Fun day out on the big Chieftain

[ezmobee]

As many of you know, my good friend bought a 21' Chieftain last fall. I guess you could say I'm part owner in it (though I don't currently have any $$ in it). I don't expect it to make too many trips, at least not in the near future, without me aboard. Original thread on the boat http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=411871 My friend lives in MD but has used it in PA each time. Next year we hope to take it out on the Chesapeake. Anyway, I found a really reasonable place to store my boat for the winter and my friend was having issues with an HOA keeping it at his house so I arranged storage for him as well. He brought it up this weekend and we took it for a nice run on the lake closest to my house. It came with a huge 35 gallon gas tank that was full last fall. With the fuel already being fairly old we didn't want to store it another winter so we thought we'd try to burn off as much of what was left of that gas as we could. We didn't totally succeed but we got it down pretty low. Another local iboater whom we hadn't yet met ended up joining us. He was a great help and made the day more fun. It was a beautiful fall day here in PA with no wind. Got some great pics and video.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Proud owner Chris

Me

iboater Tom

My wife got a new camera. Holy crap it takes nice pictures! Canon Powershot SX130. HIGHLY recommended. It's on sale this week at Target and other places I believe for $229. Can't beat it. Takes HD video also (though the internet seems to have eaten the quality of the ones I posted below.)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Vids (click to view)


Hole shot. I can't believe how well that 90 pushes that big tub. SC's just don't need a lot of HP. It's rated for 170!


Chris took this one sticking out the (missing) cabin window


You'll notice the motor sounds the same in these. Yeah, that's cuz you do pretty much run it WOT all the time on this big boat. It doesn't seem to mind though and didn't use much fuel.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Well heck EZ, that 90 hp did just fine huh! Looks like you fellas had a great day on the water

 

[Deadwood]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Ain't the water magic? And our old girls make it better! Congrats to you and your bud cause the boat is wonderful.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

The fall colors sure look nice also. Don't have that much color on the west coast. Boat looks like you have all the power you need with out a big gas bill.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Thanks for the pics & vids EZ. Tell you buddy he has a prize there You couldn't have picked a prettier day to go cruising but thats what is nice about those boats, you can always get out of bad weather.
When does the resto start?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

When does the resto start?

Not sure yet. We've been plagued with trailer problems with the rig and that has been what's holding us up both in using and working on the boat. Unfortunately we are no closer to resolving that situation. It has an old roller trailer under it that has a good galvanized frame and one brand new axle but apparently needs major work on all the rollers. It also needs at least a bearing job on the other axle. We've only had the boat out 3 times and on 2 of the 3 the boat has loaded crooked despite our best efforts. Yesterday particularly as we did a textbook retrieve and I feel we had the trailer at just the perfect depth and we winched it a good bit of the way on. Should have been perfect but still ended up crooked. I don't think the rollers are matched to the boat well. We hate that trailer. Chris has been having a nightmare of a time trying to get the trailer titled and registered in MD and after yesterday I told him may not want to put anymore effort into it. We'd like to find a nice bunk trailer for it.

Our first order of business for the boat is going to be to try to replace the front windows in the cabin as they are gone. We have decided we like the openess and airflow that we've got now and can't imagine how hot it would get in there if we replaced them with the solid panels that were there. We'd like to fine 2 RV windows that open and close to put in place of them. If we can find windows close to the right size (shouldn't be tough there are TONS on ebay) we don't think it would be too hard to figure a way to install them. We also like to build some new seat boxes similar to the ones in the new Islanders.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Could you guys take off the rollers and throw bunks on what you have there?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Could you guys take off the rollers and throw bunks on what you have there?

Nope. Doesn't really have the right type of frame for a bunk conversion or we would absolutely do that. It's definitely a ROLLER trailer

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Nope. Doesn't really have the right type of frame for a bunk conversion or we would absolutely do that. It's definitely a ROLLER trailer

Bummer man. I bet you guys could sell it off and pick up another for about the same $$.

Well, that 90 horse sure pushed her well though!

 

[dozerII]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Looks like you had a great day on the water, and a lot of fun. This late in the year any boating day would be great. Snow here today and tomorrow.
Glen

 

[Deadwood]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

I could go for something like the 2nd one here.
http://www.waterwaysystems.com/8.html
Please keep us posted on what's out there in the window world during the resto.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

EZ, I took off my rollers this past weekend. They look to be in good shape. I'll get a pic of them for you. If they will work for you, then their yours.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Thanks Dale but this trailer has HUGE rollers on it. I doubt yours are big enough. Plus after seeing this picture of MichaelP's on a SWEET low-slung bunk trailer I think this is really how we need to go http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/DSCF2082-M.jpg

 

[fshngho]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Offer stands EZ although I agree with you. Thats why I removed my rollers and installed bunks. Check out my thread, you might be able to see the rollers too.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Nice pictures of a great boat. I've always been partial to the Cabin Cruisers. Looks like that 90 pushes it just fine.

 

[barato]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

thanks for giving us some inspiration. that boat is a good illustration of having fun at low cost....bet you enjoyed it as much as if it had been new n shiny WITH a windshield

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fun day out on the big Chieftain

Maybe more!