Question for Starcraft Chieftain owners

C

Comoxsam

Seaman
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
50
Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a big Starcraft Chieftain. I've gone to look at a few and something that stands out immediately is how hot it is inside the cabin on a warm day. It's not even hot summer weather here yet but I imagine you would literally die in there on hot day. Opening windows didn't help much but admittedly not much wind on those days.

I'd like to use the boat for camping/overnight trips but man this has me rethinking.

Can any Chieftain owners comment on this issue? If you are overnighting on your boat does the cabin cool down enough in the evenings to sleep in there? How about storing food or beer? When underway I imagine it's fine but just sitting there....wow that is a lot of deck space that seems unusable.
 
redneck joe

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
12,062
I can't speak specifically to a chief but I had a 26 Carver with a sink, stove , head etc so prob about same space and yes it gets hot. Leave hatch and windows open. If you have a house battery you can wire up some fans or use a rechargeable one like I use in my fridge when dry age beef.
 
Watermann

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,824
Just like a tent during the day, it gets hot inside but at night after the sun goes down you can peacefully slumber at probably less than ambient temps due to the cool water under the hull.
 
matt167

matt167

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
4,198
Spent many nights in an old Chieftan. Pretty comfy.. spent many hours in the cabin on the water during the day. Never so bad you couldnā€™t be in there. There is always wind on the water.
 
rolmops

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,543
it is a matter of opening the top window and cabin door and aiming into the wind when moving so the air moves through the cabin
 
Gibbles

Gibbles

Commander
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
2,031
I have been thinking about this for my islander.

Affordable Boat AirConditioner | CoolBoat AC

CoolBoat ā€” the innovative new product that enables affordable, portable Boat/Marine Air Conditioning. CoolBoat adapts a 5K BTU air conditioner to a standard marine hatch. This can typically cool up to 1200 cubic feet. CoolBoat folds flat for storage. Innovative Marine products. Sleep well at night!
www.coolboatac.com www.coolboatac.com
Uses a window unit and adapts it to the front hatch.

1751496456231.png
 
I

IdahoPotato

Recruit
Joined
Jun 27, 2025
Messages
5
Comoxsam said:
Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a big Starcraft Chieftain. I've gone to look at a few and something that stands out immediately is how hot it is inside the cabin on a warm day. It's not even hot summer weather here yet but I imagine you would literally die in there on hot day. Opening windows didn't help much but admittedly not much wind on those days.

I'd like to use the boat for camping/overnight trips but man this has me rethinking.

Can any Chieftain owners comment on this issue? If you are overnighting on your boat does the cabin cool down enough in the evenings to sleep in there? How about storing food or beer? When underway I imagine it's fine but just sitting there....wow that is a lot of deck space that seems unusable.
Click to expand...
Where are you located and how big of a Chieftan? I find the deck is pretty small for such a large craft.
 
M

motley crew

Seaman
Joined
Jan 9, 2020
Messages
55
Comoxsam said:
Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a big Starcraft Chieftain. I've gone to look at a few and something that stands out immediately is how hot it is inside the cabin on a warm day. It's not even hot summer weather here yet but I imagine you would literally die in there on hot day. Opening windows didn't help much but admittedly not much wind on those days.

I'd like to use the boat for camping/overnight trips but man this has me rethinking.

Can any Chieftain owners comment on this issue? If you are overnighting on your boat does the cabin cool down enough in the evenings to sleep in there? How about storing food or beer? When underway I imagine it's fine but just sitting there....wow that is a lot of deck space that seems unusable.
Click to expand...
 
M

motley crew

Seaman
Joined
Jan 9, 2020
Messages
55
i have a 18 ft starchief smaller cabin yet and my girlfriend and i overnite on it a lot my set up is 12 volt battery up front to power 12 volt fans seperate from starting battery also pick up an artic air as seen on tv if you think its going to cool a room down like the commerical says thats a joke but if you fill the water resivor with ice it cools the cabin down well enough i have napped in there on a hot day and i power it with a small solar battery
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top