Rough and ready '74 Starcraft Chieftan 18' rebuild

[laurentide]

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

Fish at the boat, love it:fish2:

Looks like the Chieftain is working well, Chem. Nice!!!!

Yeah, guys, couldn't be happier with the Chief. It felt great to finally reel some water creatures in...though lakers fight like a bag of sand!

 

[jigngrub]

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

Yeah! A real live fish!!!

Sounds like you're starting to nget them dialed in CW, won't be long and you'll be able to get the ones you want.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

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

Fish on!! Good to see the ole girl is finally getting you on some fish. By the way, nothing wrong with those lakers. I really enjoy them smoked and also pan fried.

 

[rheagler]

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

Nice fish Chem!

 

[GT1000000]

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

I just knew that the fish would be curious about such a nice looking boat and want to take a closer look...
Next time out, they will have spread the word and they will be anxious to take a ride...just you wait.

 

[jbcurt00]

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

Congrats on landing a few!

 

[79Renken]

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

Just found and read through your thread. Amazing job you did! She is a beauty! And you made your goal of getting on the lake this Summer!!!

Congrats.

 

[laurentide]

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

Just found and read through your thread. Amazing job you did! She is a beauty! And you made your goal of getting on the lake this Summer!!!

Congrats.

Hey, thanks! It's still very much a work in progress...I don't even have fixed seating installed yet. That'll be a winter project when the launches freeze up. I'm also trying to figure out a way to fund a full enclosure to enjoy a heated space for winter fishing.

Thanks for all the comments on my recent luck with the fishes. Guess what? It was the hooks that were keeping me skunked. I almost always C+R unless I injure the fish, so I was using circle and octopus hooks. Those don't work so good for trolling, when it's usually the initial strike that hooks the fish. Switched to #2 siwash and I'm in business.

 

[laurentide]

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

Silvers(!) and lakers in the boat:

The main drawback of tablet based GPS...you can't charge them in a waterproof case (or not one that I know of):

Fat little salmon:

Foul-hooked laker...he hit the slider and hooked his tail on the main line. Didn't seem too concerned as he dove back down to the bottom:

Still saving my pennies for canvas. November fishing will be a whole lot more comfortable with a little heated space.

Hope y'all are making the most of boat building season! Cheers.

 

[jigngrub]

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

Now there's some good fishin'!!!

I knew you'd get them dialed in before too long!


... where's the Wall-ice?

 

[jbcurt00]

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

Nice coupla fish!

It's official, you're fishing outta a boat YOU rehab'd

Outstanding!

 

[jigngrub]

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

... btw, has anyone complimented you on your sweet boat job yet? Maybe at the ramp, on the water, or some of your buds?

 

[Weep'n Willy]

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

Chem....good job on the fish. That sure is a great looking Atlantic. What I consider the best tasting of all the salmons. We catch an occasional Atlantic over here in the southern end of Lk Huron and would like to get more. They have started a stocking program for them this past season so hopefully it takes off and becomes a successful fishery for them. The siwash hooks are the best IMO. I removed all trebles from my spoons a few years ago and went all single siwash. Hook up rate increased substantially. Good luck on the water.

 

[laurentide]

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

Nice coupla fish!

It's official, you're fishing outta a boat YOU rehab'd

Outstanding!

Thanks, JB...I'm enjoying the heck out of the boat.

... btw, has anyone complimented you on your sweet boat job yet? Maybe at the ramp, on the water, or some of your buds?

For sure...lots of positive feedback at the boat launches from fellow cheapskates. In a state with a low median income and a high cost of living, I just can't wrap my head around all the newer big-money boats that I see around. The big four strokes and etecs are nice, but I'm still able to do all the same stuff with my antique.

 

[laurentide]

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

Chem....good job on the fish. That sure is a great looking Atlantic. What I consider the best tasting of all the salmons. We catch an occasional Atlantic over here in the southern end of Lk Huron and would like to get more. They have started a stocking program for them this past season so hopefully it takes off and becomes a successful fishery for them. The siwash hooks are the best IMO. I removed all trebles from my spoons a few years ago and went all single siwash. Hook up rate increased substantially. Good luck on the water.

Yeah Willy, #2 siwash on everything for me. I'd love to fish your waters for kings someday! Cheers!

 

[laurentide]

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

I need some advice from the Starmada here. Splashwell cracks...ugh...:grumpy:

They're not major, but they are through the sheet metal of a structural member.

Just noticed them today while messing around with the trailer bunks:

I guess I've been a little rough on the boat in general, i.e. taking it out in some pretty rough slop and pounding it a bit. But, still, normal abuse for most boats.

My first thought is to drill 'em out, jb weld, and then sand/paint. Should I be more worried about this failure? I know the transom is solid, so could this just be metal fatigue that one might expect in a 40 year old tin boat?

Thanks for any input you've got....

EDIT: It's also possible that these cracks existed prior to my ownership and that I didn't notice them. The old transom was mulch, so that definitely could have caused this. I just can't see the the hull torquing this much after a transom/deck/side panel replacement.

Another edit: I just did a google search and came across dozer's SS splashwell with the same cracks:

So...guess I'll slather a couple of angle pieces with JB, put 'em behind the drilled out cracks, fill 'em in and sand the exterior. Paint will have to wait 'till spring. I'm still using the boat, so I want to get this fixed. Good plan?

 

[GA_Boater]

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

Transom mulch and the PO's continued use very often cause splashwell cracks. Also cracked knee braces. You probably just didn't see the cracks 'til now. We've seen a lot worse, Chem.

 

[laurentide]

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

Good to hear, GA, thanks. I'll just go with my plan then and stop doubting my transom job :cold:

 

[Watermann]

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

Those cracks could have even come from the PO deciding to crawl into the well to look at something on the stern or motor. It's not designed to have that much weight on them. Get the cracks started and they will continue to move with normal use from vibration. Your repair idea should halt the progress of the cracking.

 

[laurentide]

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

Thanks Watermann. I'll get 'em drilled/patched before my next frostbite fishing trip this weekend. Cheers.