Head scratcher...

[MichaelP]

Re: Head scratcher...

Look what I found on another forum that some of you have already seen. Talking about reelfishin's 1967 18' Starchief. My 69 18' Starchief only had 1 scoup in the bow and the hose went to the bilge. Guess Starcraft changed them on the Chieftains. Could scoups on the gunwales be THE defining feature between Starchiefs and Chieftains?

I will look for hidden cash inside mine......I'll need it

Yesterday 09:17 AM #15 Solittle
View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Add as Contact

Admiral


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Join Date:Apr 2002
Location:Miami Fl
Posts:6,956 Re: Starcraft aluminum 18' cabin boat
I had one just like it years back. It had a 100 hp Johnny on the transom and perormed quite well. I was not crazy about the design though as when under way the air flow over and around the cabin resulted in the engine exhaust being sucked into the cockpit. Also as with any alumnium boat it was noisy.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

I'm surprised EZ didnt jump on that one earlier...

EZ tries not to bash the IO too much these days as I believe he has pretty well been convinced of the superior merits/abilities of the driveline. We've talked on the PM side a few times and I think he is looking at an IO boat for his next. Makes good sense anyway.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Head scratcher...

EZ tries not to bash the IO too much these days as I believe he has pretty well been convinced of the superior merits/abilities of the driveline. We've talked on the PM side a few times and I think he is looking at an IO boat for his next. Makes good sense anyway.

EZ's been pretty well beat down on the I/O thing. I think Jas has him looking at I'O's.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: Head scratcher...

WHat the heck are you guys talking about?!?! Those are clearly either:

1. Housing for the flame throwers - the "Vietnam War Package"
2. Covers for the under floor downrigger system - "Super Fishing Package"
3. Hooked up via hose to a under floor septic - just pee in them - The "Drink Beer all Day and with discrete peeing package"
4. Invisible Beer Tap for the keg under the floor

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Head scratcher...

^^^ LOL The Vietnam PRB Islander package is nice to have to deter piracy

#3 would go well with #4 on the other side of the boat.

(Just don't mix up which side is which):facepalm:

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Head scratcher...

Do your vent lines run all the way to the stern and then into your doghouse?

No, they simply stop shortly after entering into the bilge area on each side of the cabin door. From this area aft to the stern is where the fumes sink, collect and get trapped. The rear lines run down into the lowest spots in the stern bilge area. As long as some sort of breeze is blowing, then at least one of the vents is catching some fresh air, directing it into the bilge and pushing out fume contaminated air.
But, If you have been sitting still for a long period of time (fishing) with calm air and warm sumer air. Chances are your gas tanks have been venting fumes this whole time and it has been slowly working there way into your bilge.(ever seen a small gas can swell up on a hot day?)
So before starting the engine, run the bilge blower a good thirty seconds. All of your other vents will bring in fresh air do to the vacuum created from the blower. And flush the fumes towards the blower. If you smell near the exhaust you will actually catch some wiffs of the fumes.
Another trick if your bilge blower has failed. Simpley open up your engine hatch completely and fan it with some towls to flush out the air. Then start your engine with the cover open and then close it. Any remaining fumes will be collected by the engine air intake and burned. While underway, the vent covers will keep the bilge flushed out.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Head scratcher...

My starcraft had these also. They had a hose on them that went into the compartment where the fuel tanks where located. Fuel tank on each side of the boat above floor. However water went down these and rotted the floor under the fuel tanks.
So I got rid of this problem. I caped these off with an alum plate, replaced the whole floor in the boat, built new compartments for the fuel tanks, and I vented the fuel tanks with a different vent system.
Do you have a fuel tank on each side of the boat?
I also have 4 of these vent on the back of the boat for the engine compartment and a blower motor.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

No, they simply stop shortly after entering into the bilge area on each side of the cabin door.

So do they they go subdeck right at the cabin wall? You don't happen to have a photo handy do ya SE?

With my rig the vent hose was just laying on the curtain/shelf there which leads me to believe that they were used for fresh air in the cockpit area. The two at the stern were used for fresh air intake and exhaust in the bilge.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Head scratcher...

Lets not get twisted between the ones at the stern and the ones on the gunwales. Mine is an OB model and only has 2 on the gunwales and terminate as Jas says above. The water that seeps in will run along the curtain tray and drip on the floor at the beginning of the splash well. Mine was also originally fitted with 2 tanks under the seats.

Elkhunter - Do you notice exhaust fumes collecting in the cockpit? I'd like to cover mine up but not sure if I should.

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Head scratcher...

I read all the posts and didn't see mentioned that one scoop pointed forward and the other to the rear (Inlet air/outlet air). Yes fuel tanks are vented, but should be vented to the outside of the boat. If they are not, change it so they are. Good looking fuel tank vents are available. I've seen over filled gas tanks or boats on trailers that are leaning the wrong direction, pour gas out of the vents, also on hot days.

Fumes are definitely the reason for those scoops.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

Hey Bob!

My scoops at the stern are facing backwards and out of the boat. Midships scoops are facing towards the bow. Both fuel tanks are (will be) vented high and outside the hull with traps.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Head scratcher...

I'd reorient one of those stern ones. One forward, one backward.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

I'd reorient one of those stern ones. One forward, one backward.

Ah, my blower will handle the intake no sweat.

(so long as it doesn't break on the same day as my gimbal bearing, bellows and whatever else)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Head scratcher...

Are you planning to run the blower all the time? The opposite facing clam shells are what keeps the air flowing through there at speed. Yours is setup incorrectly in my opinion.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Head scratcher...

Are you planning to run the blower all the time?

Sure why not? Flip it on while loading the rig, let er run for about 5ish (pop open the dog house too), start the Merc, go have fun! Won't take hardly anything off the batt for those first 5 minutes. Nothing at all underway.

Big question is, will that day ever come

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Head scratcher...

I think its just for natural ventilation..not for fumes. I have a call in to a guy who owns an older Chris Craft..he would know for sure.

OH..and about that MG Plywood..... .

YD.

 

[starcraftkid]

Re: Head scratcher...

The first time I ran my Starchief there was an odd annoying whistle sound coming from inside the cabin. I was going nuts trying to figure where it was coming from, I thought at first maybe it was wind passing over an open hole in the side where an antenna had been before, or maybe the finger holes in the side glass but after some close watching when it started and stopped I realized that the noise was coming from the vent hose hanging down off the rear facing bow deck vent. When at cruising speed, the hose had enough suction to suck up a small chunk of white styrofoam that was broke off one of the chunks of foam fitted into the bow ahead of the forward bunks.
My boat has only a single rear facing vent, with two smaller forward facing side vents.
I went to look at reelfishin's Starchief and that had two equal sized forward vents. I've also seen a few with no vents at all.
Keep in mind that early Starchiefs also have a 12x12" forward facing hatch type vent on the bow deck as well, opening that certainly will ventilate the cabin under power.
On mine I did notice some fumes at slow speeds but there's a strong draft that comes from the cabin door vent when under way. If I put a piece of paper to that vent while at speed, the paper sticks to that vent like a vacuum cleaner. I think if I were to carry passengers in the cabin, I'd add a blower vent to force vent that area.
It's not just the Starchief that tends to draft in some engine fumes, pretty much any boat with a this shape of design will no doubt have the same issues. Even a runabout with a Bimini top and side curtains will draw in some fumes.