Buying a 4207 motor yacht 1986 I need advice

[km1125]

Source of the post
.... The teak is timeless so no need to touch that. ....

There must be part of the human genome that controls the opinion on that. I thought the teak trim (both inside and out) on my 3607 (and my Trojan before that) was one of the best features. Love the look of that wood and would take it over many other nice wood trims.

However, I know a BUNCH of folks who -pretty much- detest any darker wood look. Even the 'golden brown' of lightened teak. I just don't understand that at all, much like someone speaking Klingon. I had a friend with similarly-trimmed 3007 and he painted all the interior teak WHITE. A almost barfed the first time I saw that!! I know several women that don't like any darker woods, like Cherry or Mahogany or really any kind of wood that has a visible grain structure.

[Viper]

Source of the post

Source of the post
.... The teak is timeless so no need to touch that. ....

...he painted all the interior teak WHITE.....

Sacrilege

[Kenblacks]

I was boating with bigger boats since 96 on Lake Texoma the flush deck Chris-Craft and carvers that ran around that lake that time made me drool
At that time I could not afford them
Even though there have some age to them they still make me drool I love that style of boat and you cannot beat the space inside
The engine compartment has enough space to go down there do a tuneup and have lunch while you’re there
I’m really sad my wife is not on board with this is the boat is a scale of nine out of 10 it’s that nice
I still think I’m making the right decision to keep peace at home and keep the wife happy

Thanks guys for all your advice and information

By the way the boats at grandpappy marina listed at 110,000 and I really believe it’s worth every dime relatively new generator still shiny paint looks new
Most of the systems have been replaced including one engine according to the nearby Marina who used to work on it

[bsan42]

Regarding balsa core - the Carver brochure on my 1988 3807 says the bottom is solid fiberglass, the hull sides above the waterline are balsa cored for additional stiffness. Balsa core is not a cost-cutting measure - quick look thru Powerboat Guide shows Defever, Gulfstar, Hatteras, Lazzara , Ocean Alexander, and Viking all have some models - many of them well over 40 feet - with balsa core hull sides. It's one of a yacht designer's many tradeoffs - more stiffness (less flexing in a seaway with potential for fatigue-caused structural damage) and lighter weight for better performance vs. somewhat less impact resistance.

[km1125]

Source of the post Regarding balsa core - the Carver brochure on my 1988 3807 says the bottom is solid fiberglass, the hull sides above the waterline are balsa cored for additional stiffness. Balsa core is not a cost-cutting measure - quick look thru Powerboat Guide shows Defever, Gulfstar, Hatteras, Lazzara , Ocean Alexander, and Viking all have some models - many of them well over 40 feet - with balsa core hull sides. It's one of a yacht designer's many tradeoffs - more stiffness (less flexing in a seaway with potential for fatigue-caused structural damage) and lighter weight for better performance vs. somewhat less impact resistance.

I read a similar thing at one point for my 3607, but over the years of drilling holes thought the hull (for overboard discharges) and removing things like portlights, I never found any balsa coring in the hull below the rubrail (except for the swim platform, but on that boat it's an add-on, not part of the hull).

[Cooler]

Well, call me Billy and slap me silly. Learned a startling lesson. Just talked with a colleague of mine that worked at Carver from 1985 to 2015. The 86 4207 did have balsa coring in the hull sides, starting about 6" above the waterline. ( I stand corrected ) This hull production actually started in 85 for that model and featured a reverse chine for additional cruising stability. The balsa core was thin, he thought 1/2", maybe 3/4" at the most. Carver used this technique on boats over 36' as the freeboard was substantial, and chances of water intrusion was minimal. 36' and under used a matting in the core, that could not absorb water. Now, just for fun fact, at that time Carver was putting out 32 hulls a week. Employed between 1000 & 1200 people. My how things change!!! ER

[km1125]

Source of the post Well, call me Billy and slap me silly. Learned a startling lesson. Just talked with a colleague of mine that worked at Carver from 1985 to 2015. The 86 4207 did have balsa coring in the hull sides, starting about 6" above the waterline. ( I stand corrected ) This hull production actually started in 85 for that model and featured a reverse chine for additional cruising stability. The balsa core was thin, he thought 1/2", maybe 3/4" at the most. Carver used this technique on boats over 36' as the freeboard was substantial, and chances of water intrusion was minimal. 36' and under used a matting in the core, that could not absorb water.

Good info!! Makes sense with what bsan42 wrote too!

Source of the postNow, just for fun fact, at that time Carver was putting out 32 hulls a week. Employed between 1000 & 1200 people. My how things change!!! ER

Wow. Just wow! I would have never guessed they cranked out that many a week! Single factory, right?

[Cooler]

Yup. Single factory in Pulaski WI. When Mike shared that with me, I just couldn't get my mind around that. But, when you consider most of those hulls were 20 to 30 feet, then it makes a little more sense. Carver did set up an additional facility somewhere at one point, but then boat sales started to slide. er

[bud37]

There pretty much has to be coring of some type or another in these boats, no surprises there.......they have to stiffen the hulls somehow. If it were solid glass it would weigh waaaay too much to have an efficient boat. Coring of some kind is a fact of life with boats and no problem so long as it is considered and proper procedures are followed when there are fittings added and hull penetrations, like was mentioned above.