Real-life weight of Chief

[igsavel]

Thinking to buy 22 or 25 Chieftain .
Have two questions.
How much weight both in real life?
how MPG and cruising range per tank?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

And no answers from here. I/O or outboard, engine size, tank size - questions back to you.

And what year? They seem to gain weight each model year.

 

[igsavel]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

25' 1973 Merc165
22, 1976 inline 6 ?
But actually Id like to know if anybody just put Cief (w trailer) on scale...

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

I don't know about anyone weighing a Chieftain, but DozerII just weighed a 20 ft open bow I/O and it was a lot heavier than anybody expected. Are you asking to match up with your tow vehicle?

 

[dozerII]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

As GA said the brochures lie, My SS 201 dry no fuel or gear on a light tandem axle trailer (968lbs) weighs in at 3410, so with fuel and gear I should be somewhere around 4000 to 4200 lbs.

 

[igsavel]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

I don't know about anyone weighing a Chieftain, but DozerII just weighed a 20 ft open bow I/O and it was a lot heavier than anybody expected. Are you asking to match up with your tow vehicle?

yeh I have 5000lb limit

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

What is your tow rig? I have a 5K limit as well and I wouldn't hook up to a big Chieftain except to move around the driveway.

 

[matt167]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

unloaded '73 Chieftan 21' weighs a shade under 3,500 lbs on a trailer. My dad used to tow his '73 21' ( 140 Mercruiser ) with a 1993 Nissan Hardbody 2wd 4cyl/ 5spd.. He got a weight cert at a junkyard for it and carried it in the truck with the boat and trailer registrations. Got stopped many times but with paperwork in order never a ticket. They didn't know there was 500# of gear in the boat. Truck was rated for 3,500. Total tow weight loaded with gear was probably 4k or so.. A truck with a 5k limit would tow a 21' without issue. The larger Chief will probably need more truck.

The weight difference between the 165 and the 140 is negligable when considering the weight of the boat. It's probably less than 200 lbs

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

Thinking to buy 22 or 25 Chieftain .
Have two questions.
How much weight both in real life?
how MPG and cruising range per tank?

I have a 1986, 21' cheiftain (title says 21). I replaced the floor with 3/4 plywood, and build new seat supports with 1/2 plywood, so I added a few pounds. The trailer is a typical trailer. Loaded with fishing gear (est. 30 lbs lead), 40 gallons gas, 15hp kicker, bicycles, cooler. 2 batteries,
Mine is 4,100 lbs on the trailer axles and I estimate 500 lbs tongue weight (best guess), it does drop the truck a 1/2 inch or so when I hook it up (truck is 3/4 ton dodge diesel, have a 8' old callen camper on it.

Boat has a 2007 3.0 merc I/O, boat tops out at 28-30 mph @ sea level, cruise 3,500 rpms @ about 22 mph. I get 2-4 mpg depending on weather. Flat nice ocean cruise at 3,500 rpm's best estimate is about 3.5-4 mph.
Typically burn 10 gal per day for about 15-20 miles running and trolling for salmon

 

[igsavel]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

25' 1973 Merc165
22, 1976 inline 6 ?
But actually Id like to know if anybody just put Cief (w trailer) on scale...

Owner of big chief got weight certificate for me. So, 1976 Starcraft Chieftain Mark iV 25' on original trailer has weight 5600lb.
Its too heavy for me.

 

[barato2]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

sounds like your options if you want a cabin boat are either an 18-19'er or nothing. my 4 cyl Taco (rated for 3500) pulls my 18' Starchief just fine, even up out of some of the prodigious New Mexico canyons. you won't find too many boats lighter than a Starcraft....altho they have less frontal area, i bet a lot of the 17-19' fish-n-skis like Bayliner Capris and such weigh close to 5000 loaded on trailer.

 

[igsavel]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

You know, I want impossible...
Cheap, trailerable houseboat for Great Lakes...
I thought old 25' Chief is a closest to ideal, but its still too heavy...
I like layout of old cabin boats like Chieftain (cutty cabin?).
Cabin is a room here , not a basement as in most younger Cuddy and small cruisers.

 

[barato2]

Re: Real-life weight of Chief

Chief will sure be a lot more seaworthy on big hairy water like that than than a full househoat would. they do make houseboats on pontoons, which should be light enough to tow.....those are real popular at Lk Powell.....but i'd be nervous about their stability on Grt Lakes