Re: Which model rules iboats?
Nice! I'd have rather had the larger boat than the Starchief if I had the choice. I looked at 30 or more Chieftains and all were I/O powered. I did consider doing a bracket and outboard conversion but figured it wasn't worth all the work.
What year were they made? I've got several brochures here from the 60's and none show the outboard option.
Also, that cabin layout is different than the I/O models I've seen, it's either been modified or they made a more compact cabin to make up for the loss of space due to the splashwell. I just looked at a Chieftain last week, the cabin was like all the others, it had two rooms, the first section had a head on the port side, and a wash sink and refrigerator on the starboard side, and the bunk was the same as in my Starchief.
How heavy is the outboard Chieftain?
I bet that would go good with a pair or 70 or 75HP motors on the back.
I did just look at both a Sunchief and what I think is a late 60's 18" Holiday, both outboard boats, both are sitting along the woods back behind a guys house, I stopped to see if either were for sale but nothing doing, he's saving them for something. The Sunchief was complete and he said it was read to run, the Holiday was full of leaves and moss. The motor was an old mid 60's 50hp V4. I think he let me look around because I had my trailer loaded with all sorts of Starcraft goodies from a Starchief I stripped out.
I intend to keep on him about selling them, but I doubt he'll budge. I've been at it for two years now. Neither boat has moved, neither is registered.
