1991 4207 aft. Cabin

What engines? Gas or diesel? Carver built some of these boats with gassers and they re less than ideal.

Your surveyor should know what look for but overall these old carvers were built on the light side so possible issues include delamination and tabbing as well as rot in any wooden structural parts made of wood covered with glass like stingers and transom.

Alloy fuel tanks are thin and poorly installed.
Inquire if they have been replaced yet.

Cummins are good. Replacing fuel tanks can be very expensive as depending on location the engines may have to come out

Carver tanks are usually out board of the engines.
Ponder this when making your final offer; How to replace those tanks.

The original tanks will fail. It a historical Carver thing.
Amazing the originals are still in use.

330HP/5.9s are a good engine. Have them surveyed well including oil lab work.
Hopefully, no recent oil changes.
Any service history on the inter-coolers would be of interest.

Your gen-set depends the special of the week when this boat was built.
Have it surveyed well also. Hopefully a small Kohler.

Saloon windows were leakers also.

Is there a web ad for this boat?
Please share if you can.
Some of the YF members may know the boat.

It’s not just the tanks or the thickness of the aluminum but also the installation. Moisture gets trapped under the tanks and the aluminum corroded. They will last a fairly long time, at least 10 or 15 years so nobody can’t say they built a boat with bad tanks.

it’s not just a carver problem but a problem on pretty much any boat with alum tanks. Some builders did a better job than others installing tanks.

Chicken ship..

I was hoping you would get a laugh.
I have been told, that not all get my humor.

There are many Detroit owners here on YF.
If we were rich and famous, we might choose a different engine package,,,, but not all of us.

Don't be scared of a Detroit 71.

While shopping for a boat, survey the boat and engine well.
Higher a surveyor familiar with that boat AND a tech or shop familiar with the main engines.

Also;
Shop around for a yard that can work on your boat.
DIY may not be allowed in some yards.

Shop around for a tech that can service your engines and gen-set.
This engine tech has to come to you, Is that guy qualified to work on THAT equipment?
There are a few rip-off techs out there also. Ask around who is good on that equipment your shopping for.

There is not a MAN shop in Jax still. A couple of kids walking around that say they can work on them (HA).
There is a GREAT Volvo Penta shop in Jax.
There is a GREAT Cat shop in Jax.
This could be entirely different in your hood.

Finally, Insurance. Shop now and get tight with an agent.
A big surprise that hits new owners quickly, Insurance policies are bad dreams waiting to happen.

Keep us up on what you find. YF members are everywhere.
It has happened before, a member will know of a boat that another member is familiar with.

Detroits aren’t a deal killer. They may smoke a bit a mom a cold start and leak here and there but they re very reliable. That said, once they are done and need a full rebuilt I find it hard not to consider a repower.