Carver Owners Forum

New member, have a question/problem

So happy to have access to this Forum, its a great resource. I have had a 38 Egg and smaller cruise boats in past years. I am a Va Commercial Watermen, own an oyster farm, and starting to slow down to cruise more. So, I am not new to boating.

First off, a little about the boat. We bought it in August this year after looking for a year. We boat in the Chesapeake Bay and bought the boat from Knot10 Yacht sales, $845000 with Crusader 454XLs with 330 hrr, 130 hrs on 8KW Kohler generator. Very very low hours and structurally, mechanically and cosmetically near perfect, Surveyor said its 1 in a 100, he is the primary surveyor from Prince William Marine in Woodbridge, Va . Only survey issues were halon need recertifying and engine intake hoses need replaced. We have put 40 hrs on her since purchase cruising, only issue has been the generator belt broke. Easy fix, I run the engines easy, 2000 rpm mainly 10-11 mph

Now my new problem. Starboard shaft log dripping, 50 drips a minute which I think is too much, I pump out about 3 gals a day. Port is fine. I assume with the low hours that they have never been repacked. The leaking one is really really locked tight and may need to be heated. With cost to haul a given I am considering installing new dripless seals. access is so tight

Questions/opinions are:

Repack existing shaft seals or go dripless?

How to get better access. Only open access to the leaking one is via the small hatch in the cabinet under Master Stateroom TV. So limited. One young man, one arm in the hole. Do the steps come up easily.

What about the port shaft access? How can I get better access to that

Thanks to all who read this and those who advise. Mike Lightfoot

Sorry if my post is doubled I'm on a cruise right now . Have you tried tightening/readjusting the nuts with the existing packing? May be all thats needed. We have had our 97 405 for apx 12 years and love ours. I replaced the packing on mine this past summer. I used regular teflon packing I did this with the boat in the water, with no issues have done anythingto them unntil then . Yes the access seems small but it was adequate for my tools and both arms. It could be bigger but you will have to cut in your own there is nothing but the 2 small accesses that are available. Also welcome aboard.

Welcome aboard Mike. Going dripless or not really is personal preference. They definitely have their benefits but they're not infallible. Sometimes you can get away with simply tightening the log if that hasn't been done much in the past. You can also add an additional packing layer, or remove all the old stuff and replace with 3 new layers of packing. This can be done in the water, you just need to have everything cut and ready to go.

Keep in mind that on the starboard side, the logs on some applications are reverse thread. If you can't budge the packing nut in either direction, try unlocking the jam nut first; move it way from the large packing nut. That means you are turning it toward the stern of the boat. In a reverse thread unit, the jam nut is moved away from the packing nut by turning it counter-clockwise, and the packing nut is removed from the log by turning it clockwise.

Welcome aboard!

Thank all 3 of you for the posts. Helpful info.

Thanks, gonna try packing myself with a buddy's help. Bought a Garmin bundle package from GPS store, radar and 13 in Garmen, plus Garmin Autopilot gees $7400. Plus a KVH Antenna and a Seaview Mast tower to hold them. Almost done with this.

Having a really great quality yard called Tiffany Yachts here in Va replacing the glued in carpet with new flooring. Could not get a flooring guy that does houses to do the boat. They are expensive but work will be done right

Question - I want the L shape couch out. I added am image below. Its new but wife hates it, uncomfortable. How do I get this out????

G36, I have a few more questions but to much typing. Would really appreciate if you could find time to call me 703-919-2723 (Mike)

Sure I'll give you a shout