1974 Starcraft Chieftain

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Got your PM bgc, thanks. John

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Started re-wiring the trailer lights last night last night.

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Finished up the new LED trailer lights and took her out to get cleaned up.

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I can hear it's moan clear up here!! Nice work on the launch.

Your Chief is identical in color as mine except I did remove all that vinyl on the cabin. Looks like your front cabin window is one piece. Do you have a pic of it you could post. I believe mine was once replaced with 2 pieces of plexi and a makeshift front frame. I haven't taken it out yet but believe I will have to replace it before too long as it is spidered.

Here are a couple windshield pics. I took more if there is another view you would like to see.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Hey - Looks like a brand new OHIO plate on the trailer. You have icicles dangling on anything?

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Here's a little video showing the difference between polycarb and acrylic...

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Hey - Looks like a brand new OHIO plate on the trailer. You have icicles dangling on anything?

Yes! Got everything done with the registration and title aside from getting her off the trailer the process wasn't too bad. There were some frozen soap suds during the wash but we're have a big warm front rolling in, high of 42 today:laugh:

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Thanks for the pics. That gives me something to compare to. Mine certainly has been replaced before and quite possibly could be 2 pieces from the look of all the goop on the inside.

Water, that video pretty much sums it up!

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Here's a little video showing the difference between polycarb and acrylic...

There is no doubt that polycarb is tough stuff, I spent years machining both polycarb and acrylic. I favor the acrylic because I can polish scratches and scuffs out of it.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Stopped by my local glass shop yesterday that a friend of mine owns. He ordered a spool of the glazing material for the glass, had the fuzzy felt in stock for the slider windows, said it's best to use a wet seal of urethane for the windshields bases and... I think he talked me into laminated glass for the lower windshield, showing me a way to make double panes work with a rubber H to seal the gap. Cheaper than Polycarb and no scratches.

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I have been working on my material list for redoing the sole, bulkhead, cabin, helm, seating bases, and cabinets.

I am planing on using an oak faced plywood for the center bulkhead/cabin wall, cabinets, and helm. I'm considering glassing the wood with 3oz E-Glass and epoxy to give it water resistance and top coating with varnish for UV protection. Any thoughts?

 

[cj8mule]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I have been working on my material list for redoing the sole, bulkhead, cabin, helm, seating bases, and cabinets.

I am planing on using an oak faced plywood for the center bulkhead/cabin wall, cabinets, and helm. I'm considering glassing the wood with 3oz E-Glass and epoxy to give it water resistance and top coating with varnish for UV protection. Any thoughts?

I've been giving this a little thought on my build even though the bulkhead wall is months away. I'm thinking about just using Spar since my boat will stay covered when not in use.

Question for you bgc: won't the E-Glass show through? I'm assuming that's some kind of woven mat... (You know that thing about assuming)

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I'm with CJ on spar, against the conventional wisdom I'm not sold on spending 80-100 bucks a gallon for epoxy resin when it relies solely on something else being put over it to remain viable long term. I've used spar so far on a transom, decking and mahogany supports. I plan on using it a bunch more in the near future.

So I guess my thoughts are, if the spar isn't good enough on it's own to protect the wood then why reply on it to protect that expensive resin coat that costs more than the wood your using and spar combined?

You can give me back the change for my 2 cents.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I'm a spar guy, too. I know a lot of us use epoxy, but I've always wondered why. I might consider using it for covered wood, for example, transoms and decking - But keeping the boat covered and protected from weather does the trick in my mind. I think epoxy is overkill and won't do any better than spar on the bulkhead/cabin wall. Mainly it empties your wallet. If epoxy was so good, why do glassers rot?

 

[astor]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Nearly all glassers are made with polyester resins not epoxy.

I used epoxy on my transom, but used spar urethane on the deck in my starcraft. If I were to do it again, it would be spar only.

If its going to be exposed to the sun and the elements, then epoxy or spar urethane are not very long lasting, it would be required to be refinished every couple of years, the epoxy without UV additives or a spar topcoat would degrade very fast.

There is a clear coat from POR15 called Pelucid that is expensive but really lasts longest for a clear coat when exposed to the sun and elements. But if you want durability under these conditions then a clear coat will not be your best choice.

After 2 years:
Final Bed Wood Summary - Testing of different wood finish products

After 5 years:
June 2010 update

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

I like the look of varnish but I don't know where I'll be in 5 years or who will own this fine vessel. We did a test with spar Varnish, 6 years ago, on a picnic table and it has held up well to the elements until the last year. Maybe glassing the helm and exterior of the bulk head would be a better idea?
The 3oz wets out very well but does have a bit of texture. I'm defiantly going to glass the sole and transom of this old gal. Who knows, one of our children might be manning her lines on the Great Lakes as a Classic Boat Charter…..

.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Too bad the "weather test" didn't try just spar on bare wood. Saying spar failed over an undercoat doesn't tell me much. What failed - Spar or the Pelucid/CPES? In both cases of spar over another coating, the spar is peeling from the undercoat, so lets blame spar. :facepalm:Spar has been used for centuries to protect masts, spars and other wood work on sailing ships. Granted, urethane hasn't been around for centuries, but the flexibility of the coating is what protects the wood. What I get out of the test is that not much sticks to epoxy.

I forgot to say this is my opinion and nothing more than my opinion.

 

[astor]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

There's plenty of weather tests available if you do a search, most spar varnishes alone do not hold up well either, they can look good for a year or two then need refinishing.

I can remember my Grandfather re-varnishing mahogany and oiling teak every year on his wooden Chris Craft.


As far as protecting the wood from rotting, when its not exposed to the elements, It's gonna be spar urethanes for me going forward, epoxies might be better, but cost, shelf life, etc... make the varnishes and urethanes more attractive for me. I'm pretty certain my transom and deck will last much longer than the factory parts did.

 

[bgc]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

There's plenty of weather tests available if you do a search, most spar varnishes alone do not hold up well either, they can look good for a year or two then need refinishing.

I can remember my Grandfather re-varnishing mahogany and oiling teak every year on his wooden Chris Craft.


As far as protecting the wood from rotting, when its not exposed to the elements, It's gonna be spar urethanes for me going forward, epoxies might be better, but cost, shelf life, etc... make the varnishes and urethanes more attractive for me. I'm pretty certain my transom and deck will last much longer than the factory parts did.

I hope the rebuild will give her another 40+ years on the water. Astor what town are you near?

 

[astor]

Re: 1974 Starcraft Chieftain

Yes, I'm sure it will give it 40+ years, as long as its not left out in the weather.

The bulkhead wall and helm look great in wood, but I wouldn't think they need epoxy or glass.

I live in Toledo, where are you located?