Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

[Greg68S]

Hey everyone. Are there any Carver fans out there? I'm looking at 1993 Carver 280 express. It has a single 5.7L Merc powering it. It's a very clean and well Maintained boat. All of you here at iboats have steered me straight and narrow while I have been learning more and more so any opinions that any of you may have are taken very seriously. Thanks so much everyone.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Personally, I wouldn't even bother looking at a 28 foot cruiser with a single small block. IMHO that size boat should have a single big block (7.4l) or twin V6's (4.3l) as a minimum.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Agreed. I wouldn't own a 28' cruiser without twins, probably 4.3L's or 5.0L's at that boat length. The 26'-class is about where I leave the single BBC at because they generally don't have a wide enough beam to accommodate twin engines.

 

[Tagerman]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

I loooooove Carver's but that is going to be one slow boat. My 21ft Montego has a single 5.7l and sometimes I long for something bigger and more powerful in the back. Carver's are great boats but I would say that boat is not going to be much to drive with that motor set up...I too would walk away.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

I agree with all the comments. That boat is going to be a slowwwww boat. A buddy has a 92 528 with a single 7.4L which is the same boat and it is a pig to maneuver around docks, especially if a breeze is blowing. Something that size should definitely have twins.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Why is everyone saying this is going to be a slow boat? Get on it and see for yourself. A 28' Rinker with a single BB runs 51 MPH (my brother's boat). The same boat is also available with a single SB. It will run 44 MPH. That's not slow at all. Depends on the HP of the engine, the prop, the tuning, the loading, etc. Checkthe boat out and see how it handles.

BTW, I love my Carver.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

BTW, I love my Carver.

I'm sure you love your Carver, and they are a great boat, but they definitely messed up in the early 90's. There is no way a 280, which is actually close to 30' long, weighing in at 8000+ lbs dry, is going to perform well with a single 260hp 5.7. I've been in the same boat with a 7.4 and it's performance was marginal.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Fireman, our club has a 28' Rinker with a big block. I was surprised to see a single, but recall you mentioning your brothers performance with his. I since have never seen another single engine one, whether in person or for sale. A single 350 in one is a mid 40 mph boat? That's incredible performance, as I don't know of twin engine 28 footers hitting those speeds. Even the twin 350 powered Wellcraft Monte Carlo at our place is around 40 mph. My old twin 350 powered 29'er was a high 30 mph boat.

I guess it stands to reason, if you like the boat take her for a run with at least 3-4 people and 3/4 fuel and see how it runs. On paper it sounds underpowered but in the real world, maybe not?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

a friend of mine has a Carver Montego 2557 with a single Volvo-Penta AQ271C / 290DP combo. the boat tops out at 33mph on the GPS

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

@Fireman, I don't think anyone is knocking Carver. They are great boats. I don't see a 28' cruiser running 51mph unless that big block is turning 400HP+. If we're just talking about a 28' runabout/performance boat, then sure 51mph isn't out of the question. Hell my 20' runabout with a single SBF will not do 51mph without some prop changes and weight reduction. There's no way a single SBC is pushing a boat weighing twice what mine does is going to hit the same top speed.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

I'm not sure of the HP of my brothers Rinker, but it is the high HP, high pressure fuel injected 8.1L VP with the duo-prop outdrive. All that combined (I'm sure) is what put it into those speeds. I didn't believe him until I drove it myself and saw the GPS. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of factors involved (prop, tuning, loading, etc), but I would have to assume 32-34 MPH would be top speed for the Carver mentioned and about 27 cruising. Who knows? Maybe that's fast enough...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

I would agree on your estimate of speed, but my concern on the OP's boat in question is performance with a load. Getting that boat on plane may be quite a chore with 6 or 7 people plus fuel/gear on board. I'd want twins, but if twins are out of the question a BBC w/Bravo III or DuoProp for sure.

 

[Tagerman]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Being an owner of a 90's carver montego that is 21ft with the 5.7l 260hp v8 I can say that sometimes my boat feels underpowered and lumbers around. Considering the boat in question is the same era and power as mine I can promise you that it is going to maneuver like and 18 wheeler.

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

Haha. Hey hold on there Tagerman. I drive an 18 wheeler for a living and I can efficiently squeeze power and proficiency out of her under powered rear end. Lol. But seriously. I was on her yesterday poking around. She has a 5.7L Volvo with a DuoProp. The owner says that at 6000lbs dry wieght she moved very well. He has had no complaints. With that drive and it hp rating, if I ever needed a repower a BB would be an option. With our Thompson I can hit 39mph with 5 people fuel and gear. We cruise happily on plane at 28-32. She's 25' and weighs about 6200lb loaded up. A single 5.7 merc and alpha one with a 17 pitch SS prop. The owner of this carver said he dies that and a little better. He said as soon as we agree on the price after the survey, we can take it out and I myself will run her start to finish. He states I will be very impressed with the performance for her size.

 

[Greg68S]

Re: Thoughts on Carver. Wanting to buy a '93 express

On a side note I've been on a Donzi 275 LXC with the B3 and a BB. It did 50mph with 4 people and 2 kids loaded.
I've also been on fourwinns 27' fiesta vee with a B3 and 350mag. That did 45mph with 4 adults and the owners gear. This Carver wieghts considerably less than the Donzi and I know it lighter than the Fourwinns. So respectable numbers are not far fetched. IMHO. But I say this respectively as I am still s toddler in the marine world.