New boat! 1968 Starcraft Chieftain 21
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ม.ค. 2025
- Almost a full season of Great Lakes trolling under my belt. Cut my teeth this year on little 12 and 14 foot boats. Finally found a good deal on the boat I’ve been in love with for years. It’s a project, with plenty of work to be done.
Here’s a little intro video showing off what I bought and the condition it came home in.
I couldn’t be happier. Exited to work on what needs to be done and start using this thing for fishing and exploring the Great Lakes.
#vintagestarcraft #starcraftchieftain
I just got me one today can’t wait to dig in and start some work
Those imperfections are what give it character. Just a nice boat .
You need the camper top
Somehow the mosquitoes always find me
I wouldn’t mess with the antique drive. A later mercruiser drive will bolt up but you need to chain for reverse as there is a locking pawl on the ones actually for that old system.. 1969 or 1970 is when the drive system had hydraulic power both ways. And Pertronix burns up quicker than points. Plus water in the oil means you have a bad riser on a 2.5 most likely.
If it were mine, I’d convert it to an alpha one 3.0L. Transom will need trimming because the cutout got a little bigger, and you would need new wiring and gauges. But then you would have something you can get parts for and run like a newer boat
@@mattdudley3789 oh yeah I’m currently 3/4 of the way through my alpha swap. Learned quick just how old of an mc-1 drive I had. Need to do an update video soon
I did the same with my ‘71 Offshore. It had a 120hp MC1 that had power trim. Mines got Alpha gen 1. I should have went gen 2 but I couldn’t find a good donor boat with gen 2
Looks like a cool project with lots of potential! Gotta love those aluminum hulls
Where's the update on this? Any progress?
@@seandwyer3598 Oh man lots of progress. I need to start getting some clips together on here again. I’m most of the way through converting it all over to Alpha 1 stuff. Nice rebuilt engine, new flooring, some cabin modifications. Taking my time, but there may be hope I get to test it before winter
congratulations buddy, thats a beauty
I'm rebuilding a 72 Starcraft SS 16'. 👍
MERCRUISER IS WHAT YOU WANT.. omc BAD NEW NOW.
That's a beauty. How do you even find that today. I would convert to center console with a bracket, so I wouldn't even buy that boat because it is in too good of shape. Might do the bracket though, if I was going to keep and use it. Clean the interior, bracket and suzuki 200hp, keep it until you're 60. Put grease thru axles on the trailer so you use it all the time. We do island camping with a 21' bluefin '82. You don't need the dinghy, get fiberglass pole anchors, 1".
WOW,,,, We really need to TALK to each other! PM,, Email,, PHONE!?
I have a VN '81 sitting here, it's an OMC BOOT BOAT. It's waiting for me to take out the OMC drive & bolt on a bracket for a 150 hp outboard.
I've been searching for weeks, hoping to find someone on TH-cam who has done this change-over at least 4-5 times. Starcraft I/O to outboard conversions.
I'm waiting, wanting to learn about everything that might go WRONG with the swap!
Back in the '70s, the STARCRAFTS were notorious for popping rivets, AND having the splash rail CRACK mid-ship.
I know of 3, 20' & 21'ers that are sitting out back in a marina junk yard.
I also had that same thing happen to us, 12 miles out on Erie. My Chieftain ended up with a 16" long stress crack mid-ship.
(Starcraft actually SELLS a stringer to floor REPAIR KIT, for the '70 & 80 models,,, AFTER it's welded back together! If you don't see a slew of rivets going up the outside,,,, from the floor stringers, spanning up over the 'flexible' splash rail, & up the gunwale sides, DON"T BUY IT,, unless you know how to modify these old aluminum boats.!!)
I have lots of pictures,,,, of 2 different boats, if anyone would like to see some CRACKED-UP STARCRAFT BOATS.
I'm about ready to scrap out my '71 chieftain,,, so I have a VGC perfect running 165hp, 6, & the outdrive available.???
AND, since I'm pulling out the '81 OMC BOOT DRIVE,,,, it will also be available, for sale.
Sheeeew! She's gonna be fishy.
iF YOUR TRANSOM IS SOLID.. LEAVE IT ALONE !
iF IT AINT BROKE...DON' T FIX IT.. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. iF YOU HAD WATER IN YOUR OIL... IT WOULD BE MILKY. YOU JUST HAVE CONDENSATION. CHANGE OIL AND FILTER.. RUN IT AN HOUR OR TWO...REPEAT AND FORGET.
Did you fart at your cat? Lol