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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
 Posted - 05/12/2007 : 08:33:07 AM
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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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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 12:30:10 PM
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someone...anyone...? :)
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 2:35:05 PM
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Hi Bill
Welcome to my forum. I am sorry there has been no reply yet but I guess everyone is out getting their boat ready for summer or already out on the water.
The Mariners I have are both earlier models, 74 and 76 so they are not the same as what you are looking at.
There are no problems with the later ones that I am aware of other than the normal boat things like engine wear, maintenance records etc.
Quite a few members here have similar models so I am sure you will get some replies soon.
I know there are previous references to these models throughout the forum and if you go to my website there is a link to the original brochures from Carver for every model.
Your model is
http://media.channelblade.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company624/_18_417200730634PM.pdf
I hope this will inspire you to keep checking here.
Kind regards and good luck.
Paul Mitchell
http://www.carvermariner.com |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 2:55:23 PM
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Hi Paul,
Thanks for the welcome!
I just got back from looking at the boat again. I took some photos and I will post a few if that is OK.
I made an offer which was countered within a close margin so I guess a survey will be done.
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 3:49:03 PM
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Hi Bill
Feel free to post photos and if you like you can send them to my email too.
I like to post members boat photos on my website.
Sounds like you may own a Carever if the survey is OK.
Good luck.
Regards
Paul
http://www.carvermariner.com |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 3:58:33 PM
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Hopefully it will go well.
Although it is a year older, it certainly would be a step up from my 1988 2655 Bayliner. |
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RB13
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 8:24:54 PM
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| Hi Bill, WELCOME TO THE FORUM! We have a 28 Mariner 1984. It is a great boat. As Paul said overall, no major issues, just the standard maintenance issues associated with an older boat. The one thing a former surveyor told me was to check the stringers inside the sliding glass doors under the cabin floor. You can do this by removing the rear floor panel beside the dinette. The stringers in this area are prone to rot for some reason. Mine had very minor damage there and I repaired it as soon as I bought the boat. By all means hire a surveyor to look at the boat, well worth the $$$ spent. Also I recommend getting one not associated with the marina or broker you are dealing with. I know of at least 2 instances where the surveyor gave a clean bill of health and there were some issues with the boat. Don't hire a surveyor recommended by the sales company, always find one with no strings attached. That way he works for you and there are no kick backs or other issues. Good luck with the Carver, they are great boats. CARVERS FOREVER, Ron |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 9:24:27 PM
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thanks for the info on the stingers!
The surveyor is not associated with the seller or broker in any way.
I have however had a mechanic tell me that the engines are 4 years past their life expectancy and I should consider them as not likely to last more than 1 season!
They are raw water cooled and we live on Salt water....so is this true???
They started right up with no hessitation when I looked at the boat.
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2007 : 9:54:58 PM
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My motors are both around 900 hrs and still perfect. They are 20 years old but have had perfect maintenance and were in salt water. It all depends on the service and maintenance plus how they are driven. Like any other machinery they can last years if looked after. Ask to see a maintenance schedule and hours log if available. What did they run at, full throttle, cruising or just plodding along. It all depends and my mechanic tells me that there is no set time limit, if they are going well, not using oil or leaking water then leave well alone apart from routine maintenance.
http://www.carvermariner.com |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 1:18:09 PM
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Here she is..
Hopefully the survey will go well....
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Jerry
USA
64 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2007 : 3:42:08 PM
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Bill,
I purchased a 1985 Mariner last year. I agree with everything in this post. I offered a price which was accepted, that would allow me to repower the boat. I have been told by every mechanic that I have talked to, that repowering Chevy 305's (mine are F/W cooled though) just because they are old, is madness. Mine do not have an hour guage on them (I put one on) so I have not concrete idea how many hours are on them, but they run great. I had some overheating problems, but I think cleaning out the cooling system and risers/manifolds has fixed the issues. Make sure you take the top off the v-drives and clean them out ... they will be full of junk, if they have not been serviced. Most of the information in older posts in this forum has led me thru all the info you will need. Just ask ... most folks here are very helpful!
Looks like a great boat ... best of luck ! |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 06:20:12 AM
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| These engines have 176 hours on them. |
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 08:12:53 AM
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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 |
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RB13
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2007 : 08:26:36 AM
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| 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 |
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boataholic
22 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2007 : 12:58:21 PM
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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 |
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BillN
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2007 : 2:35:48 PM
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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. |
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Topic |
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Looking at a 28 Mariner
