Carver Owners Forum

Hello, newbie here. Read through as many threads as I could find on this model but have a few questions for owners or anyone who knows. Looking at one with 6.2 MX motors, closed cooling about 600 hours each. Kohler 7.3 GEN sat with about 700 hours Boat is out of the water now being bottom painted and buffed. Really dirty in the shop, but still looks to be in great shape. Things I have learned from friends and my own research indicates the biggest issue with boats of this age would be structural issues with stringer rot or soft deck. If I read one of the threads correctly, this vintage mariner has foam core stringers and aluminum supports under the deck. Does that lessen problems if this is correct. I am pretty proficient when it comes to mechanical things to check out, but not much on boat construction of this type. I have been able to confirm it’s always been a freshwater boat used on lakes, but never open water like the great lakes. Appreciate any knowledge on this model, problems or anything else to look out for. Thanks!

There is no wood below the waterline on that year mariner.......the main stringers are hollow and the engine bed stringers are glass encapsulated composite, not foam, according to Carver they used a few different suppliers of this board.....the same for the strut mount backings. You can tell the difference by the width, engine beds are narrow........good luck with your search.

As Bud says, no worry about stringers. The aluminum supports you mention are supporting the cabin and rear deck floors. The actual "decks" are encapsulated marine plywood. Odds are they are fine but be sure to have a good surveyor check them and everything else, before purchase.

Welcome aboard! And a third no worry about the stringers

Thanks to all, made an offer contingent on inspection/sea trial but has not responded, will call again tomorrow. Another Carver came up today, a 2002 356 aft cabin and looked at it, has possibilities if Mariner does not pan out. I assume it has similar construction, no wood in stringers? Have some other questions about it, I suppose I should start a new thread?

the 356 will also have no wood below the water line. Both great boats but very different in design and layout.