1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

[Vic rides again]

Hello Gentlemen, I'm new here so be gentle lol.
I picked up this boat 3 weeks ago for $800 as far as I can tell from looking around at different topics here on Starcraft forums, She's a 1973 18' Starcraft Cheiftain. 1972 125 V4 Evinrude with electric shift.
I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her and she does need some work ie; new floor, seats and cushions recovered, paint, rewiring so just about everything. for the price it did come with alot of extras like an old humminbird fish finder marine two way radio, am fm cassette radio, anchor, tons of line, extra prop, porta pottyand most inportant a repair manual for the Evinrude which I'm finding very helpful.
I have already restored a 15' Seastar bow rider tri haul so as far as putting down a floor and cosmetic stuff I'm good but any helpful hints on where to find parts and more information on her would be of great help.
I did get a registartion for the boat but he never had one for the trailer and the MFG sticker was so tore-up you couldn't read who made it so if it looks like one you know that would help too.
Thanks in advance for any info that you can offer.
Vic.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Welcome to the Land of Tinnies, Vic. She looks like a good starting point at a fair price. Take a look in the resto threads here. http://forums.iboats.com/starcraft-boats/starcraft-rebuilds-restorations-theyre-all-here-494143.html Plenty of general and model specific info there.

On you trailer, maybe one of your Canadian brothers can help out. Hopefully it's easier than down here with 48 different set of rules (mainland).

Good intro with pics. We like pics. Have fun!

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Great looking boat Vic , and a great price for up here north of the border.:welcome:

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

That's your typical Starcraft trailer which I'm fairly certain is a TeeNee. Welcome, nice hull.

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

good starting point, and you done well on the price. i paid twice as much for same boat, 1964 version. welcome to the tinhood!

 

[classiccat]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Welcome!!! you stole that thing! Does the e-shift work?

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Thanks everyone for the wonderful welcomes and comments,
I'm not sure about the electric shift yet as the guy who owned it before me had tried to put in a new ignition swtich and messed up all the wiring so I just cut out his rats nest and am starting from scratch and thats even with the basic wiring he messed that up too lol.
Thanks again everyone.
Vic

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

if the motor is beyond bein worth fixing, remember that the poor parts availability for obsolete stuff like lectroshift OMCs, stringer drives, Merc 470s cuts both ways: there will be a ready market for the good parts from the thing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

There's nothing inherently wrong with the electric shift system, when it's working it's a fine system. The issue is if one of the solenoids in the lower unit go, replacements are NLA. The control switches are also NLA. If you rewire it, be VERY careful because if you mess it up you can damage it. Use only Type C lower unit oil. This is NOT the stuff you can pick up at Wal-Mart.

 

[laurentide]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Awesome boat, dude! I may be slightly biased with regard to my affection for this particular Starcraft...mine's a '74, which is down in my sig, and getting really light these days.

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

There's nothing inherently wrong with the electric shift system, when it's working it's a fine system. The issue is if one of the solenoids in the lower unit go, replacements are NLA. The control switches are also NLA. If you rewire it, be VERY careful because if you mess it up you can damage it. Use only Type C lower unit oil. This is NOT the stuff you can pick up at Wal-Mart.

Thanks for the advice on the oil I was reading in the manual and thats what they said to use. I'm also not much of a shopper at Wally world. As far as the wring goes I cut the harness off at the controls so I'll be dealing with the color codes, when I do run a test on the push buttoms and if I find there scrape I think I'll be going to a 3 ways turn switch on the dash board

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Awesome boat, dude! I may be slightly biased with regard to my affection for this particular Starcraft...mine's a '74, which is down in my sig, and getting really light these days.

Wow I was looking at your Chieftain on your threads and again WOW your doing a fine job I'm inpressed and you also got yours at a great price too.

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

As if I don't spend enough time on the internet lol.
Thank to all you guys out there and GA_Boat thanks for the link to the other Chieftain projects out there I was impressed big time with all the work that most are doing. I am curious on whats the biggest Chieftain out there????
I saw a 25 footer and it's like a camper something I've also thought about.
I hope all are doing well.
Vic.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

I am curious on whats the biggest Chieftain out there????

I think the 25-26' are the largest. If you want larger tin, check out Marinette boats.

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Cool I'll check out that site thanks,,, I'm not really looking for a bigger one right now but your just never know ha ha ha

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Cool I'll check out that site thanks,,, I'm not really looking for a bigger one right now but your just never know ha ha ha

Vic - you never know when 2 footitis will raise it's ugly head. Well, usually when you're flat broke. :lol:

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

The electric shift stuff is really not as scary as everyone makes it sound, Solenoids are pretty readily available on ebay, the push button 5 wire switches can be difficult to find sometimes, but there are diagrams all over this site on how to safely make one. I am actually getting ready to list some evinrude eshift parts on ebay. (Sold the Eshift no longer a need) You are more than welcome to PM me with any Eshift questions.

There are 2 different versions as well one is a TRUE electric shift, the other more common is Hydro Electric shift.

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Thanks for the info on the Electric shift mines a true Electric acording to the manual 5 wire with a white wire tied to rthe ignition.
Today I rebuilt the eclectric tilt motor, the brushes where sezzed up and the armature was rusty along with the magnets and 1 broken wire. Now she works fine , but I'm still gonna replace the oil in it and bleed it out.
Thanks for the info Sig Saur P229 I"m really enjoying this site and everyone on it :joyous:t

 

[Vic rides again]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

thats when I usualy find the deal find the deals. but for now I think my hands are full with this 18' tinnie lol:facepalm:

 

[barato2]

Re: 1973 18' Starcraft Chieftain, new to me bought 3 weeks ago need info on her

Vic, you said a mouthful. how much do i enjoy hangin in a place where people speak Cheap and even know what an armature or brushes are, and why there are magnets inside it, and....... :joyous: