| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| crissmills |
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 10:30:46 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 cabin for a long time. This is unacceptable to me. The owner says it is normal - all boats 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 visible smoke coming off the engine inside 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 |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rockmeister |
Posted - 09/20/2009 : 09:04:50 AM
I agree with what the guys stated above.
FYI: Keep my blower on whenever the engines are running.
Heck, usually I turn it on when I get on the boat and just leave it on until I leave, helps to get rid of the "Boat Musty Odor" from being closed up all week.
Just to help keep the bilge(and boat in general) aired out.
The blower draws air from down in the bottom of the bilge where natural ventilation almost never gets.
Besides that, don't ever have to worry about forgetting to blow the bilge after fueling. lol
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
Western Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
| Jimbo Song |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 08:55:50 AM
Good for you! Any fumes, especially exhaust fumes which can kill occupants fairly quickly, are nothing to take lightly.
Good luck and please let us know how it all comes out. FWIW, if it turns out that this particular boat isn't the one for you be assured there are LOTS of good boats on the market at very good prices. Take your time and find the one that's right for you.
Bob
1987 Carver Voyager 28
"Jimbo Song"
Palm Coast, FL |
| crissmills |
Posted - 09/10/2009 : 08:42:19 AM
Thanks, I suspected this was not normal. Hard to believe anyone would want to live aboard with this engine smell. I will see if I can get someone to look it over before going furthur. Hope to get to join the ranks of owners but right now seems like a bit of work has to go on first.
Criss
Criss Mills |
| Justus3 |
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 11:33:20 PM
I also had some issues with engine room odours making their way into the cabin. Now I'm not talking about exhaust fumes - that is a totally different matter and, as Bob points out, far more serious.
My odours turned out to be a combination of old oil, coolant leaks, and a couple of small gas leeks. Once all the leaks were corrected and the bilge given a good cleaning the smells went away.
Just to make sure odours stayed out of the cabin I used expanding foam to fill in the open spaces between the engine compartment and the cabin.
I agree with Bob that these issues should be dealt with before you make the purchase. If the smells are caused by fluid leaks you certainly want them corrected by the seller.
All the best.
Ron
1978 Carver Santa Cruz 28
Vancouver Island BC |
| Jimbo Song |
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 10:47:27 PM
A number of things come to mind but, most importantly, it sounds like you have a serious exhaust leak somewhere. You absolutely should not be getting exhaust fumes in the cabin under power or not. CO poisoning is deadly so please do not run the boat until it is fixed. "No fun way to sleep"? Yeah, because you may not wake up. The blowers are there to get rid of possible gas fumes in the engine room only. They are not there and are not adequate to clear the cabin of exhaust fumes.
I would STRONGLY recommend having a complete survey done on the boat including both hull and engines. This should include a sea trial, compression checks and leak down tests on both engines. This process will certainly isolate the exhaust problem.
Good luck with it and please post some photos when you get her straightened out.
Bob
PS: If it were me, there is no way I would complete the transaction to buy this or any boat until the survey and tests are completed satisfactorily. It may cost you a few hundred dollars but can save you thousands in unexpected repairs.
1987 Carver Voyager 28
"Jimbo Song"
Palm Coast, FL |
