| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 08:33:07 AM
Hi All..I'm new here and am currently looking at a possible purchase of a 1987 28' Mariner with twin V drive Mercruisers.
I will of course be getting a survey done but....
Any words of caution or any particular trouble areas that I should be looking out for?
Also has anyone done a re-power recently and can share what the app cost was...
thanks....
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| moondoggie |
Posted - 06/10/2008 : 06:48:40 AM
I would like to post my 28 foot Carver Mariner for sale,. It is a 1974 with full cabin. It is sitting on a trailer at my home right now. We bought another boat.
Sue Schneider
sueandpugs2003@yahoo.com
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| Rockmeister |
Posted - 05/29/2007 : 12:16:55 AM
Congrats Bill!
I agree about using a manifold that doesn't need any modification, bolt-on beats modifications anyday! lol
I am currently working on making a radar arch for mine right now. Will get some pics and such as I progress. For now see the prior post about a radar arch.
Rock 
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| carvermitch |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 9:29:35 PM
Congratulations, Welcome to the Carver family. I hope you have many years on enjoyment.
Kind regards
Paul
http://www.carvermariner.com |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 07:18:48 AM
All went well....Drove the boat home yesterday. So I am now officially the owner of a Carver Mariner.
The boat does not have a remote spotlight and I would like to add one. Any suggesstions on where to mount it?
I am also considering taking the Radar off my old boat and putting it on the Mariner, but again where to mount it? |
| EXW |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 5:29:44 PM
Since you are having him come back anyway, ask him to check all of the riser/manifold connections for leaks... especially after its been running for a bit. Good luck.
Erik
"Sea Sharp"
Seattle, WA |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 07:02:49 AM
The manifolds and risers were replaced yesterday. They are Osco brand parts.
I am going to have the surveyor come back for a quick sea trial to check the temps.
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| EXW |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 11:52:28 AM
One suggestion from a guy who JUST changed all my risers and manifolds - check out different manufacturers. I could have used PCM, Osco, or one other brand. All of them had little differences in their castings even though they all fit my engine. You couldn't cross match risers with a different manufacturer of manifolds. I went with Osco. Is it possible that this defect mentioned in a previous email might not be present if you look at different brands? Just a thought & it sure would be easier than having a welder help you out.
Congrats on the new boat. She looks great!
Erik
"Sea Sharp"
Seattle, WA |
| Rockmeister |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 9:22:00 PM
Here is one of the links, am looking for the others.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/exhaust_risers.htm
PS might look for a place that can ceramic coat them also, makes them last alot longer.
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| Rockmeister |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 9:02:50 PM
Congratulations!
When you do replace the risers, I believe they are mercury marine risers on the GM engines. They have a defect that causes the seals to fail on a regular basis, there is a fix for it.
The problem is caused caused by a thin wall casting that doesn't give enough surface for the seal.
best fix is to have more thickness welded on the casting and have the sealing surface remachined flat.
This will solve the seal leaking problem.
A good (and I mean GOOD) welder can weld a casting. If you can't find one, I have friends that are incredible at this that do it for a living.
(The seal leaks mainly when the engine is running and will leak or spray water into the engine compartment.)
Alot of times you can use the existing manifolds and have them cleaned and then welded/machined, without the cost of new ones, that you have to "fix" anyway!
I will look for the pics and links on this and post them here.
Will get back with you.
Rock
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| Dmunneke |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 11:24:38 PM
congrats ! |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 2:35:48 PM
The Survey and Sea Trial were just completed. The Survey took about 6 hours.
The Boat surveyed very well. The Hull and Stingers are all in excellent shape. Deck and superstructure all above average. Every system was checked and operated correctly.
The hand operated pump on the head leaks and needs to be replace and the hose for the shower head needs to be replaced. The engines ran better than expected and the surveyor thinks that they will operate for many more years, if properly maintained. The manifolds need to be replaced.
So right now it looks good as far as purchasing the boat. |
| boataholic |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 12:58:21 PM
What sets you up in the way you proceed will be based on the service records the owner presents to. If its just a couple of wrinkled receipts for spark plugs and oil, then be prepared to go to Defcon 5.
What I mean lavish recording keeping and service spending means you are buying from a meticulous individual. This person loses sleep at night worrying about his boat. The other guy with the wrinkled receipts might worry about fishing gear and bait tanks and new upholstery.
So if you have nothing to ascertain the engines condition, then hire a competent independent mechanic to run compression tests, check the oil for contamination (water),analyze valve, timing chain and other noises that the engine may emit. The most important is compression, your engine should have relatively even compression at a minimal spec or you are looking at some costly repairs. Tune ups, carb rebuilds, riser cleaning are trivial costs in comparison. Look for an excessive amount of vapor coming from the vents on the rocker covers. If its persistant and white, it could mean partial head gasket failure due to a previous overheating episode. No biggy, but it should be high on your todo list, way before new mini blinds or any other bling. Check the oil to see if it smells excessively like gasoline. That means the carbs were running too rich or the floats were flooding and that would wash the cylinders with raw gas. This thins the oil which reduces its effectiveness as a coolant and lubricant. Could cause serious bearing damage.
Some marine surveyors are great on the rest of the boat but a little weak in the engine compartment. If you can find one that was a mechanic, then your gold. Otherwise hire a mechanic to survey then engine.
Checking the v-drive is good advice. I seem to recall that they contain a heat exchanger where raw sea water is pumped in to cool the oil. They can corrode and start leaking water into the oil. Not a good thing. It can make you lose sleep at night.
Gd luck |
| RB13 |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 08:26:36 AM
Bill, 305 engines with that low hours should last you years if properly maintained. GOOD LUCK with the survey. I remember how excited I was when purchasing my Carver, they are great boats and we continue to love ours. Ron |
| carvermitch |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 08:12:53 AM
Nice looking ship - and with those hours on the motor it should be as good as gold.
Hope the survey goes well and good luck.
Keep us posted.
Regards
Paul
http://www.carvermariner.com |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 06:20:12 AM
These engines have 176 hours on them. |
