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Looking at a 1986 4207

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by bobhorn, Feb 17, 2023.

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  1. bobhorn, Feb 17, 2023
    #1
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    Looking at the subject boat and have some questions. Are there any problem areas to look at? The boat has Mercruiser 350gas engines, one of which has supposedly been rebuilt to the tune of $12,000. Is that a reasonable number? Waiting to get some documentation on that rebuild. The other engine does not run.

    Had a previous twin engine aft cabin diesel boat with access to the engines through some access panels in the salon floor. This boat has engine room access only through the lift up steps down to the galley. Is that original or where there access panels in the salon which have been covered? I looked at the ceiling in the engine room and there does not appear to be any sign of such panels.

    Never owned a gas boat before, any things that need particular attention? Any interesting facts about this model I should be aware of?

    Thanks,

    Bob
  2. Capt Ralph, Feb 17, 2023
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Rebuilt SBC??
    Maybe with the yard tab and new manifolds, I can see $12k getting wasted quickly.
    The engine goes thru the floor in pieces. Shortblock out a window or back door.
    There will no redeeming value in a gas Carver.
    So, how much you getting paid to take a 37 year old gas bomb away?
  3. Pascal, Feb 17, 2023
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    A boat that size need diesels unless it was a dock queen. These gassers are going to be seriously struggling to move this thing.

    and they weee not the best built boats… alum fuel tanks often poorly installed, plywood stringers prone to rotting etc etc
  4. Capt Ralph, Feb 17, 2023
    #4
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Wait,
    Merc 350 HP or Merc 350 CID?
    350 HP LBCs will move the boat but pouring the gas down.
    350 CID SBCs will move the boat then roll over and die.
    Either way, still an ole gas bomb.

    Do some searches here on YF; Alloy fuel tanks are a steady concern.
  5. bobhorn, Feb 17, 2023
    #5
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    New to gas boats, what is LBC and SBC?

    Boat is super clean, cleanest engine room I have ever seen and the price is right. Trading for an offshore capable sailboat which we are too old to really use. Hang out on the boat, maybe some short trips along the Gulf coast ICW.
  6. Capt Ralph, Feb 17, 2023
    #6
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Large Block Chevy
    Small Block Chevy
    98% of all marinized gas engines till lately.
  7. bobhorn, Feb 19, 2023
    #7
    bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    Thanks, never would have come up with that. Fixed, rebuilt and tweaked engines in my younger days, but always air cooled, never worked on Detroit iron. Maybe 82 it too late to learn new tricks.
    Actually overlooked one item, the engines are blue. Someone on another forum suggested that means they are Crusaders, I guess that makes them LBCs?
  8. Capt Ralph, Feb 19, 2023
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Crusader (Thermo Electron), Chris-Craft, Volvo-Penta, Mercrusier, Marine-Power, OMC and many others use the Chevy small and large blocks.
    Some times, some of them even used Ford blocks, came to their senses and went back to Chevy.
    The only factory blue in color was Crusader and Chrysler Marine. Of course Chrysler used their own blocks (good stuff also).

    I used to paint my gas blocks builds white with red and blue ancillaries.
    I have witnessed many a red-neck paint color changes in blue to black. So color used to mean something, not much in red-neck marine assemblies.
    A few pictures of the exhaust manifolds, heat exchanger and raw water pump will help define the original marineizer.

    But, it's still an old gas Carver.