Freshwater '73 Chieftain

[Coldstream]

Re: Freshwater '73 Chieftain

That is one crazy looking boat! Looks unsinkable too.

I quess automatic weapons fire could sink it. Terrifically stable for fly fishing though.

 

[Coldstream]

No Title

Finally back at it after extended travels. I pulled the outdrive off with no evidence of water but there was oil pooled in the bellows around the shaft. Is this normal? Also, the wings (or stops?) appear to have been broken from the casting. Will this cause me any grief or should I look for another lower leg?

 

[Coldstream]

Sorry for the above. I am having a problem getting my photos to stick.

 

[jbcurt00]

Cold, the forum had a software upgrade go sideways and pix posting is one of the major hangups. Another is an erroneous error message when you try to Post Reply. Click OK and refresh the webpage. Your post is likely shown, the error msg is a glitch......

Use a free 3rd party pix host site like Photobucket, there are others. Copy and paste the IMG code for the pix you want to post (6pix allowed per post)

 

[Rickmerrill]

I've gotten so gun shy if (when) I get the erroneous error I automatically copy my post before I refresh. About every 10-20 posts this saves me from having to re-type the whole thing again. Your boat reminds me of a rigid inflatables done in aluminum!

 

[Coldstream]

Thanks jb, I will try that. Rick, the builder of those boats built a 37' sailboat of the same design and is presently halfway through the Northwest Passage, from west to east.

 

[Watermann]

Welcome back, photos post up the same on PB. If there was a bunch of gear oil pooled in the bellows you could have a leaky drive shaft seal. Post a pic of the broken ears your talking about.

 

[Coldstream]

Thanks for the support. I don't know why I am bumbling around so much with this.

 

[Watermann]

Not sure why those tilt guides would be broken off or even if that's what they're called. Have you drained the gear oil out of the drive yet, I would be curious how much is in it still. It looks like the oil seal for the drive shaft is bad and leaking gear oil into the bellows. Pretty common problem with the age of that MC1 OD.

You may want to go the same route I did and find a newer donor boat with the Alpha One transom assembly and drive. I think CJmule went to the A1 with his Chief too.

You may want to start a thread and post up that pic with the broken drive parts in the Merc IO section to see what the gurus have to say.

 

[pckeen]

Glad to see you back up and running. Alpha one outdrives are not particularly hard to come by....if the mercruiser guru's say replace it, then keep an eye out on ebay and craisglist.

 

[Coldstream]

Thanks Watermann & pckeen. I'll see what the merc gurus have to say.

 

[Watermann]

I looked at that pic again, I see the AV plate is also busted off at the leading edge. Man someone did a bit of damage to that drive.

 

[Coldstream]

Thanks Watermann. The motor comes out this weekend so we will see just how many parts I will have to look for.