed some pitting in the hull. I put the plug in and filled the hull with water, and sure enough it’s rotted through in a couple of spots What to do? Yes, it looks like the bunks are pressure treated

I have similar through-hull pitting on my Chief too. I sealed it up on the inside with JB MarineWeld and will be adding an aluminum patch (which is already made) on the outside. If I ever get back to work on the thing!

 

[airshot]

Could be welded, but patch will give more support to that weak area. Look it over carefully as you will probably find more areas like that.

 

[bam-bam]

So, is JB Marine the best solution to patch from the outside, or 5200, or is there some specialty product? I really wasn’t looking to gut the thing right now.

Related question: what to use for bunks? And is it ok to move the bunks outside that chine? I mean structurally ok for the hull. The current bunks are just to the inside of the chine.

 

[bam-bam]

At least she’ll tow well as I head to the lake to test the bilge pump!

 

[BWR1953]

So, is JB Marine the best solution to patch from the outside, or 5200, or is there some specialty product? I really wasn’t looking to gut the thing right now...

I had a 14' Sea Nymph which had a hole and I patched it with JB Weld from the outside. It never leaked after the repair during the short time that I owned the boat. Not the best way, but it worked.

 

[bam-bam]

Thanks, I’m kinda thinking about a short-term fix and then a real patch later.

 

[bam-bam]

Speaking on Sea Nymphs..

 

[1975oday22]

Back on the ground, everything retorqued under load. Moved the winch stand forward and scooted the boat up a few inches, managed to get at least a little tongue weight. More to come on that after I replace the winch and slide the suspension back a notch or two. Also need to replace and adjust the bunks. On that subject: found some pretty significant pitting where the aluminum has been resting on the bunks. I hope there’s a fix for that!

View attachment 368419

looks like chieftain 18 .....

 

[airshot]

Give the bottom a really good cleaning, any weak areas will need an aluminum patch riveted over that spot. Small pinholes can be covered with " goop" exterior hull coating, an epoxy based coating that contains fibers to plug and seal small pinholes. Great reviews !! Just need to be sure weak areas are supported with a patch..