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It really is and was very lucky to find. Here she is! Just started a new thread today that will have loads of pictures as time goes on. 1974 Chieftain 25 Adventurer Restoration

Finally found my Chieftain 25 project. Just got her home a month or so ago and started to working on her. Poor old girl was left collecting leaves for 10-15 years in owners yard. Looking to get this boat cleaned out, tuned up, and refitted for the water This year. I know that sounds incredibly...

Thread is dead, I know, but I am back. Sold the Jeep and got a V8 woody wagon tow vehicle to be ready to pickup a Chieftain 25 when I found it. A few months later, I found it and the 25 is in the yard! Only been working on it the past month or so. I will be starting a new thread for the restore...

Here is mine, 1974 Chieftain 25. Currently a restoration project. Parked next to an 18 foot Starchief for size comparison.

It does add up quick, even just buying all the SS screws, nuts, and bolts can make your head spin sometimes. So I'm definitely aware of how fast it can spiral out of control to fix things as I always seem to buy vehicles that are projects but hoping I can get a fairly good feel for the condition...

Think they said it has a "Mercruiser 260" which I believe is the good old 350 Chevy. Good idea on the removing transducer screws or something to check for water. Definitely seen my share of rotten wood transoms. Part of what I really like about my SC, it is totally visible for inspection just by...

How are the 80's Sea Ray Sundancers as far as stringers and below water line wood are concerned? Are they balsa cored below water line? Are stringers usually shot? Seems like selecting boats that were trailer queens would be a good choice for the older ones vs the ones that sat at docks for a...

Well, I suppose it depends on what one's judgement of useable equates to. Just to clarify a bit- I am definitely not trying to do a full restoration on anything. To me useable is safe enough to take out around the bay. Sure she might burn a little oil, have some rips in upholstery, some gauges...

That's a nice boat but definitely out of my range, even with a loan! lol Looking for more of a usable fixer upper to have fun with. Hoping to run across a nice older boat someone took decent care of.

I don't dock much, mainly just trailer launch, cruise around, and anchor various places, spend nights, go back and pull out of water when done. Trying to have ability for guests to stay on board over night so even if their sleeping area is small that's fine but needs to be in cabin/sheltered at...

My budget is pretty low compared to what a lot of people have to spend. Trying to find something in the 5k range. I'm ok with faded and esp dated- I'm actually a big fan of retro looking boats like my current 1970 Starchief. The early 80's Sea Ray 245 I spotted had loads of teak trim, panels...

So, in the search for a larger aluminum boat, and the scarcity thereof, a particular fiberglass boat caught my eye and then the GF saw it and now loves it so looking for information on this particular boat and since I know little of fiberglass boats- looking for the most similar options. The...

I like all the points raised here and I would surely love to have one of the nice quiet 4 stroke Yamaha, Honda, etc. outboards but the price point, for someone like me, is a Huge barrier. I'm more the type to get a junkyard engine if I had to and go through it myself over the winter in my barn...

Why not on a used motor?

Has anyone here installed the freshwater conversion setup to keep the saltwater out of the engine? Is it basically just a heat exchanger and I'm assuming an additional water pump (one for engine coolant, out-drive one stays for saltwater) or what? Seems like that would be very worthwhile if I...

Thank you all for the input on this. Only reason I am considering an I/O is because I am really wanting a very particular boat (25' Starcraft Chieftain) that is almost always equiped with the original I/O Merc 165. Funds always being a limiting concern, I am only able to afford so much at a...

Hello, I am looking at getting a larger boat with an old (1970's era) Mercruiser I/O, probably pre-alpha 1, likely with the Merc 160 inline 6 GM motor. All my previous boats have been outboards. What I am wondering is: can you run an I/O with it tilted up a ways like you can with an outboard? I...

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...

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...

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...