Just bought a Carver have a couple issues/questions

[Vincent3450]

Hello Carver owners! I just bought a 1988 Carver Santego (this the first boat I have owned). It has low hours - been used only in fresh water so far. 1 owner. Seems in good overall condition. I am very excited about it. I do have a couple of issues so far that I have not been able to find help for. One is the interior water pump. I filled the tank but no water is coming out of faucet. I can't see to find an on/off switch. The fuse in the panel seems ok. Might be that the pump has gone bad. The boat had been not in use for about a year I think. The other is the fuel guage is not working (can't even see the needle). I have not been able to get a mechanic to check it out yet (they are too busy to return phone calls - guess they are making too much $ and/or these are not big enough issues for them). If anyone has any advise please let me know. Or if know of any good mechanic - I am in Ocean County, New Jersey. Thanks a lot.

[tomschauer]

My 88 Montego had an freshwater pump on/off switch at the main fuse panel. I would think you would have the same.
The fuel gauge only works with the ignition on. If you cant see the needle, maybe it fell off, look very close at the bottom of the gauge face.

[buster53]

Ok, you need to open every hatch you can find to find the fresh water pump and remember that Carver is very inventive in placing hatches in out of the way places you wouldn't normally look for.
On my 3807, there was a very small hatch underneath the stairs going from the salon down to the galley and the pump was located there.
As far as your fuel gauge, I assume you have 2 tanks and one gauge. Turn your ignition switch to the on position and next to your gauge you should have a small switch. Flip the switch left and the gauge will show how much fuel is in the port tank. Flip it to the right and it will show how much fuel is in the starboard tank.

Can we assume you did not get a survey before buying?

[Vincent3450]

Thanks to both of you! I did not see a switch for the water pump on the panel (unless it was mislabeled - prior owner wrote things on it) I will check again. I just bought a pack of all new fuses (and voltage checker). I also just found owner's manual online and read about the switch for fuel gauge for 2 tanks and will check. I did take the boat out for a short ride so ignition on and no gauge movement (boat ran very well but didn't want to chance it all the way to fueling station without know fuel level). I found the hatch where the water pump is located. No didn't get a survey. Thankfully didn't pay a lot. But I guess you have to pay one way or the other. Not particularly mechanically inclined either - so may be baptism by fire, but I am optimistic about boat. Thanks again.

[buster53]

Just an FYI, I'm on my 5th large boat as well as a couple of runabouts, so I've been around the block a few times and somewhat know my way around boats. On my current boat, my surveyor found enough issues that I was able to renegotiate about $1000 in repairs and anther $1500 off the selling price. Well worth the cost of the surveyor.

[Vincent3450]

Thanks for the wise advice!

[ColRon]

Vincent3450, which Model of Santego did you purchase? I currently own an 89 Santego 3867 and my previous boat was an 88 Santego 3067. There also was a 3467. Oh and BTW welcome aboard, Happy to see another Santego owner here!

[tomschauer]

Don't forget the 2767

[Vincent3450]

It is the 2767! I am looking forward to it, seems like a nice boat.

Thanks for the welcome to the forum.

[Viper]

Welcome aboard

Is the pump actually running/making noise or is it just silent? I'm assuming since you went looking at the panel the pump isn't running at all. Just so we're all talking the same language, I assume you have a breaker panel and not fuses? Breakers should be what you have on that model/vintage. Have you found your battery selector switch? In any case, turn all the breakers on and check for voltage at the pump with your new tester. If there is voltage present, the you either have a seized pump or bad pressure switch on the pump.

No reading at the fuel gauge can be as simple as flicking a switch as mention above or a hardware issue such as the gauge, sender, wiring, etc. Start with looking for the tank selector switch at the helm as mentioned and let us know if that changed anything. If a needle has indeed come off, you'll need to replace the gauge.

Keep us posted.