Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

[airdvr1227]

Looking at an '89 Carver. What are the chances there were never hour meters in a yacht like that?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Hour meters are optional on a ton of boats. I would check the helm and the engine bay for them, possibly even by the AC panel. If not, a compression test and oil analysis is pretty much as reliable as any reading off of a Hobbs.

 

[pckeen]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Pretty good - lots of boats of that era did not have hour meters.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Depending on the brand and type of engine there might be a chance the engine hours are stored in an electronic "module" if so equipped.

Regardless, I'm sure you'll be paying for a hull and mechanical surveys so that should include those items mentioned above and more which will tell more than simply hours.

Mark

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Even if there is an hour meter, you can't trust it for anything. Some meters were added after the fact and run with the key on (not engine). And that is assuming the meter hasn't been replaced at some point in the boats history, as they tend to not last very long before they just quit moving.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Even if there is an hour meter, you can't trust it for anything. Some meters were added after the fact and run with the key on (not engine). And that is assuming the meter hasn't been replaced at some point in the boats history, as they tend to not last very long before they just quit moving.

Ayuh,.... A Compression Test will tell ya more than an hour meter,.....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

To me, an hour meter is only good for a owner to schedule maintenance. I would never believe an hour meter in a boat I was purchasing.

 

[boatpoker]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

Looking at an '89 Carver. What are the chances there were never hour meters in a yacht like that?

Yacht .... ? A Fleming 75 is a yacht.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

I think hour meters give you a good overall picture of the amount of use a boat has had over the years. It is absolutely no indicator of condition, but it does help give you a ballpark for what condition things might be in. Now, whether or not the engine/drive are original is another question, but if a 20 yr old boat has 2,000 hours on it, you can bet that there might be some items to look at replacing if everything is original.

If you looked at my hour meter (it is accurate), it has about 770 hours on it. The boat is 37 yrs old, so it averages out around 20 hrs a year. However, the trim pump, transom, engine, etc are all new/rebuilt within the last two years. The hour meter now just gives a measure of time on the outdrive. Lots of things to consider when looking at a Hobbs.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

My thoughts. I know back in the late 80's hour meters were an option but this was a high-end boat then. It's the lack of them that is bothering me. If they were on there and said 1500 hours some wiseguy might think 'I'll take these off'.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Hour Meters '89 Carver 31

My thoughts. I know back in the late 80's hour meters were an option but this was a high-end boat then. It's the lack of them that is bothering me. If they were on there and said 1500 hours some wiseguy might think 'I'll take these off'.

Yeah, but a couple of gaping holes where they removed them would raise eyebrows more, no? Unless they were mounted on brackets . . .