Carver Owners Forum

Hi. I am considering buying a 1984 3207 Aft Cabin and have some concerns regarding the Hull.
Does anyone know whether the hull (below the water line) was still solid glass core or was Carver already using balsa core in 1984?
The engines have low hours and the starboard engine is re-manufactured, are there any known issues with these engines that I need to look out for?
Engines: Twin Crusader
Engines HP: 270
Engines Model: 5.7

Any help with what I need to look out for would be appreciated.

As far as I know, Carver never did use balsa core below the waterline. They were one of the few who did not buy into the more balsa means lighter/faster vessel. One reason why you see more 80's genre than many other manufacturers. I believe their minimum hull thickness standard was 2", and the hulls were all hand laid. The Crusader engines are best in class, maintaining simplicity to work on, and using all high quality marine components. The guy that started Crusader was an aviation engineer, and used many of the same performance products/specs that were used in aviation. I have 5.7's rated at 260HP at 4400 RPM. The mechanic that did my engine survey was amazed at the condition of the engines as he went through the various tests. Having said all that, a boat is only as good as the owners care/maintenance. Look for evidence of fiberglass stress like you would on any other boat, and quiz the owner on how they used it. If they ran it in the 3000 to 3400 RPM the majority of the time, those engines will run a long time. If you are looking for a 30MPH boat, not going to happen. Always suggest a survey on any boat. Also, find out if it was ever used in salt water. Good luck. Give updates! er

Here is a link to a user's manual for that model. Not sure if it will work in this reply box.

https://carveryachts.blob.core.windows. ... -cabin.pdf

What is the drive set up? Inboard - V drives - or I/O's? er

Welcome to the forum......no matter what you will have to get a surveyor to check things out. Below the waterline issues to check would be the strut supports and area, rudder support area, also he will have to check the stringers and engine support areas, but this is something any good accredited surveyor will do.

Above the waterline are all the usual culprits on any manufacturers boat of that vintage, the aft deck, foredeck, pulpit,bridge deck and side decks.

Engines are basically GM small blocks, one standard and one reverse rotation. Get someone to have a look at them, distributors and ignition wise and do a proper compression test......Good luck man.....

To best of my knowledge all Carver Models ending in 07 were solid core below the water line. It's a wonderful boat I have a 86 which is virtually identical

If you really like the boat then a survey is definitely in your future along with a nice sea trial. I have the smaller sister to what you are looking at a 3007 aft cabin. I've seen a couple of 3207's. Lots more room than I have. Hope it works out for you.

Cooler wrote:Source of the post I believe their minimum hull thickness standard was 2", and the hulls were all hand laid.

Not sure if that was a typo, but they weren't 2"... maybe 1/2"?

The engines are great, but get them checked out as others have said. Find out if the distributors are still points - they can be easily upgraded to electronic ones.

The engines probably still have carbs, which can still be rebuilt if necessary. Probably also have divorced chokes which sometimes cause problems but are easily remedied.

Nope, not a typo. Got that directly from Carver relative to my hull. The rep pulled the construction log for my Mariner and reported all measured depths were recorded as slightly exceeding the minimum thickness standard of 2", below waterline. er

I'd have a very hard time believing a 2" thick hull would not be cored, on boats in this size range.

I have an 83 3607 (one year earlier and one size larger than the OP). I'd have a tough time believing that the hulls are significantly differing in construction, other than the length and beam. There is nowhere on my hull that's 2" thick (other than stringers and bulkheads) and no coring below the waterline.

Thanks for all the replies.
I found out the boat was in Saltwater for about 2 years the rest of the time she was in Lake Erie that is where I will keep her.
The drives are inboards and the bottom just had blisters repaired, Interprotect 3000 and fresh bottom paint. I am going to look at this weekend.