Just did something really dumb and I knew better as this is not my first boat much less not my first Carver. I have been out of the boating scene for about 7-8 years and my wife was actually pushing me pretty good to go back and I wasn't really arguing.

So I bought a what appears to be a really nice '89 Carver 3807 Aft w/7.4 Mercs. The really dumb part is I bought it without having the survey done first. I don't know what I was thinking......

So I do have to have a survey done anyways for insurance purposes. While scheduling it on the phone with the surveyor he told me that during the sea trial we would be running the motors to 4300rpms and if they don't do that we will know we have an issue.

Well I know for a fact that neither port or starboard engine will not do 4000 + rpms because I took it out Sunday and ran them at wide open throttle. I do know that the Port engine WOT and the starboard was at maybe 3/4 throttle for the syn. to show motor running the same....

Now I am pretty darn nervous....

1987 Carver Mariner 36'. In 2008 the engine were replaced with rebuilt twin Detroit's 4-53 140 hp,rebuilt trans and V-drives. New shafts, cutlass bearings and genny. The old owner lost interest and sold it to a guy who know nothing about boats he screwed up a lot of stuff. He only put on 400hrs on the boat moving at 10 mph. The props were way out of pich. There now set as 4 blade 22" X 25 pitch with a med cup. I have spent the last year putting the boat in working order.

My questions is the rebuilt Detroit's are a lot heaver the the gas engines and it sets very heavy to the Stearn. The bow sets pretty high from what it should be. I am guessing about about a 12 to 15" to where the water line should be. When I try to get the boat up on plane the tabs are all the way on for bow down and the bow just keeps on rising and the Stearn just digs a hole.
I am pretty sure I need to add ballast to the bow but I don't know how much to add and do I need to increase the size of the trim tabs?
I am hoping that some of you old salts can help me with this issue.
Thanks
Dave
Palm Coast Fl.

Hi all - My wife and I have a 1982 Carver Mariner and at some point the optional starboard auxiliary gas tank was removed. We have all the switches and hardware still hanging in the engine compartment but no tank outside of the main fuel tank in the center of the boat. Anyone have any idea where on the starboard side the tank would have been ?

Thanks in advance

Greetings everyone!

Looking to get back into the cruiser lifestyle, and am excited to be considering a Carver as one of my primary boat purchases.

I have had a great Regal, 1999 292 Commodore in the past and most recently with younger kids had a pontoon for several years but am looking to make the switch back up to an Aft Cabin.

1989 Carver 3607 36 Aft Cabin actually.

Would love any feedback on the model and issues you all have had with them. It's powered by twin Mercs and not sure how the Mercs fair compared to older Crusaders which I have heard are work horses. It's in really great shape upon first review and the survey will tell me more...

Hopefully the purchase works out, it's a great boat and I will have many years to enjoy it with my family (5 kids aged 8-15).

Thanks!

Akiba Green

Good Afternoon Carvers,

My wife and I are winding down our boat search. So far the 406 is the leader in the clubhouse. Actually, this one in particular is the winning:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... =asyachts&

I am fully aware of the surveys the boat will have to undergo during the boat buying process...but a thought I had recently is "What about the owners?"

This will be our first salt water boat. Is there any way we can test our seaworthiness before making a $100K investment? I am fairly certain I will be OK, but I worry about the wife.

I know this is probably a stupid question, but is there any way to charter a carver (or similar) in the Keys? We are heading down in a couple of weeks to shop marinas and was wondering if I could do the sea test then.

Thanks in Advance,

Ken

Never in a million years did we think something like this would happen. Although these folks were a little *off* there was no indication of just how OFF they were. Thankfully we were in the Key's when this happened. Other neighbors said it was days of new crews, us marshals, and local police conducting interviews. They were about 4 boats down from us and live aboards so we saw them almost every time we were at the boat. Really scary stuff when you stop and think about it.


http://www.fox10tv.com/story/35783334/tennessee-fugitive-caught-on-sailboat-in-orange-beach

OK, I've read enough about other folks having their engines stall when docking... now I guess it's MY turn!! ;(

1983 Crusaders 454ci 350hp with stock carbs and mechanical fuel pumps. Upgraded to Presolite electronic distributors about 15 years ago.

A couple weeks ago I was coming back to the marina after a cruise and decided to stop at the gas dock for some fuel and a pump-out. Got all the way into the marina and right in front of the slip and went to pivot and turn in... and no pivot!! WTH!! Look down and realize that the port engine stalled. As I'm now drifting into the opposite fairway and headed the wrong direction, I use the stbd engine to straighten up the boat. Once stabilized, I restart the port engine and it just stalls again. Restart again and give it a little throttle and it runs OK, so I drop it down to idle and it stalls again. Start it up and hold it to 800rpm and it's OK... so I pull into the slip.

NEVER had an engine stall like that before. Have had to come in on one engine a few times for various reasons but haven't had it stall like that. I've owned the boat for ~25 years.

Not too long before that trip, I had felt that the idle was a bit too high, as running through the marina on both engine just at idle would kick up a little more wake than I liked. So I lowered the idle just a bit (1/8 turn maybe). OK, maybe that was too much, so I went to the engine compartment and put them back. Thought everything might be OK.

Today took a cruise across the lake. Got to the lunch location and, just as I'm maneuvering around to tie up, the port engine dies again!! ARRRRGH! Took a couple times to start it, but it eventually started. Got tied up and had lunch. Headed back to our marina and now I'm wondering if it might be a heat-related issue in the distributors, as it's almost like someone shuts the key off. So on the way back, well before we hit the 'no-wake' buoys outside the marina, I come off plane and just run on the stbd engine for a good 20 min... leaving the port engine idling about 800 in neutral. figure that would let it cool down. Get all the way into the marina and into my fairway and the port engine just stalls. I could not restart it, so I just docked with the stbd engine. Could not start port even after I docked.

Did some checking on the engine. Looks like spark is fine. Checked both at the coil output and on one of the plugs and don't see anything wrong there. I put a 'stick' in the carb vent where you check the float level and compared it to the stbd engine (stock Rochesters). Both seemed the same. Then I pushed the accelerator pump a couple times... port is pumping air but stbd pumps gas like it should. Hmmmm... maybe a float stuck CLOSED? Enough troubleshooting for today... had to head home but will be back there next week and will probably take the lid off the carbs to see what's up.

Looking to install something to hold dinghy level when travelling, have always towed ( have two sets of weaver davits, standoffs and a transom bracket in the garage ,lol).....but I have seen this dinghy caddy outfit ( local guy) that seems cool,.....does anyone have any experience with this good or bad...need some feedback, thanks......

Has anyone installed this type flooring in their carver .....If so can you share your experience, photos and cost...I have a 396MY that I'm thinking about doing the entire boat...thanks in advance..Kevin

How do I get the engines out of my 1991 38' Carver Aft Cabin. The companionway door appears to be too narrow.