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boating newbie
Deck Hand
USA
7 Posts |
 Posted - 08/10/2005 : 1:21:16 PM
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I am new to boating. Seriously considering a 1990 Carver Mariner. Don't know much about engine hours, but one engine has 925 hours, the other 945 hours. Is this alot? Don't engines need to get overhauled at some point? If so, is that expensive? Thanks for any info/advice you can give me!
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inlandboatman
Deck Hand
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 12:56:45 PM
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It all depends on how the engines have been used, but yes, those are high numbers.
Has the boat been used in salt water? If so, does the boat have closed cooling or raw water cooling?
Can you have a mechanic check the compression? Can you get a sample of oil for testing?
When you look at the engines, are you wearing rose colored glasses? Or are you looking at the condition of the belts, listening for racket or whine from the water pumps, examining the bilge for excessive slop, checking the transmissions and vee drives for heat or leaking cases?
Are the stuffing boxes accessible? Are they leaking? A steady small drip is acceptable.
Are the battery cables in good shape? Are you getting 14 volts across each battery? Are the gasoline filters and water traps in good shape? Do the hoses look weary? Any rusty clamps? Are the hatches striking anything in the engine room? Are the flame arrestors clean and undamaged?
All these things cost $$$. Water pumps can go $170 apiece, you have two of them. Flame arrestors, $70-100 each. Exhaust risers, $75 each - you have four of them. When they go bad the hot exhaust will burn holes in your flex tubing leading to the transom - at $12 a foot.
Make absolutely sure the temp gages are in good working order and don't buy the boat without knowing those engines run cool. |
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yottyboy
Involved Member
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 4:37:34 PM
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| Well, one hour of boat engine run time is roughly equvalent to 50 miles for a car engine. Those engines have run the equvalent of about 45,000-50,000 miles. Not anywhere near time to overhaul them, but certainly worth going over them with a fine toothed comb. |
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n/a
deleted
148 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 8:01:24 PM
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HI NEWBIE,WHAT KIND OF ENGINES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?NEAR 1000 HRS IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.DOES THE PRICE OF THE BOAT GIVE YOU ANY ROOM FOR REPAIR OR UPGRADES?WHAT CONDITION IS THE BOAT IN? IF THE BOAT IS BEAT THE MOTORS WERE PROBABLE NOT TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL. ASK FOR SERVICE RECORDS. ASK WHO DID THE WORK ON THE BOAT, ALL BOATS HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF WORK DONE.CHECK CONDITION OF ALL THE OPERATING SYSTEMS;IE. WATER TANKS AND PUMPS, BILGE PUMPS,SEWAGE TANKS,AGE OF BATTERIES,CONDITION OF HOSES STRESS CRACKS,MOLD OR MILDEW ODOR, LEAKY WINDOWS CONDITION OF CANVAS, CONDITION OF SEAT COVERS OIL OR SLIME IN THE BILGE,CONDITION OF TRIM TABS, REFRIGERATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN ADD UP TO A LOT MORE THAN THE PRICE OF A NEW ENGINE.BEING A NEWBIE A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY BY A QUALIFIED SURVEYOR WOULD WELL WORTH THE MONEY.OLDER BOATERS HAVE A SENSE OF FEEL WHEN THEY WALK ON A USED BOAT IF IS WORTH THE PRICE OR NOT.THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DEVELOP IN TIME WITH THE PURCHASE OF EVERY BOAT YOU BUY.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK STUPID QUESTIONS,IF THE ANSWERS ARE AS DUMB AS THE QUESTION WALK AWAY.THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BOATS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IT IS A BUYERS MARKET,SHOP HARD BE TOUGH AND ALWAYS NEGOTIATE PRICE. EVERY DAY THE BOAT IS IN THE WATER IT IS COSTING SOMEBODY MONEY.
CHECK MARINA FEES LOCAL GAS PRICES REMEMBER THE AVERAGE CARVER ONLY GETS 1 MILE PER GALLON PER MOTOR, AND THAT IS IF YOU KEEP YOUR FOOT OUT OF IT.WE AT THE FORUM ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE YOU OUR OPINION BUT WE NEED MORE INFO ON YOUR PENDING PURCHASE.
BOAT ON FRANK |
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inlandboatman
Deck Hand
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2005 : 11:12:13 PM
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| Yes, a survey, excellent point, Frank. For a 1990 Carver you're talking north of twenty grand somewhere and it's definitely worth a survey. |
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boating newbie
Deck Hand
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 5:46:43 PM
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Wow, thanks for all the good info! Knowing next to nothing about boats, that all really helps. We plan to have a mechanic survey the boat already, but those are all great questions that we need to be asking. Thanks!
The engines are Crusader Marine 305 CU in, V8 - 1989. |
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n/a
deleted
148 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 10:15:36 PM
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CRUSADER 305 ARE GOOD ENGINES BUT A LITTLE UNDER POWERED FOR MY TASTE.I HAVE A 1985 28' MARINER IT IS A VERY HEAVY BOAT FOR IT'S SIZE,ABOUT 16000 LBS.WHEN I BOUGHT IT TAKES TIME I KNEW IT NEEDED 2 NEW ENGINES BUT I BOUGHT THE BOAT VERY RIGHT AT 23000, SO I HAD SOME ROOM TO PLAY. I CHANGED THEM BOTH OUT WITH 350 CRUSADERS.THE 2 LONG BLOCKS COST ME ABOUT 3200. AND I DID THE WORK MYSELF WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS.THERE WAS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO ENGINES.THE 305 WOULD NOT PUSH THE BOAT OVER 29 MPH THE 350'S GET ME UP TO 39 MPH AT 3900 RPM.
IF THE BOAT IS OUT OF THE WATER CHECK THE BOTTOM FOR CRACKS AND BLISTERS THESE CAN REALLY BE A MAJOR PAIN TO REPAIR,AND THEY HAVE TO BE FIXED THEY CAN NOT BE IGNORED. WHAT IS THE ASKING PRICE FOR THE BOAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT?WHAT OPTIONS DOES IT HAVE?WE NEED MORE INFO. ARE YOU BUYING FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER?IS IT A BROKERED BOAT OR PRIVATE SALE?I DON'T MEAN TO BE NOSY JUST CURIOUS. |
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inlandboatman
Deck Hand
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 10:39:37 PM
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39 MPH in a Carver Mariner?!
You maniac! That must be some ride! |
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n/a
deleted
148 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2005 : 3:57:12 PM
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maniac , you should try tubing behind it, now that is crazy.actually the boat handles like a dream on plane.as long as everyone sits down and don't move around much.it does have a tendency to slide a little in the corners.
when i was a younger man i owned a 15' hydro stream with a 150 xs merc outboard it dynoed at 167 hp. that boat ran a true 83 mph. the boat weighed 360 lbs, now that was a ride.
boat on frank |
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boating newbie
Deck Hand
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2005 : 4:41:32 PM
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To a boating "newbie" the boat looks good cosmetically i.e. canvas in good condition, seating in good condition, teak needs to be re-stained, windows look to be in good condition, neutral colors, etc. But because I know nothing about the mechanics of a boat, that's what I'm most concerned about. I'll have a mechanic look at all that. It is out of the water right now, so I'll also inspect the bottom like you suggest.
Some of the misc. features are: convertible canvas cover (sunbrella), cockpit cover (sunbrella), downrigger base plates, snap-in carpet in fly-bridge and cockpit and aft deck, custom liquor cabinet, sleeper sofa, extended bow rail 26". Electronics - Stereo, 10 CD changer with salon wireless remote, cockpit wired remote (sony), power amplifier (alpine), GPS/Fishfinder/depth sounder, VHF, Engine alarm, trim tabs (bennett), compass, DC-12v/circuit breakers, battery charger, AC-125v/1-30 AMP w/125 vac inlet with duplex cabin outlets circuit breakers.
Seller is selling it through a broker, but he found us so he won't have to pay the commission to the broker. The broker price is $38,500. We are planning to offer probably $31,000. |
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inlandboatman
Deck Hand
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2005 : 9:32:12 PM
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| For that boat at that price, you're going to be fine. There will always be some little thing going wrong but that's the way boats are. |
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n/a
deleted
148 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2005 : 9:30:50 PM
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at 31000 sounds like a good deal and you have some room to play, i would still get a compression test and check the tranny fluid for color and smell.
do not stain the teak. try a product called cetol by sickens i think you will like it ,the best thing i ever used on wood.sand first read directions on can.boat on frank |
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boating newbie
Deck Hand
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2005 : 11:45:43 AM
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| Thanks for the info on the teak wood! We took the boat out yesterday with the current owner and WOW it's a beautiful boat! Seemed to run well also (from the untrained eye) I've never driven a twin engine boat, but it was really nice to be able to pivot on a dime! |
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n/a
deleted
148 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 8:57:04 PM
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well did you buy the boat or not?
frank |
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boating newbie
Deck Hand
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 8:57:58 PM
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Yes we did - today actually. The survey came out great. We had a mechanic look at it too and the compression was so good, he thought his gauge was broken, but the readings checked out on the 2nd gauge too.
We'll be boating this weekend! Thanks for all of your help.
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inlandboatman
Deck Hand
43 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 9:46:00 PM
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| Congrats! Welcome to the club! |
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Topic |
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engine hours
