Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

[chancewayne]

I found a decent looking Starcraft Chiefstain 1974, of course the inboard looks shot. I was thinking of taking the old engine out and putting a bracket for an outboard. How do you think a 60 or 70hp maybe 4 stroke, would work out?
Also, off hand how much would a marina yard charge for the conversion, taking the old engine out, and putting a bracket on. Are the bracket just welded metal to back?

Also would you be concerned about the boat this age has leaks?

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

A marina would charge an arm and a leg to do that conversion.

You should expect a few leaks but its nothing gluvit cant fix.

I would try to get that motor running and see what its fate is. You may be surprised.

 

[barato2]

Re: Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

Wayne---

welcome to the horde.

1. what do you mean "looks shot"? are you sure?

2. 60 or 70 would be underpowered even on an open boat of 22', grossly so on a Chieftain. you want at least 90hp for that one and even that's kind of marginal. think more in terms of 115-150hp. 4 strokes or DI 2 strokes in this size are nice but pricey.

3. marina would charge way more than the boat is worth. no, the brackets aren't quite that simple.

4. your cheapest option might be to find a donor fiberglass boat with similar motor and rotted floors. which motor does this one have currently? the 165hp I6? these can be hard to find but are easy to rebuild if your block is OK. or you could swap in a newer V6 drivetrain like Jasoutside did.

5. yes, the boat probably has leaks. not hard to deal with if you're pulling floors.

6. this is just the short version of answers to your Qs. all of them have been discussed at length. READ A BUNCH OF THREADS BEFORE YOU DROP ANY $.........


somehow the term "Chiefstain" makes me think of a boat that had a marine head and smears near the thru-hull fitting....

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

Twin 70's yea baby. This is one of my "Wish" projects, twin outboard conversion on a cabin cruiser.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

I bet 90 % of the marinas would NOT touch an offshore bracket job on an older thin aluminum boat!!! and it would run you at least $3000...minimum... they will have to fabricate supports for the transom, and then if they went and bought a bracket( easy) it would cost about $1250 to their door at the least!!....then all the controls have to be longer... as well as the engine harness.... you could be looking at $500 in harness and controls....before they "INSTALL" them.. an easier option is to have the marina install a used inboard....if you are dead set on an outboard( maybe because you have one already) then cutting down the transom fabing a simple splash well and bracing the transom is an option.......you might save $2000 or so.......but if the plywood is rotten in your transom......you probably cant justify paying someone to do it..... you will be so far underwater on your boat it would make your head spin......most of all these retrofits and restoration work comes at the hamds of the owners free labor.....and even then we get underwater on the value of our project..... good luck.... I am almost certain ill be doing a I/O to OB conversion this summer on my islander.....just haven't decided bracket or splashwell-cut down transom....bob

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Starcraft Chiefstain adding O/B bracket

Twin 70's yea baby. This is one of my "Wish" projects, twin outboard conversion on a cabin cruiser.

Man I like the way you think BD, Twin 70s

Perchance 75's

Hey Chance, when you said you found a decent SC Cheiftain, did you mean you were thinking of buying it or already HAD purchased it?

1974 tin boat... Yeah likely to find a leaking rivet or 5 and a leaking seam or 3 That's wha the gluvit or Coat-it are for. Unless you're related to Jasoutside, in which it's for your coffee... or was that 5200 in his coffee..

Pending pix to stapke, spindle or otherwise mutilate you're Starmada documents, here's you complimentary hat: :tinfoil3:

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