Advice on an old Chivers Thunderbird
Submitted by Tradewind on Thu, 2013-08-08 22:16
Hey all,
Looking to buy my first boat and i've seen a few of the mid 70's Thunderbirds around these days for a very decent price.
My concern of course is the structural & outboard integrity because a cheap boat can become a money pit instantly.
I've heard the chivers thunderbirds are a great offshore boat for all sorts of conditions even if the old ones wont be winning any beauty awards.
My question is:
Buying a fibreglass hull that old are they quality enough to be reliable still?
Secondly i'd still want to check the Hull & Outboard, can someone recommend a good priced marine tech who can do this before you buy one?
Appreciate any assistance
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
I thought the thunderbirds
I thought the thunderbirds had a inboard well at least the old mans did and he was the first to get one before they were supplied to the harbour and lights guys years ago
Nathan
Doooma
Posts: 791
Date Joined: 05/12/09
If you want an inboard, maybe
If you want an inboard, maybe take a look at the Penguin Ultimate Walkaround boats, they look like a decent tub also but with the walkaround deck!
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1299
Date Joined: 23/02/11
mate the Chivers
mate
the Chivers thunderbirds are a real solid little boat and if you find one in reasonable condition it will be a great platform for you to get into boating, something that old is bound to have some faults but at current prices (couple of cheap one around at the moment) you have to expect that -Prob the most obvious thing to check on a boat that old with an outboard is the transom (water ingress)....... transom repairs can be expensive!
jdog1980
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 20/06/10
As someone that owns an old
As someone that owns an old chivers, mate if you find one good nick you wont be dissapointed. They were built when fibrglass was cheap so they put plenty of it in. If you have good gelcoat it will last for ever, much longer than the new glass boats.
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
Great to hear Thanks for the
Great to hear
Thanks for the input all, hope the inspection comes out well for the transom/hull/motor
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Mate has a 71 model
And it is as solid as the day it was built - absolute brick shithouse and a flaming good sea boat as well, very dry
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
I ended up buying a Mark V,
I ended up buying a Mark V, the hull looks fantastic and solid.
There's cosmetic tlc required but that's the be expected of it's age, but overall the condition of the boat I'm extremely happy.
Next of course is learning it in the water.
I know all boats handle differently in the water, but can an ex-thunderbird owner let me know how it planes in a bit of chop? Does it carve through it?
Would love to hear from someone about the ins and outs.
Have some other questions, the Trim gauge isn't working and the battery voltage meter (it's had an isolator installed for dual batteries which is probably related)
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
TRIM WIRES
Were and are a common problem (assume Mercruiser engine) the other thing to watch out for is the manifold - my mate got so sick of changing them had one fabricated out of stainless by a mate of his and it is going strong years later
Check the wires near the leg - corroded through?
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
deleted
Double post
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
It's a Johnson 115, probably
It's a Johnson 115, probably the original
Luckily still in great shape and serviced regularly, but its something i've prepared myself i'll have to replace in the not too distant future
Once I get a bit of daylight when i'm not working i'll check that wiring near the leg closely
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
You may want to look at
You may want to look at repacing the Johnson now and save costs. ( take its a 2 banger )
1, they use a hell of a lot of fuel.
2, why spend money fixing trim, gauges etc when you are looking at replacement,
3, its a johnson ( hate them lol )
4, you may need to raise the transom to fit a new motor, or get a short leg as the older boats have a lower mounting on the transom
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
Thanks Wal, at the moment I
Thanks Wal,
at the moment I want to be comfortable with the workings of the motor in case something happens on the water, and I want to be somewhat sure I've got it in a working condition.
The replacement motor will come but I have to convince my accountant (aka Wife) to splash out on a new motor when having just gotten the boat.
I'll use this outboard for the first season of fishing and then line up probably a 115 - 130 Yammy
Doooma
Posts: 791
Date Joined: 05/12/09
here's an outboard for ya!!
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/booragoon/motorboats-powerboats/130h-p-yamaha-2-st-20-low-hours/1025634771
20" shaft so you may want to be quick!!! Bloody hard to get 2nd hand now... I struggled to find one for my old Chivers and in the end, sold the boat before I found one..
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
20" shaft would be perfect
20" shaft would be perfect for the low transom on the Thunderbirds wouldn't it?
Doooma
Posts: 791
Date Joined: 05/12/09
My old Chivers pursuit was
My old Chivers pursuit was 20"... not sure about Thunderbox... (bird) ;-) Well, there's a name for your boat!!! lol
HoWhat length is the thunderbird? You dont want to be too underpowered as they are heavy glass... My pursuit was 17 foot ish and a 115 would have been good for that...
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
It is a 2 stroke.....
It is a 2 stroke.....
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
It's an 18ft, the Mark
It's an 18ft, the Mark V
They came originally with a 115hp which seems to be a good fit to weight ratio.
I'm pretty sure a 130 would do well to give it a bit more pickup and might pay off in fuel economy
I'll probably go a 4 stroke and do some research about which has reasonable fuel consumption
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
Looking at it, my choice
Looking at it, my choice would probably be the Suzuki DF115 for performance and fuel efficiency
The big question will be, is it worth hanging onto the Thunderbird to repower it with such an investment
She's solid and kept well but the vanity side of me thinks about flashier looking boats ;)
Walfootrot
Posts: 1386
Date Joined: 23/07/12
IMO, its hard to go past the
IMO, its hard to go past the older hulls for ride, Pacemakers, Swiftcraft etc,etc solid boats and great for fishing and if the weather turns bad, I would rather be in a swifty that some of the newer boats.
I am running a swiftcraft explorer 18' with a 115 optimax, great sea boat. also doing up a 24' swiftcraft sportsman, new moter going on this soon.
It realy depends what your after, a show pony ( flash boat with all the wank factor ) or a reliable older boat with a new motor.
It starts with the motor, then GPS, Sounder $$$$$$
More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!
DhuBoi
Posts: 896
Date Joined: 25/05/09
I got a chivers mark fve n
I got a chivers mark fve n its fkin grEat on the water nice solid hull gets on the plane easy. , an can take some heavy seas. I got a 130 merc inboard out board. Cosmetic wise our hull an paint etc was is really good nic . With just a few nics n nacs replaced . Mind you we took the 120hp it had in it out n put a brand newy in her . We also took the captains chairs out take up to much room.
living is fishing
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
mate of mine
a mate of mine had 1 back in the 80s in karratha he ditched his mercriuser and shoe horned of all things a Leyland p76 engine into it was scary fast and he only knew two speeds flat out and stopped it was a great boat