NEW 506 OWNER

[Lyndon670]

Hello all,

I just signed a deal on a 2000 Carver 506 with the upgraded Volvo's. Have always been a Silverton guy and was actually trying to find a Silverton 453MY, but was unable to find a clean one.

Then I stumbled upon this 395hr fresh water example. Offer accepted after several sign backs conditional on an inspection from my Volvo tech followed by a survey and sea trial.

Hoping I can offer something to this forum and take something away from other Carver owners!

[waybomb]

Welcome and good luck! Let us know when you actually buy it.

[avtech001]

I'm a new member as of today and I read your thread on buying a 2000 Carver 506.
I have had mine for 3 years which I had a hard time finding mine as well because of what I felt was an under powering problem with the 450 diamond series or there a bouts hp.
I drove 3 different 506's which all had different power plants, I did run into one with Volvo's but they weren't the larger diesels,still 450 HP.
I found mine with the factory upgraded Cummings QSM-11's and I love them the boat actually planes out and rides as oppose to plowing most of the time.
I'm sure you will be pleasantly pleased on sea trial day .....if you haven't already
Good luck and enjoy!!!

[NickD]

Hi Folks,

New to the forum, we are currently on the hunt for a 466 or 506 any info on these boats would be greatly appreciated. Originally set out looking for a 43 Silverton MY, but now shifting gears to the Carver. Friend has a 53 Voyager, I liked the way the boat ran but know the MY's are a different baby altogether so far as performance goes. Looking for some tips on power, problems, what to watch for, etc.

Thanks

Nick

[Lyndon670]

Nick, your story is mine to a "T".

I am/was a Silverton guy having owned a 41C for years - great boat, but we needed more room. We went lookng for a 453 and couldn't find the "right" boat. I had offers in on a couple, and one we almost got but we backed out of. My broker found a 466 in Catawaba Island in Ohio, that we were good to pull the trigger on - but the survey did not come back as I had hoped. There was a 506 in our marina that the broker showed me and I fell in love with the room that it had. My broker found a very low hour (200) fresh water unit that was being sold in an estate where the orginal owner had passed away. We bought the boat and I love it - it feels like 2 x the size of the 453 in every way.

I love the Volvos, was previously a Cummins guy. The Volvos are the optional engine, the Cummins were the base. If you can find one that has the D9's in it, even better. We found one in Minnisota but it did not have the hard enclosure on the bridge - so defeats the purpose of this model.

Good luck, let me know if I can help...

[NickD]

Thanks Lyndon for the feedback. I really like the 506, the 466 with the shallower draft might suite us better here in Jersey and our planned ICW trips to Fla. Funny you mentioned a Ohio 466, I just spoke to a broker about one there today. Do you recall the year of the boat, I would be curious if it could be the same one, the broker mentioned it was surveyed about two years ago. What would your thoughts be on a 506 w/450 Cummings, under powered?

[Lyndon670]

Hey Nick,

I think the 466 in Ohio was a 2001, and it had the Cummins power. One of the engines had been replaced and had maybe 15 hours on it. The owner was looking at going to an express boat so he could keep up with his buddies - in retrospect, that might have been why one of the mains were replaced...I have a survey somewhereat home with a HIN I can dig up...has to be the same boat, it was surveyed in 2011 and I looked at it in December of 2013.

The 506 in our Marina has the Cummins base power in it and the owner hasn't mentioned a lack of power. For me, these are a huge heavy boat with tons of windage...the bigger motors have only 35hp different/engine and a touch more torque - so don't have to work as hard...that was one of the reasons I wanted the optional power..

[NickD]

Lyndon, sounds like a familiar story as to why I was told the boat was on the market "owner wants something faster to keep up with his friends when traveling" is how the broker explained it to me. Broker seems like a nice enough guy and seems like he's being straight on the condition of the boat "but" one motor has 450hrs and the other 200hrs sounds to me like the same boat. I got to dig a little deeper before I make the 7 hr road trip to look at it.

Thanks again

[Lyndon670]

Nick, where is the broker located? If you want, I can send you the survey - if it's the same boat, I can save you the trip. We also drove seven hours to see it and were ready to sign a deal.

On another note, there is a 466 not far from us. It has low hours and a super clean interior - BUT - it needs a full buff/polish/wetsand and full canvas enclosure. The interior and engines are mint. It's a 2001, and when I was looking at it he was asking $279. It's down to $229 now, so it's now viable. Keep in mind, that's CAD, so you are ahead of the game there.