looking at a '72 Chieftain and '83 Islander

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

What is up with Roz! Dude she is awesome!!!!

Yes she is...I am a lucky guy. Wait she gets to hang out with the kiddos and check out boats, maybe she is the lucky one

She does a good job with the vinyl, no doubt.

Guys I'm leaning towards the Chief for some reason. I wish they were in the same lot so I could kick the tires and compare the rigs.

Guess I'd have to wheel up north 5-6hrs to see the rig and if I did that I'd certainly be buying her. Maybe we are due for a road trip?

On the Islander...would I be able to pull a "Jason" and bolt up a 4.3? Would it mate up with the outdrive? I feel like an I/O headache is already setting in just talking about these things.

EZ I don't even know what a gimbal is so you are probably correct

 

[ezmobee]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

LOL, I thought so. In which case you'd be paying someone to do your I/O work or limping along like our friend Kev. If you went outboard, you already seem to have a guy lined up in that department.

Here's our 21' Chief pics and video again for your perusal. http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/Chris Boat/

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

http://lansing.craigslist.org/boa/2127053220.html

115HP EVINRUDE RUNS GREAT COMES WITH CONTROLS ASKING 850 ANY?

This 'rude would be a good one for the Chief I believe. It's been on craigs for months and months and used to be 1k.

Depending on how easily I could swap out the iron duke I'm more comfortable going with an outboard model at this point, but I'm on the fence a bit.

 

[fshngho]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Mike, believe it or not, I have been quietly sitting in the back row listening to everyone's comments. They are all good and all have their merits. What do YOU want?
Alright, lets think about this... Chieftan VS Islander or IB VS OB?
It just looks to me you are torn between two things, and one of them is irrelevant. While I'm on this subject, yeah, all motors need work and although I am an OB guy, I do like the gas savings on IB/OB's, (have you seen the price of gas?)
EZ will still like ya, and so will I, if you go the IB/OB route. So the question is how much fishing/sleeping room do you want?
Roz likes the Islander, so do the kiddies and you. You are a lucky man and yet you sit there worrying about WHICH boat to get when we bottom feeders are lucky we aren't sleeping outside? Ever heard this???:
I cried about having no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.
You don't seem to get it my friend, you can not lose in the situation. Get not what you want...get what youre lady wants......it's that simple.
OK, 'nuff said, just MHO.
OH, and for what its worth, I would go Islander.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Find the year of that Evinrude. Also I put a post up about the same time as you above but forgot the link and had to edit it.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Guys I'm leaning towards the Chief for some reason. I wish they were in the same lot so I could kick the tires and compare the rigs.

She is awesome for sure!

Hey, here is just a quick additional thought...

You can fab that Islander transom up to be an OB if you really wanted to. I have sat and stewed for hours on mine. It can be done and it wouldn't be all that difficult. Also, by building it custom you can make a more reasonable sized splashwell too.

On the Islander...would I be able to pull a "Jason" and bolt up a 4.3? Would it mate up with the outdrive? I feel like an I/O headache is already setting in just talking about these things.

Yah, you can do it but you would have to fabricate some stringers (ala bondo, alpheus) or I have yet an easier way (I think) to build in some stringers for a V6 if you wanted to go that route. Going with an I6 would be easier if you can find a good one.

Don't confuse the headache with IO power plant bliss my friend

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

You don't seem to get it my friend, you can not lose in the situation.

Dale I saw you sitting in the back row and I knew you would chime in with some wisdom.

I know you are correct, if choosing which tin cuddy to get is the biggest problem I have then life is good, indeed.

 

[Deadwood]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

BTW Do you ever wish you had more deck space and less cabin on your rig? That is the biggest difference between the Islanders and Chiefs.

Your Chieftain's an outboard right so that's more floor space than my girl right off the bat. She works well for my situation so far...that being me and 1 other person. I don't know how 3+ peeps is gonna be...yeah I do, it's gonna be crowded.
I'm thinking less cabin/more floor unless you see someone adult size wanting to be in/not out most of the time. Haven't had the wife with me yet but I'm pretty sure that when she does join me she will prefer to be inside reading (with our dachsunds) most of the time and the Starchief/Chieftain windows make for a more open environment/less claustrophobic.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Your Chieftain's an outboard right so that's more floor space than my girl right off the bat.

Well, you would think so DW, but check it out. Here is EZ's/buddies rig...

Dude, that splashwell, plugged up and filled could be a swimming pool. It's huge. My guess, just a rough estimate, a dog house is probably right about the same depth (stern toward bow) as that splashwell. The difference with an IO you can actually reach the stern/transom area on each side of the doghouse. With that splashwell, not so much.

It almost seems counter intuitive but I believe the IO provides more deck space than the OB does. Weird huh.

 

[djpeters]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Listen to your wife. Happy wife, happy life......

 

[Deadwood]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Well, you would think so DW, but check it out.

Thanks Jason..I forgot about those bathtubs....should've remembered cause the one I told Kenny about that I found out here was an outboard like that.:redface:
Michael, I sit corrected!

Maybe that's the reason the original owner of my girl transformed her into an I/O...??

The pic with the wooden Garelick motor bracket was taken the day I bought her and shows the old transom line pretty clear. Man they did some nice fabrication imho.
(Speaking of HopeSheFloats.......)

 

[jasoutside]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

(Speaking of HopeSheFloats.......)

Miss em.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

In that third photo you can really see the square footage lost by the huge splashwell. Is that a 18' or 21' rig? It looks like an 18' to me, maybe the 21' has a bit more room?

That's probably why the new ones had brackets from the factory, keeps the deck wide open.

Maybe I should run the Iron Duke until it dies, all the while saving cash for an upgrade to a bracket with brand-new twin 80hp Evinrude etecs? (that would be about 5-10 years)

Good thing we are not going to rush into anything, all of this is about as clear as mud to me right now. I'm gonna sleep on it and get back to work on the SS for a while to clear my head.

Thanks for all the replies, lots to consider here.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Miss em.

x2, I sure hope Kenny will be back with a new project this spring.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

HA - Seems to me that the family already has an emotional attachment to the Islander. I'd take them all up to visit the Chieftain and let them steer the decision. You could make them both work for you but it seems that the bigger cabin would win them over. If your willing to do the work needed for a OB bracket why not shrink the bath tub 6-8". I'm considering doing it to my mini chieftain. Shorter but thicker material - 11 gauge baby! Anyone do this yet?
One thing to think of is if you pass on the Islander now, how will will you feel every time you drive by? If you can live with that fine if not then I suggest getting them both then sell the Islander to someone who lives far away.....Like me

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Michael, the Chief is about 5-6 hours north of us, not sure when we will get a chance to cruise up to the UP and see the old girl.

My folks do live about halfway there, so I could stop by there and have my dad check it out with us too.

If I don't get this Islander there will always be another. We are blessed with ample project hulls here in Michigan.

Deadwood says if I'm going to export these hulls, top dollar is on the west coast

If you want to drive out here there are plenty to choose from

 

[airshot]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Wow..I have the same identical boat, same color, OK mine doesn't have the musky decal and it is not full of snow, other than that looks the same. 3.0 140 hp mine is all original 1983, top speed 32 mph, avg fuel at 2800 rpm is 3.0 gph @18-20 mph. Excellent fishing boat, cuddy allows grandkids a place to nap, portapotty for wife, lots of storage for extra's(dry) Just picked up mine in summer of 2010 also my first I/O, a bit nervous but do my own work, sure do like the fuel economy. Been a boater for 50 years, mostly starcrafts, this one has been my favorite. By the way it is a cr221 sport
which is a fishing model (no side windows) and originally came with just two chairs rest of cockpit is open. That is the info I have been able to reasearch so far.
Airshot

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Thanks for the info Airshot...this one is worth looking at for sure. Those numbers are pretty good for cruising at 2800rpm

The fuel-efficiency is one of the biggest strengths that I/Os have over outboards for sure.

Using a kicker to troll means even better miles/gallon

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

It has been confirmed that this boat has an Iron Duke, GM 2.5L I/O.

Roslynn and the boys stopped by again today and chatted with the farmer selling the rig. I think they like the Islander

Thats the ticket..Have the PRETTY one negotiate! lol

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

Re: looking at a '83 Islander

LOL You are right Kev, I went to negotiate on the SS and only got 100 bucks knocked off.

I don't have a white OMC to use as bargaining chips so not sure how to talk him down.