Carver Owners Forum

After owning a few sailboats I've moved over to a 1997 Carver 500 CPMY. Survey and sea trials coming up soon. Any special issues that the surveyor and I should look for? 420hp Cummins 6CTA engines with about 900 hours Never seen salt water
A few questions: what is an accurate fuel consumption at 15kts? 20kts?
no davits or crane on rooftop - brochure claims bridge clearance of 15'11". Hoping to navigate Oswego or Erie Canal from Detroit to Hudson River in late April. Anyone have experience doing this? Lots of info on the internet says it may be possible at low pool with only a few questionable bridges.
How many gallons of bottom paint (one coat) will I need?

Thanks, Kevin

Welcome over from hauling sail bags around Lol.....maybe there will be a few who could chime in with the bridge clearances for you. Surveyor is good but you really should have a diesel guy familiar with Cummins go thru the engines as they can be quite time consuming and costly to repair if anything is bad...thats all I got man good luck with your maybe new to you boat.....

I had a survey performed on a 405 my in September. The surveyor disqualified himself and advise I get a qualified mechanic to look over engines. He also suggested a compression test. Talk to your surveyor about his experience and mechanical qualifications.

Welcome aboard! .

Welcome over to the dark side as you call it. Good luck, hope the survey goes well and you get to enjoy your new yacht.

We welcome you FROM the dark side. I am sure we will all help you any way we can.

Kevin; I'm thinking at least 2 gallons if not 3 gallons of bottom paint. Welcome to the dark side! Mike

Welcome aboard. While a surveyor can assess the ship's structure and most systems as well as report on some possible red flags external to an engine, they're typically not qualified to assess potential mechanical problems. For that, I'd get a mechanic that is experienced with that brand. I say that rather than any diesel mechanic because he may know of some nuances specific to that brand and make recommendations accordingly based on what he knows may be coming in the near future.

There is something however that can't be seen but if you look carefully and give it some forethought, you'll get an answer; how did the previous owner look after the vessel? This is crucial but often overlooked and can end up to be pricey down the road. Knowing this will give you an idea about what you're in for regarding future repairs as neglected vessel systems will eventually require attention, some of them could be costly. The first thing you can look for right off the bat is a dirty bilge. This can lead to many issues including molds you may be inhaling in the living areas, and undesirable overboard discharges that may get you reported to the Ministry of Environment which could lead to a hefty fine. Has the gel coat been maintained by regular polishing intervals? Are there Racor fuel filters with clean/clear canisters or are they cloudy, brown, green? Are there oil leaks throughout the engine in key areas that would indicate major work ahead like a rear main seal leak? Are the fluids fresh? Are the belts, air cleaners, impellers, etc. in good shape? Are the air conditioner screens clean? Are they working as they should? Do the power cords have burns marks or melting around the contacts? Is the vinyl, leather, canvas, etc. in good shape. Any signs of leaking around the windows, portholes, hatches, headliner, under deck rail stanchions? What condition are the batteries in? Are the shower sumps clean? Is the interior clean? Are there any curious odours? I can go on and on but the point is; if it's apparent that most of this stuff needs attention, it's a pretty good idea that the owner did not look after her so one must worry about the items that can't be seen. Ask for service/repair records.

I agree with Mike, you're 2 gallons minimum but it depends on the type of paint you're using. What ever you use, it helps to know what product is on there now so that you purchase paint that is compatible or if you want to go with a different product, you'll need to find out the prep needed to apply the different type. I'd ask the owner about the current product.

Good luck, I hope it all works out in your favour. Keep us posted.

Welcome.... Named by boat Vader since we also came to the Dark Side.

I miss sailing, but loving all the amenities that come with power boating. I tow a Hobie Cat when I need my sailing fix.

Hunt_trex wrote:Source of the post Welcome.... Named by boat Vader since we also came to the Dark Side.

I miss sailing, but loving all the amenities that come with power boating. I tow a Hobie Cat when I need my sailing fix.

That'll work.