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wrote:
Mike wrote:

Hey guys,
About 2 years ago I bought a 1977 25' Carver Santa Cruz for a great
price, very used, and in need of a little work. I'd been looking for a
boat for a long time, and in retrospect I should have asked a few more
questions, or, say, insisted on watching it run. But I was young,
excited, and thrilled I could afford it. When I got it back to the
warehouse where I'd arranged to store it, I realized it needed more
than just a little work...
In any case, what I thought would be an easy endeavor has turned
into a 2 year saga. Besides a thousand cosmetic details, I replaced a
solenoid and got the engine to turn over using a wrench to bypass the
ignition (don't worry, I only ran it for half a second and I even
bought a hose adapter for the raw water intake, though I can't seem to
get the thing to work right). Bottom line is, it doesn't run when I
turn the key, which probably suggests a bad ignition switch. I'm
trusting it's just that. Then, there's the sterndrive. The guy I
bought the boat from (in the only honest thing he did for me during the
transaction) told me the seal around the stern drive should be replaced
at some point. Now, I have stood on the boat while it was in the
water, so I know it floats...but considering he told me the boat ran,
which it didn't, I'm wary of his claim.
Having gotten to the point where I just want to get the boat in the
water and then continue my work there, I'm tempted to risk it and trust
the old sterndrive seal. I got an estimate from Philadelphia Boat
Supply for $800 ($200 for the parts, $600 for labor), and I can't
stress enough how hesitant I am to put down money like that if it's not
absolutely necessary, especially after all I've invested in it so far.
On the other hand, I don't want to watch my boat sink just because I
didn't make the improvements.
Does anyone have suggestions? If you're from Philadelphia or the
Delaware River area, I'd love to get in touch with you regardless,
because I'm in high school and undertaking this alone, and I'm having
trouble finding local contacts. The only reliable mechanics I can find
are at Phila Boat Supply, which as I said is a very expensive place.
I'm also looking for someone to haul the boat the half mile to the
river, through the city.

Thanks so much,
Mike

It sounds like you are at least several thousand dollars away from
having a workable boat.

If it were mine, I wouldn't put a cent into it at this point until I
did what I should have done at the beginning- get a knowledgeable
person to do a hands-on inspection of your specific boat. You may
discover that the repairs required to make it safe and reliable total
up to a number for which you could buy a much nicer and newer boat.

The previous owner told you the boat ran, and it doesn't. He told you
that "at some point" the outdrive boot should be replaced- so I would
venture a guess that it is probably *critical* and even the previous
owner schmuck was compelled by a defective conscience (or fear of
lawsuit) to offer some sort of warning.

It wouldn't be unusal for a 30-year old Carver to have rot in the
transom, deck, stringers, bulkheads, or maybe all of the above. (You've
got a lot of wood in one of those "fiberglass" boats).

You need to be wary of fuel tanks, corroded wiring, galvanic corrosion
on critical metal pieces, delaminating layup, and a host of systems
that will be worn out from three decades of use or have deteriorated
from a few years of sitting around without any.

If the engine or outdrive needs a rebuild, that portion of the job
alone will exceed any amount your 1977, 25-foot "project boat" could
ever be worth when finished.

There's a reason you got that boat at a "great price". Maybe a whole
lot of reasons.

Buying a boat can be a dangerous thing for a newby to do. You get
caught up in the excitement and can become a lamb to be led to slaughter
by someone trying to unload a clunker.
Like Chuck says...it's a little late, but you should pay someone to
properly survey it before you spend anymore hard earned cash.