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boataholic
22 Posts |
 Posted - 03/15/2007 : 11:07:49 PM
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Hi everyone,
I've just become an owner of a '76 Carver Mariner (28) that was literally on its way to Carver heaven. The boat was impounded by the Harbor police because the owner overstayed in a publicly owned marina. The owner didn't come to claim it and pay his fees, which surprised me because the boat was not in bad shape. It has mainly cosmetic issues which are not too costly to resolve and I was told that that boat was under power when it came in. It was put up for auction then they decided to just sell it when someone (me) showed interest in it, as they desparately needed the dock space. I was told that hardley no one shows up to these auctions, because most boats are just junk. I originally went in to inspect a Sea Ray with a flying bridge but it turned out to be junk. The deputy then pointed out the Carver as the pick of the litter.
I had been shopping around for a vessel with a flying bridge because of the large cabins that they usually have. I was actually looking for a '79 - '85 Bayliner Fly-bridge with a dual helm but they are not too easy to find at a fair price or not totally trashed.
I was also kinda of looking forward to a project at the right price. Being a motorcycle mechanic by trade and in the past I was a model maker which entails working with metal, wood and fiberglass.
I paid about $2,000 for this boat. I am happy as a pig in sh*t but was wondering in your experience how I did? My other question is that I am trying to determine what kind of power plant this has. I thought they all had 351 Ford Mercruisers but this one looks like a Chevy 350 or possibly a 454. It has only one engine. Anyway its nice to find this site and I am grateful to Mitch for creating it.
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Rob
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2007 : 06:04:09 AM
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Welcome, and congratulation on the boat. You stooled it. You should have a fun time fixing it up. Make sure you get a copy of Paul's DVD for idea's
Rob |
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EXW
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2007 : 11:16:15 PM
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You are a brave man... hats off to you.
Erik
"Sea Sharp"
Seattle, WA |
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pbardunias
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2007 : 1:50:01 PM
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Congratulations on your new boat! It looks like a great deal, and all-original...
That single engine was probably a 330HP Merc 454. I have to go check my Carver specs, but am pretty sure that this was the single big block engine option from Merc in that time period...
Pete B from NY
PS - I sold my 1975 a couple of years ago for $2K, but it had rotted plywood in the deck and a bad gas tank. So in my opinion you got a great deal as long as the rest of the boat is as good as those pictures look  !!!
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Edited by - pbardunias on 03/21/2007 1:51:19 PM |
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2007 : 8:56:03 PM
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Hi Again
The 76 specs say 255 Mercuiser plus TR II but may have been changed.
Regards
Paul
http://www.carvermariner.com |
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EXW
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2007 : 11:12:04 PM
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If the engine is trashed and you are not considering rebuilding, it might be a good time to consider diesel conversion? Just a thought... there is a topic on the previous topic page about this. That boat sure is lucky to have found you...
Erik
"Sea Sharp"
Seattle, WA |
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pbardunias
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2007 : 12:23:39 AM
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That's definitely a GM block in there. I suppose it could have been a 255hp GM 350 because they did offer that engine for awhile. I thought that single installations on these boats were big blocks, though. Hmmmm, I'll have to research and get back to you...
Pete B from NY |
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2007 : 07:24:42 AM
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No they are small block, My 74 had a small block 255 original. The Carver specs show this is the standard installation. They used both Ford and GM for the Mercruiser 255 . The photo shows this is a GM . It should have they HP rating on the valve cover.
They only way to tell is off the serial number.
Also if you re power with diesel then I am your number one fan. Check out the diesel information on my website. I plan to re power my 76 with diesel at some stage.
Good luck
Paul
http://www.carvermariner.com |
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yottyboy
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 2:13:20 PM
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Good grief you are a brave man. Clearly the first order of business is to get it out of the water and get all that funk off the hull and drive. I hope the drive is OK. Judging by that awful tangle of wire and hoses in the engine bay, you're gonna be pulling out a lot of old cruddy parts. Do get the batteries up off the hull and strapped in to proper boxes. I see you have a seacock that goes nowhere. Wonder what that was.
On the plus side, be happy you DON'T have twin engines. Carver installed them as V drives (the horror) and there's virtually no room to get down in there to work on them. Lots of room in yours though. Interesting that the fuel tank runs athwartships on the single. On twins they're outboard of the engines, so it's just about impossible to change a zinc pencil in the stbd engine heat exchanger.
Another huge bonus is the fiberglass coachworks.
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boataholic
22 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 3:07:12 PM
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Thanks for all your thoughtful comments. I realize I am not buying a vacation here. It does needs some TLC++. But it'll keep me out of the saloons for bit.
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Rockmeister
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2007 : 5:49:42 PM
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The engine also sits lower on the single allowing for a lower center of gravity, with the possible attendant risk of flooding the engine sooner if taking on water.
The 120v outlet laying in the starboard side of the bilge is kinda scary! Lol
Should be mounted,GFI protected, as high as possible, and not where any water leaking through the hatch cover or scuppers could drip into it.
Looks like standard solid NM romex also, should be at least UF stranded.
They make power cord that is rated for wet location use, its relatively cheap at electrical supply houses, and is finely stranded.
A wet rated insulation will have a "W" in the insulation code, such as SJOW or SJOOW, or SOW, SOOW.
If it is in the bilge, it should be gas & oil resistant also. ("O" in code).
Ask the guy at the counter, he should be able to tell you which one.
You can also get tinned wire, at a much higher cost.
I can say, get the boat running, safe, and in the water. Think it's running and in the water now.
That way you can work on it & still play.
Helps make the whole thing much more fun as you progress!
MUCH less burn-out!
Did it fit in your slip? :o
Hey yottyboy!
There is a replaceable zinc in the v-drive?
Tell us more please!
Have any pics of where the zinc is?
Rock :)
79 28' Mariner twin inboard V-drive.
SW Lake Erie: Maumee Bay & The Islands |
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fireplace77
21 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2009 : 10:20:54 AM
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| wow i just got a 1976 carver 2896 and i love it how ever owned this boat before took real good care of it and she runs great but wow i have lots of?? |
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Topic |
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Carver Saved from the wrecking ball
