My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

[bunker108]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Good luck with the "Tower of Power" Mercury. They are good engines, I am running a 1972 1150. The engine wiring harness will be super brittle if it hasn't already been replaced. Search "waking up an outboard" for some direction in getting the old girl running again. You will also want to replace the fuel lines and do an impeller and drain and check lower unit for water intrusion. I also just had a fella up in Illinois totally rewire my Mercontrol remote with new ignition switch, battery cables and all new internal wiring. So crack that thing open too and see what it looks like inside...probably the same brittle wires. I can get you his number if that is a route you consider taking. Here is a pic from a running 1150 for reference. The Merc forums here on iboats are a great resource too. They will tell you to first check compression before dumping any money into the engine.

Let me know how the engine works out for you. And let me know if you decide to repower and we can see what you need for me to take it off your hands. But don't give up on that old thing...you will be hooked on these old inlines as soon as you hear it fire up!

Sorry for treating you like a rook...I just noticed you have more posts than I do. So I probably didn't tell you anything you don't already know. But if you have any questions I will try to answer them.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Welcome to the Starcraft fleet erwinner

That is one sweet huge yellow tin can, and it sounds like she's in good hands.

Check the compression and maybe that Merc will be worth investing a bit for the summer. Good luck to ya!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Welcome to the STARMADA! You entered the bro hood in style. Nice deal right there and I'll be watching your progress with envy.
Congrats!!!!

PM on the way on the hats. Plenty left.

 

[timfives]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Hey, Very nice find!! i'll be interested in following your process. FYI that hats are sweet.

T

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Good luck with the "Tower of Power" Mercury. They are good engines, I am running a 1972 1150. The engine wiring harness will be super brittle if it hasn't already been replaced. Search "waking up an outboard" for some direction in getting the old girl running again. You will also want to replace the fuel lines and do an impeller and drain and check lower unit for water intrusion. I also just had a fella up in Illinois totally rewire my Mercontrol remote with new ignition switch, battery cables and all new internal wiring. So crack that thing open too and see what it looks like inside...probably the same brittle wires. I can get you his number if that is a route you consider taking. Here is a pic from a running 1150 for reference. The Merc forums here on iboats are a great resource too. They will tell you to first check compression before dumping any money into the engine.

Let me know how the engine works out for you. And let me know if you decide to repower and we can see what you need for me to take it off your hands. But don't give up on that old thing...you will be hooked on these old inlines as soon as you hear it fire up!

Sorry for treating you like a rook...I just noticed you have more posts than I do. So I probably didn't tell you anything you don't already know. But if you have any questions I will try to answer them.

No worries, I am a rookie! My only real experience has been with my '72 Rude 6hp and my '10 Merc 15hp. This is a whole other league! The harness must be pretty new as it is nice and flexible and the insulation all looks good. There are some issues going on under the cowl, but it all looks pretty much intact.
I think the 1150 is a '72 as well as the hull, and your motor! The s/n is 336XXX.

Welcome to the Starcraft fleet erwinner

That is one sweet huge yellow tin can, and it sounds like she's in good hands.

Check the compression and maybe that Merc will be worth investing a bit for the summer. Good luck to ya!

Glad to be a member! Gotta go to Autozone and borrow a compression tester.

Welcome to the STARMADA! You entered the bro hood in style. Nice deal right there and I'll be watching your progress with envy.
Congrats!!!!

PM on the way on the hats. Plenty left.

I'll be hitting you up for a hat soon! Might have to get two as the first one will get very dirty very quickly!

Hey, Very nice find!! i'll be interested in following your process. FYI that hats are sweet.

T

Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting her seaworthy, then next winter redoing the decks. OK, so I'm not really looking forward to the last part, but it must be done!

 

[barato2]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Harbor Fright sells a pretty decent comp tester set for abt $25......worth buying to have one around, for when your MBS acts up at times otto partz stores are closed....they're not 24 hr like pharmacies

 

[InMotion]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

You have a terrific looking boat there. Really looking forward to following your progress here!

Your friend... priceless friendship.

If your re build turns out half as good as the ford... it'll be fantastic looking!!!

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Well, we worked on the hot rod for about 8 years before we got it street legal, then another few before paint. It's never really done, but it gets a lot of attention!
I'm afraid the restoration of this Starcraft will be similar. But I'm starting off with a much bigger chunk of the total than dad started out with.
A nice baby step today was removing the derelict vehicle from my driveway (the roommate is close behind!) so I could get the boat backed under my carport up to the top windshield. Thanks to the boat's trailer tongue being a little bit on the sidewalk, I caught the attention of the code enforcer guy, so he tagged the vehicle. (which is a late 70s Cadillac hearse :facepalm Now I'm legal again and the open part of the boat is completely covered. And I've got a nice space behind the boat for the engine stand I'll be building soon. As well as my little sailboat and utility trailer.
Sorry, no pics, as it was all done after work (dark).
Though it was funny hitching that massive boat up to my tiny Scion xB! Actually pulled it quite well, though it's so low that I dragged the hitch on the concrete a good 18" going out the drive.

 

[InMotion]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Well, we worked on the hot rod for about 8 years before we got it street legal, then another few before paint. It's never really done, but it gets a lot of attention!
I'm afraid the restoration of this Starcraft will be similar. But I'm starting off with a much bigger chunk of the total than dad started out with.
A nice baby step today was removing the derelict vehicle from my driveway (the roommate is close behind!) so I could get the boat backed under my carport up to the top windshield. Thanks to the boat's trailer tongue being a little bit on the sidewalk, I caught the attention of the code enforcer guy, so he tagged the vehicle. (which is a late 70s Cadillac hearse :facepalm Now I'm legal again and the open part of the boat is completely covered. And I've got a nice space behind the boat for the engine stand I'll be building soon. As well as my little sailboat and utility trailer.
Sorry, no pics, as it was all done after work (dark).
Though it was funny hitching that massive boat up to my tiny Scion xB! Actually pulled it quite well, though it's so low that I dragged the hitch on the concrete a good 18" going out the drive.

Man that is a lot of boat behind a Scion!!! Glad to hear that other than the scrape, there were no other issues. Sounds like you are getting your outdoor shop setup.

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

I'll take some pics as soon as I can, but I'm stuck in the hospital right now.
Had 3 mini-strokes yesterday! Pretty freaky especially since I'm 29.
Hopefully they'll get me outta here soon with some good information and what caused this.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Uh, what? That's crazy! Dood, take care of yourself in there eh!

 

[InMotion]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

I'll take some pics as soon as I can, but I'm stuck in the hospital right now.
Had 3 mini-strokes yesterday! Pretty freaky especially since I'm 29.
Hopefully they'll get me outta here soon with some good information and what caused this.

Holly cow! Take care man! Your in the best place you can be right now... get some rest and healing going.

All the best from the place where it snows 9 months of the year and hails the other three...

Keep us posted..

Jim

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Thanks guys, just woke up from the down the throat echocardiogram and today or tomorrow I'll be getting the big cut for open heart surgery to remove the mass behind my aortic valve.
Anyone wanna help get started on the Chief's transom while I'm down?
4-6 weeks of recovery expected...
I'll be back with a vengeance and still want that baby on the water by May!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Good luck man. Hope they get to the root of the problem for ya. Ops like that seem almost routine these days. Please give some updates when you can.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

ER - take care of yourself. The SC will be waiting for you when you feel up to it. Don't rush back to her. Hope all went or goes well and we'll see you back soon.

PS - the hearse woulda been a cool tow vehicle for the Chief.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Best wishes for a quick recovery! Do whats they tells ya! That big yellow Chief will be plenty of motivation I'm sure.

 

[rheagler]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Wow. Good luck with the surgery. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Thanks for the support, guys!

I talked to the surgeon late last night and it will be about another week before the surgery since he wants the stroke issues to all be dealt with before he opens me up.

Let me tell you, it is such a weird feeling to be talking to your GF one second and the next second not being able to speak or feel your right arm!

I've got a lot of family around and my brothers are coming in from NYC and Costa Rica to be with me through this. My GF has also spent every second out of work with me here and I love her for that! We have a sick bank at work so I'll be able to pay my bills throughout the next couple months of recovery.

Still don't know anything about the causes of this, every test they've given shows me to be healthy as a horse, save the one test that showed the mass on the aortic valve. The only risk factor they could ID is the fact that I'm a smoker. Well, I WAS a smoker. Now I have a feeling that I'm going to be one of those guys that preaches loudly against smoking. Cardiovascular diesese is no joke!

GA, after all this, the last tow rig I want to have is a hearse!

 

[InMotion]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

ER --- glad to hear that you have great support and that they have figured out what is the cause... scary stuff. Co-working recently had a massive heart attack at 35... 3 stents later he has made a full recovery, feeling better than ever. Needless to say, he too has not smoked since.

Keep us posted on your progress! Your boat resto really will be recovery therapy!!!

 

[erwinner]

Re: My humble request for admission to the Starmada: 1972 21' Chieftain OB

Well it's been two weeks since I've seen my house and my poor Chieftain and I'm going stir crazy here!
But the surgery was a complete success and I'm recovering at my mom's house for the time being.
Weird to think that at exactly this time two weeks ago I was in the middle of a stroke and on the way to the hospital.
Now I've got a 12" cut going down my chest and man, is it ever itchy! But I'm finally feeling ok enough to maybe drop by the house today and take a look at everything I've been missing. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have a week of sick leave at the end of this recovery where I'll be physically able to get the motor stand built, the motor on it, and the transom replaced. Wishful thinking... but hope is a good thing! I'll just make sure not to over do it. This experience has taught me to accept help offered, which has never been too easy for me before.
Anyways, just wanted to check in with the Starmada and let everyone know I'm doing A-ok and the Chieftain is still at the front of my mind!