| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cpalmer |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 9:25:19 PM
I have put an offer on a 1987 Mariner and am in the process of scheduling the survey. Can anyone please give me some common issues that I should be looking for as the surveyor does his thing?
Here is a question you probably don't hear everyday. My family and I are very excited about the boat. After a question from my daughter, I can't find the radio (the one for music) or a hole where one was anywhere. Where was it located on most boats?
Any help is appreciated as we jump into this bigger boat.
Craig |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| crissmills |
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 10:23:09 PM
Not sure how to get started asking questions on the Forum but hope someone reads and responds
I have a down payment on a 2896 1977 Mariner and am looking at the potential problems. Boat seems in good shape and drives well. The main issue for me is that the cabin fills with exhaust fumes and takes a long time to clear. I have run the blower (it works and pumps air out) idling at the dock (twin engines) and waited to see what happened. It also seems to do this when running under power (no blower on). It is like living in an old car with light fume residue hanging in the cockpit for a long time. This is unacceptable to me. The owner says it is normal - always get some engine smell. Is it true? I have looked in the hatches to see how much smoke comes of the engines. the right engine sends some smoke out the exhaust- is harder to start and died on the water trial but restarted and seems old but ok (both are original not rebuilt). Hours say about 500 but may be dead on the gauge. Not much smoke coming off the engine in the hold. I noticed that the sofa seat over the airconditioner compresser is open directly to the bilge- seems easy for any air in the bildge to get into the cabin. Looks to me like the bilge connects to the engine area. The cabin smelled clean when I first got on the boat to look it over so it must clear up in time but I think it had not been used in a long time (it is in the water)
Any thoughts how to clear it up? I am used to a Marinette 26 and no fumes get in the cabin. The engine has been replaced so maybe that accounts for some of it. I hope your Carvers do not smell like this - it would not be a fun way to sleep.
Thanks
Criss Mills
Criss Mills |
| Rockmeister |
Posted - 06/05/2009 : 4:42:25 PM
Very nice post Brett!
One thing to add, they make 1/16" cutting blades for the angle grinder that work VERY well!
Buy a bunch, they wear fast, but do great.
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| monterey74 |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 11:50:13 AM
As for fiberglass cutting tools, I have tried several and in the process destroyed many of them.
A Dremel tool is very good for small jobs and for resurfacing nooks and crannies that larger tools won't reach. Beware however that too much cutting and too much fiberglass dust will quickly destroy the brushes on the tool. My Dremel is currently in need of some repairs.
A RotoZip saw with a spiral blade can be good for cutting precise shapes out of fiberglass to make repairs, mount speakers, etc.... A RotoZip plus its angle grinder attachment and diamond cutting wheel, however, quickly spell doom for the tool's brushes due to overheating.
A circular saw will work in a pinch, but can be a little hard to control when trying to be precise. I found myself counting my fingers frequently when I used this method.
By far the best tool I have found for cutting fiberglass is the angle grinder.
I have a 4½" Milwaukee angle grinder that absolutely tears through the glass. It is easy to control and has a multitude of cutting wheels available. It is also thermal protected and has easily replaceable brushes, although I have not yet had to replace them even after _many_ hours of cutting fiberglass. For surface finishing an "abrasive flap disc" turns an angle grinder into the fastest sander I have ever used.
The gas powered cutoff saw is the final tool for the really massive jobs. I have not yet used one on fiberglass, but plan to do so in the next few weeks to cut up my Mariner 2896 parts boat hull. I have borrowed a 14" Stihl with a water spray attachment. Hopefully cutting the fiberglass wet will eliminate the airborne itching powder.
I also like to keep the following quote in mind whenever contemplating a fiberglass repair on my boat. It is from a Google Books excerpt from The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual by Allan H. Vaitses.
quote:
When wrestling with the question of how much saturated core to cut out, it might help to remember the words of a boat storage and repair yard owner who said, "I like to build a boat or two every year, even if we don't make a profit on them, because I find that men who have not built a boat recently, or possibly ever, are prone to shrink from cutting away parts that are essentially destroyed. They'll go to ridiculous extremes to preserve the shape and form by patching up what's there, when they ought to cut it out and replace it with new work. A patch that doesn't make the area as good as new is bad for business in the long run."
Brett
1974 2885 Monterey
1978 2896 Mariner (Parts Boat) |
| Respite2 |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 09:14:00 AM
Take a look at my posting, Respite2, Not buying the Carver Mariner, May 21st. I listed several items we found in our survey including rotted stringers, corroded engine mounts, loose cleats, etc.
I just heard from the Broker and the owner is having the stringers repaired. He also completed a full survey of the boat using the same surveyor I used. I stopped it at the stringers. This boat could be reconsidered by us.
Sorry I could not get this information to you sooner as I have been off line for a while. Good luck and let us know how it goes with your boat.
Bill Barker
Seekonk, Ma. |
| stevenp |
Posted - 06/02/2009 : 8:51:11 PM
Just went through the same thing:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=310235
The core of my platform was end grain balsa (instead of plywood) and was a major PITA to remove from the non-waterlogged areas. I ended up driving a 2" putty knife in between the glass and balsa with a hammer to break it free.
It was a far messier job than I had ever imagined, but in the end it was educational and I'm glad I did it myself. It's a good first fiberglass project as it's hard to screw up and any mistakes you make will not be seen.
The best tool I found to cut the bottom glass away was a diamond cutting wheel on a dremel. It made less of a mess and was far less work than the other methods I tried.
1986, 28' Mariner |
| Rockmeister |
Posted - 06/02/2009 : 3:02:29 PM
Hey Craig!
This is a common thing with the platforms.
You can do the swim platform pretty easily.
It is plywood encased in fiberglass.
Usually it goes something like this (rough outline):
Remove the platform from the boat. (This would be a good winter project.)
Cut out the bottom and remove all the old wood,
Epoxy in new wood.
Fill any voids with epoxy.
Epoxy back in original fiberglass bottom.
Blend repair into original with mat and epoxy.
Paint or gel-coat to match.
By doing this from the bottom, if it doesn't look quite perfect, no one will ever see it.
The top will still look perfect, and you don't have to try to match the pebble grain finish.
http://carvermitch.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~290.asp
Here is one of my fiberglass projects.
Can help point the way if you like.
Am in your area about every weekend.
Hope this helps! Rock 
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| cpalmer |
Posted - 06/01/2009 : 8:57:23 PM
We had the survey and it went well. The surveyer found some "soft" spots in the swim platform and said that it would need to be worked on but the boat itself was sound and the mechanicals were good. We had the sea trial over the weekend and and the boat drove smooth and performed well. I think we will be moving forward. I will be asking for some advice on working on the swim platform. I would like to try this myself.
Craig |
| cpalmer |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 5:59:59 PM
Thanks everyone. We are going for the land portion of the survey on Friday. The bilge and engine look very clean but looks can be deceiving. I will have my daughter look for the radio. I think I will spend my time listening to what the surveyor has to say. I will send pictures after I find things out on Friday.
Craig |
| BillN |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 08:17:53 AM
HI Craig...
on my Mariner the stereo is in the Salon switch panel on the port side behind the smoked plexiglass door.
A complete survey should include all systems, engines and a Sea Trial. |
| Jimbo Song |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 08:12:47 AM
I totally agree with Justus. Not only that, but also have a compression test and leakdown test done on the engines. I have a 1987 Voyager and wouldn't trade it for anything. Great boat! But it is a 22 year old boat and stuff wears out and it takes a lot of effort to keep it in tip top shape.
The value and condition of your boat depends totally on how well it has been maintained so the overall condition can be all over the board. If it has been well or resonably well maintained it's a great boat. If it has been neglected that could be a totally different story.
But, one thing I strongly recommend is to have all the surveys and tests done. Don't go cheap. A few hundred dollars can save you thousands later on.
Good luck and please keep us posted. Also, photos, we want lots of photos! :)
As for the radio, mine is located in the forward saloon bulkhead. Not sure where it is in a Mariner. But, even if it doesn't have one at all, good quality systems are fairly inexpensive in this day and time.
quote:
Originally posted by cpalmer
I have put an offer on a 1987 Mariner and am in the process of scheduling the survey. Can anyone please give me some common issues that I should be looking for as the surveyor does his thing?
Here is a question you probably don't hear everyday. My family and I are very excited about the boat. After a question from my daughter, I can't find the radio (the one for music) or a hole where one was anywhere. Where was it located on most boats?
Any help is appreciated as we jump into this bigger boat.
Craig
1987 Carver Voyager 28
Jimbo Song |
| Justus3 |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 12:50:53 AM
Hi Craig. Re the survey - I have often thought that if I purchased another boat I would get three surveys. A hull survey, a mechanical survey, and a separate systems survey. I had the first two but not the systems survey and it is amazing how many things weren't working properly. Things that were not picked up on the surveys.
All the best.
Ron
1978 Carver Santa Cruz 28
Vancouver Island BC |
