MBD

[IslandExplorer]

Hello! Hoping to get some input regarding my Starcraft disorder. I recently decided that my Starchief is not big enough and am looking for the next boat already. I have been eyeing the unfortunately quite rare Chieftain 25 (non-express). Any opinions positive or negative on this particular boat?

Welcoming any and all input here. I am pretty sure this is what I want since I have moved up quite a few times already and instead of going the +2 foot route this time I want to jump to the big boy chief. Previous to current:
7' Avon, 14' Lowe, 16' Supersport, 18' Starchief.

 

[IslandExplorer]

This is current boat, 1970 Starcraft Starchief 18' O/B

 

[IslandExplorer]

Anyone?

 

[GA_Boater]

Anyone?

It takes more than two pictures to form an opinion or advise you. Which one is the big one? The two look alike.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you want the 25 foot boat..... Buy the 25 foot boat

 

[IslandExplorer]

It takes more than two pictures to form an opinion or advise you. Which one is the big one? The two look alike.

Sorry, didn't mean to be confusing, both pictures are what I have now, the 18' Starchief, was asking for opinions about the 25 foot Chieftain.

 

[IslandExplorer]

This is an example of the boat I am looking for, the biggest Chieftain made at 25' with enclosed bathroom and small kitchen.

 

[IslandExplorer]

If you want the 25 foot boat..... Buy the 25 foot boat

I do want it but was hoping someone on here has owned this particular model and had personal experience like pros/cons/what to look out for when buying/bad years/best years, etc. This would be my first I/O which is a whole other convo probably but have heard seemingly mostly positive info regarding the common powerplant for this boat being the 1970's era Mercruiser 165 inline 6 GM motor.

 

[jbcurt00]

At this point its more about condition condition condition since they'll be 20qyrs old. Then factor remuddling by prior owners, half arsed 'repairs' and/or complete lack of preventive maintenance.

Just like the market, 25ftrs are scarce @ here. Off the top of my head I dont remember a single completed 25ftr posted here from start to finish, w lots of pix and info, certainly no currently active members w 1 thats been rehab'd

 

[IslandExplorer]

Damn, was hoping someone active here had one in operation or did at one point. Like your term "remuddling", definitely encountered a lot of that over the years. I wonder why aluminum cabin boats seem to be so rare? Seems like it is an awesome setup if you don't want to have a huge tow vehicle, mostly stick to bays, and are keen on saving fuel. The Crestliner Sabre's and big Lund 2650's I've seen pics of that are similar in stature to the Chieftain have way smaller cabins, like every larger model adds only to cockpit space rather than cabin. This is why I think I am stuck searching for a big Chieftain.

 

[DLNorth]

Why do you want a bigger boat? ie, what will you use it for, what kind of water, how far will you trailer it?

If you are looking for a large alum boat, check out Marinette's.

1970 Aluminum Cruisers/Marinette Prices & Values

1970 Aluminum Cruisers/Marinette Prices & Values - J.D. Power

www.nadaguides.com

 

[IslandExplorer]

I want a bigger boat bc the admiral and I like spending nights on it and although the little cuddy in the Starchief has been great we are seeing the benefits of a bigger cabin the more we have used it. Enclosed bathroom is really the main feature desired due to the female passengers that come along. I don't trailer far at all, about a 15 min ride. I only go out in salt water but may visit some lakes someday. Typically we are in the bay but sometimes venture out a few miles from shore, Block Island being the farthest away I'd probably ever go and probably only once or twice a year. The Chieftain 25 seems to fit the bill perfect being probably the largest we could go and still be light enough to tow it with a Wrangler.

 

[DLNorth]

A Chief 25 ...... I see a truck in your future.

"The Chieftain 25 seems to fit the bill perfect being probably the largest we could go and still be light enough to tow it with a Wrangler."

 

[IslandExplorer]

I sure hope not, the TJ is already terrible on gas even pulling nothing! Had a few pickups and never really liked them much. I am putting heavier duty axles with bigger brakes (Ford 8.8 rear + D44 front) with lower gears (4.11 vs 3.07) in it hopefully over the winter. Not sure what the minimum tow rating is for the Chief 25 but I know that one of their sales points was how you could tow it with a family car. Granted the big old bombers from the 70's were more like a car body on a truck frame but I'm hoping with a good trailer sporting surge brakes that I would be ok pulling the Chief. Anyone know what the towing stipulations are for a boat that size? Here's a vintage sales brochure with some unknown car allegedly trailering it:

 

[jbcurt00]

Trans cooler?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Short wheel base vehicles absolutely suck as tow vehicles.

Big boats require longer wheel bases

Doesnt matter if you put 411s under a jeep, wheel base is too short

The tail will wag the dog

 

[classiccat]

I sure hope not, the TJ is already terrible on gas even pulling nothing! Had a few pickups and never really liked them much. I am putting heavier duty axles with bigger brakes (Ford 8.8 rear + D44 front) with lower gears (4.11 vs 3.07) in it hopefully over the winter. Not sure what the minimum tow rating is for the Chief 25 but I know that one of their sales points was how you could tow it with a family car. Granted the big old bombers from the 70's were more like a car body on a truck frame but I'm hoping with a good trailer sporting surge brakes that I would be ok pulling the Chief. Anyone know what the towing stipulations are for a boat that size? Here's a vintage sales brochure with some unknown car allegedly trailering it:View attachment 352408

^^^ ~1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass?

 

[Scott Danforth]

^^^ ~1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass?

Looks like a 98.

 

[DLNorth]

jeep's aren't known for good MPG, and with these changes, a 1/2 ton pickup will likely get better mpg than the jeep. (though with this large a boat, I'd use a 3/4 ton truck)
Dan

"I sure hope not, the TJ is already terrible on gas even pulling nothing! Had a few pickups and never really liked them much. I am putting heavier duty axles with bigger brakes (Ford 8.8 rear + D44 front) with lower gears (4.11 vs 3.07) in it hopefully over the winter."

 

[IslandExplorer]

Yeah, you're right, unfortunately they are not. I love the torquey 4.0 I-6 but the crappy old 3 speed torque flight auto trans is a slush pump at best and rob's a lot of efficiency slipping away nearly all the time. I have a 5.0L HO Suzuki Samurai that I am building that would have plenty of towing power and brakes (4 piston caliper FJ62 axles) but it isn't ready yet and despite the drivetrain upgrades- I don't think it will affect it's rated tow capacity. Maybe I will be forced to get a full size. If I go that route it'll be an old Bronco like my brother's bc for me there is no fun in owning a traditional pickup truck and life is too short to hate your ride. Or maybe one of the old V8 woody wagons! They were basically a wagon body on a pickup frame, love those classic old bombers.