88 Carver 2767 Santego

[Ryan50]

Ok iboats, I am probably about to make a foolish decision. Although I have been planning to step up to a cruiser in a few years, I have stumbled upon a project that I am seriously considering now. 88 Carver Santego. Good looking boat. Cabin is like new, exterior very clean but needs some wet sanding/polishing/compounding to make her shine again. Problem-neither engine runs (4.3s). Condition of engines and outdrives unknown at this time, I am meeting owner at marina tomorrow for detailed inspection. Why am I tempted by a 26 yr old boat? It is very cheap. I can repower myself for cost of parts. I figure to have about 8 to 10 grand (worse case unless boat is rotten) into it total if I have to replace both engines and drives (among other things). I don't think I can buy this much boat for that amount elsewhere. Here is the link, please let me know your thoughts. I have looked her over in person, but have not boarded her and opened it up.

1988 Carver Santego 2767

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

make sure they check for moisture.

it is a 26 year old boat, I know many of the guys that work(ed) at Carver. while they are generally good boats, they do suffer from some of the same issues that other boats have. namely if there was a lot of water in the bilge, the stringers may have soaked up some of it.

 

[Ryan50]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

That is exactly what concerns me. There is currently a few inches if water in the bilge.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Couple of red flags here. Seller professes to not know what's wrong with the motors but wants to make sure everyone knows it's as-is. There most likely is no trailer so how will you transport this rig to where you would work on her. In boats you get what you pay for.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

...and how'd he come up with $2,800?

I'd say "pass" unless you buy it for removal of engines, drives, etc. and either sell those parts to make some $$ or keep the parts for future use.

Mark

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

I'm always leery of CL adds that have Keywords at the bottom, especially ones not related to the product. In this case he has inboards and outdrives there and well.....

Carver Cabin Cruiser Yacht Flybridge Inboard Outdrives





and this just doesn't sound right to me most boaters would say 'last bottom jobs, needs bottom paint' or something.

The hull does need a scraping/cleaning




He may be trying to move a sinking boat. Or he could just be a dude wanting out. He could be selling a boat he does not own. Who knows.

Go check it out, make sure you get title and all fun stuff. I would also contact tthe marina - if his boat, not behind on slip rent, etc they will know and may be able to give you some insight to the boat.

Sunset Cay Investment Company
P.O. Box 35
Folly Beach, SC 29439
(843) 442-2459
ulf@sunsetcaymarina.com

Home Page





Good luck, report back.

 

[JoLin]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Unfortunately, a 'detailed inspection' where it's sitting now is nothing of the kind. You already know that the engines and drives might be toast, so looking it over at the dock won't tell you much more than that. The hull needs scraping, which means it's been sitting in the water unused for awhile. Why? The boat is at a marina, yet he never asked them to diagnose the non-starting issue?

I just closed on an almost pristine 1992 Carver 26 Command Bridge for $14K, right here in the land where everything is ridiculously expensive. It needs a few minor things, but I'll be driving it 80 miles Saturday from where it is to my home dock and I don't anticipate any issues.

If that boat is close by to you, I'd look at it just to see if this is the boat and layout I want to buy, then go shopping for a good one.

My .02

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Just a gut feeling but I BET if you dropped in a couple new batts she'd fire up.... No guarantees tho.... I'd strongly consider it if it were local BUT I can fix just about anything myself.... If you had to pay someone else to fix it the cost goes WAY up.

I'd pull a couple engine mount bolts from the stringers to look for soft wet wood first thing.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

I was thinking batteries as well. If that is the case the current owner has zero clue about motors.

 

[Ryan50]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

I know it was on market in the fall of last year for 6000-also advertised as not being able to start. I did go and look at it yesterday, opened the bilge and it all looked very clean, out drive reservoirs were full. I am concerned about rot more than anything, would love to know how to best test the transom while it is in the water. Would tapping from the inside tell anything being that it is in the water?

 

[Ryan50]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

It is very local for me. I am meeting the owner at 11:30 this morning to look her over pretty good. Hopefully I can return after work today and actually spend some time in the bilge. I can't do that in office clothes this morning. I am mostly looking forward to asking him a lot of questions. The boat is in fantastic shape except for the marine growth on the hull and needing some elbow grease to brighten her back up. I could see no evidence of it ever even rubbing a dock, inside the cabin looks like new. Flybridge upholstery looks great as well. I will update you guys after I meet with the owner today.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

get a marine survey. the surveyor will be able to get you a moisture reading of various stringers, etc.

 

[agallant80]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

I would bring a portable jump box and a volt meter with me. If the guy has nothing to hide then he should not have an issue with you spending 10 min trying to get the thing to start. With that said make sure you don't end up paying someone $2,800 to haul away their junk.

 

[Ryan50]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

If I don't see any major red flags as I look it over this morning, I'll try and set it up to spend some time with it after work. My boat is stored just a few miles away from the marina so I can swing buy and snag a good battery. I'm willing to bet that no winterization was done. She was in the slip over winter and we had 2 separate occasions of several days in a row with lows in the low 20's and highs only in upper 30's. What are the chances of freeze damage? Also, how does one flush the engines in salt water after use if the boat stays in the water?

 

[JoLin]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

I was thinking batteries as well. If that is the case the current owner has zero clue about motors.

It was my first thought,too. The 'chattering' is usually a good indication. Seems strange to me, tho- even people who don't have a clue usually jump to the conclusion that 'it must be the battery' when it happens to their cars. If that's really the issue, then I agree that the owner is truly clueless.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

BTW.... Before you get too deep here... You do know that you will be looking at between 1 and 2 mpg don't you?

 

[Ryan50]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Well guys the owner truly is clueless. He claims to have owned her for 4 years, purchased from Lake Norman in NC. He apparently did not bottom paint prior to slipping her in the salt water here. I doubt any anodes were installed either. AC works great, windlass, electric range, and fridge all work great. Starboard shift cable very stiff, port was smooth. Batteries are fully charged, but nothing happens when turning the keys (no noise, nothing). Switches and solenoids are probably shot. He said she was used last season twice and after sitting for about 8 weeks it would not start. Seems strange to me that both engines would do this at same time. Also, what damage is done to the outdrives from sitting in salt water for 4 years?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Anywhere from almost nothing to complete junk depending on anodes and possible electrical probs

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Unless you load tested the batts with shore power unhooked or at least breakers off you have no way to know the batts are good

 

[agallant80]

Re: 88 Carver 2767 Santego

Salt water for 4 years with no annods, no bottom paint, water in the bilge, owner gave up and let her sit after she would not start? You can bet that nothing has been done to this boat for the past 4 years. As for both engines giving out at the same time I would be thinking bad ground or something like that. I would offer him $1,000 knowing that I may end up having to dispose of it. I bet he is sick of paying slip fees and running out there to meet people.