I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

[Sc25175]

I just got off the phone with a guy who has a 1976, 22' Chieftain that was flipped on its side on its trailer and sat in flood waters for a week. Prior to this the boat was in great condition with only 150 total hours. He has owned it since 81 and only used it a handful of times. It has a 6 cylinder merc with merc outdrive. He thinks the motor is OK, no water in the oil and the way it was sitting on the trailer he doesn't think the water got high enough. The hull is in great shape and so is the trailer.

He is asking $1000.00 and think I'm in. I am looking for a project boat and even though I initially was thinking a 25 Islander I read enough posts to realize this is a big undertaking and the 22 footer will be a lot of work and boat gets exponentially bigger so decided 22 was big enough.

If the motor is shot it is not probably as good a deal but if the motor and outdrive are in good shape it leaves me with a perfect project boat.

I really respect the knowledge I have seen in this forum so please weigh in and tell me I am totally crazy ---- or not.

Thanks in advance for all the knowledge and experience I will get using this forum during the rebuild. I plan on posting on a regular basis once I get it started.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

Make sure you start the boat with the drive down and a set of ears. Run the boat until it comes up to temp, make sure it goes into gear. listen for noise in the outdrive, check engine oil and look for manifold leaks ect.
You should beable to see where the water level was at. If it stayed below the engine and outdrive you might have a good engine/drive.
Look for wood rot, floor, cabin wall, transom, poke around with a needle.
I got taken on the boat I purchased 1986 21' cheif because I did not look at the boat enough for wood rot, make sure the engine/outdrive was a 1986, and such.
Welcome the Cheiftain group if you get the boat.

 

[Sc25175]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

So I am picking up the boat in a couple of weeks. I am looking at installing a bimini that can be semi permanent. Has anybody installed a fabric top that can be in place and still tow the boat?

 

[MichaelP]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

Another fellow starmadian arriving in a couple weeks, cool. Can't wait to see picks!!! I wouldn't feel comfortable trailering with a top on unless it was attached to the windshield unless your not going faster than say 40 ish. My 18 footer came with a binimy and you can see it in the first posting of my resto thread.

Good luck!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

Sounds like a great candidate for a full resto, good luck to ya!

 

[Sc25175]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

The reason I want a semi-permanent bimini is I want to build seat boxes that extend behind the actual seat that would house a microwave running off of an inverter and maximize storage. I want to protect this setup as best I can.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

Hey Steve, did ya find out how the engine is running on er yet?

Cheers man!

 

[Sc25175]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

165hp Merc with Merc lower unit. The guy I am buying from seems pretty honest and said the flood waters flipped the boat on its side on the trailer and from what I can see the engine may not have been in the water. The guy has moved it back to the right position on the trailer and states there is no water in the oil.
I was going to pick it up this weekend but it is located in the north west corner of MO and the Missori river is a mess with all the levees breaking. The guy called me and said he will try to make it down this weekend to even see if the boat is still there. It is at his cabin and the flooding sounds really bad. Will have to wait and see.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

I think I'd want to hear/see it run before I cough up the cheddar for it. $1K would be a little pricey for a hull with a shot motor. Though, that might be a super deal if she is a runner!

 

[Sc25175]

Re: I think I just bought a 1976 22' Chieftain

Another rookie question

Standing on the deck in a 22ft mk IV where would a 6ft persons top of head be in relationship to the top edge of the windshield?