Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

[laurentide]

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

Could always try FLEX SEAL works great on boats with a screen door screwed into the bottom.:laugh:

At least for the 3 seconds they show it in the ad.

 

[laurentide]

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

I just ordered Gluvit, sorry EZ. I read a couple of reviews of the Coat-it which stated that it had too little flex to adhere long term. I guess it cures rock hard. So I'm going with the tried and true (and overpriced) product.

 

[laurentide]

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

Got some more washing and sanding done today...my arms are about to fall off from working the sanding sponge. No surprises on the bottom, but there are a few dings and dents. I don't think I'm going to worry about any of them, including the ones on the hull sides. I can live with cosmetic blemishes.

I think I'll bottom paint like this, too, one side at a time. Then, when the bottom's cured, I'll be able to do the rest at a level position. It's very uncomfortable getting down low like this, but it works:

I'm really glad the bottom sanding is done. That job flat out sucks. I'm kind of waiting for 60 degree weather now, but I've got lots of little jobs to fill the time. Cheers.

EDIT: forgot to mention that, in addition to some very thickly applied and unnecessary epoxy by the keel under the transom, both of the strakes by the transom had tons of silicone goo all over the seams. Guess this particular PO didn't realize that they're riveted onto the hull, not part of it. Oh well, I've definitely made my share of pointless and shoddy repairs in the past.

 

[GA_Boater]

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

For a second there I thought you were doing the Jason polka limbo dance. A while back someone rolled the hull to sand and paint the bottom. It worked for them so you're in good company.

:facepalm: If in doubt and you're low on duct tape, smear silicone all over her.

 

[laurentide]

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

For a second there I thought you were doing the Jason polka limbo dance..

Yeah, I've invested some thought in that particular method, but I don't trust the tree limbs on that elm as much as Jas trusts his garage joists. The only bummer with my method is it will take 24 hours longer than it should.

Thanks GB.

 

[jigngrub]

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

EDIT: forgot to mention that, in addition to some very thickly applied and unnecessary epoxy by the keel under the transom, both of the strakes by the transom had tons of silicone goo all over the seams. Guess this particular PO didn't realize that they're riveted onto the hull, not part of it. Oh well, I've definitely made my share of pointless and shoddy repairs in the past.

Sounds like there were some leak problems in the past... are you sure your leak test passed?

 

[laurentide]

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

Sounds like there were some leak problems in the past... are you sure your leak test passed?

It looked dry to me, but I'll give it another go with all that sealant stuff removed. I'm thinking it was speedo or transducer holes that were the issue, because any water leaking out of the transom-I'm assuming that the owner was looking at it on the trailer-trickles down to that spot where all the repairs were, so it does look like a leak. Does that make sense? Anyway, I'll get the lower transom holes riveted and do another test to make sure. Thanks.

 

[dozerII]

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

Making some real good progress CM, I would like to take and rattle the guy that puts silicone on the outside of a boat.:frusty:

 

[laurentide]

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

Thanks, dozer. I'm going to spend part of my weekend (I have weekday "weekends") trying to figure out the trailer extension mods. It'll be warm enough for paint/epoxy, but it's supposed to rain all week. I'm thinking it'll be cool to just have the trailer done and ready. Plus, the boat is really light right now which should make for easy adjustments on the bunks. Cheers.

 

[laurentide]

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

Ditched the old glasser at the dump today. Now I'm trying to figure out my setup for this trailer. I'm going to have to cut off the too-narrow guide assemblies and relocate the tail lights. The other trailer has most of the parts I'll need, including rear mount light brackets. Do you guys prefer cable or strap winches? I have my choice at the moment.

I learned how this trifecta works together today:

Got all the holes filled below the transom wood:

...and I had to double up on two holes that were too close together:

Did another leak test after all the holes were filled, just in the stern area this time:

No leaks. I left the water in there for an hour and put my hand under the stern keel, and it was bone dry. This may or may not confirm my theory that the PO put all that junk on the keel area due to leaking transom screws.

Cheers guys.

 

[dozerII]

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

Looking good. I prefer the winch straps, cables always seem to end up with wickers that cause pain.

 

[GT1000000]

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

I much prefer the straps...Like dozerll mentioned the cables tend to always get frayed and you end up skewered...

 

[laurentide]

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

Cool, strap winch it is. Thanks guys.

 

[laurentide]

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

I'm about to make a run for my plywood (I'll be the guy at Lowes with a Subaru and a boat trailer), and I just wanted to confirm some assumptions regarding my measurements.

Is it possible to build a single piece double thick laminated transom with a single sheet of 3/4"? I guess if you kind of nest the rip lines for the high sides inside of each other, it seems like it should be enough, but I'm not positive.

Otherwise, I'm thinking 5 sheets of 3/4", including the one for the transom, and this should also cover deck, bulkheads, and rear sliders. I'll grab one sheet of 1/2" for the side panels.

I guess that's a lot of words for the one question about the transom. Thanks guys!

EDIT: I'm also going to order epoxy and Nautolex today, but I'm thinking of using a less expensive marine vinyl for everything but the deck panels. Specifically, this stuff: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIGHT-GRAY-MARINE-VINYL-AUTO-UPH-NAUGAHYDE-54-/300876880095

This stuff is a little heavier, and may be a better product for my needs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Surfside-Smoke-Marine-Vinyl-Yard-SF74-/320846215487?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item4ab3ecb93f

No, 1.8 #s is the about the same as 29 oz^^^ My math skills are deficient.

Do y'all think this stuff will hold up well enough? Thanks again.

 

[ezmobee]

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

Is it possible to build a single piece double thick laminated transom with a single sheet of 3/4"?

Yes.

 

[laurentide]

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

Yes.

Great, thanks EZ.

 

[laurentide]

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

Just a heads up, guys; Lowes brand blue foam has been discontinued. I got the last 4x8 sheet in the state of VT, and had to buy a bunch of the green 2x8 ship-lap sheets, which are almost the same price as the blue 4x8s, same depth. I'm glad I saved some of the original styrofoam for the bow section.

On the plus side, they do have 5 ply 5/8" BCX, which is what I'll be doing my deck and sliders with. The whole stack was warped, of course, but they're generous with the 50% off on damaged lumber. It's still very much useable, and would be pretty nice plywood if it had been stored properly. Oh well, I'll take it for $16 a sheet, and just wait for a sunny day to lay it out to flatten with some water sprayed on the concave side.

 

[ezmobee]

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

I did my whole basement with the green stuff. It's the same thing, no issues.

 

[laurentide]

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

I did my whole basement with the green stuff. It's the same thing, no issues.

Cool, glad to hear that. I was just bummed because it skewed my budget a bit, but the lumber discount helped out.

 

[GT1000000]

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

Just a tip on the warped wood...
Sometimes it works better if you cut the pieces you need out of the warped wood, then try to flatten it best as possible before you are ready to install...
The method to this mad concept is that if you are going to use the wood for decking, you might actually want it to have a little bit of a dip, either towards the center or the outer edges for drainage reasons, and you can cut the wood in the best possible direction for that purpose...
The other is that you might be using a much smaller piece for a bulkhead, filler, etc...and that smaller piece may be easier to "flatten" out than a whole sheet...
2? worth, minus Uncle Sam's cut=.0005?