Carolina Classic 25 with 7.4Gi and Water Ingestion

[Spring Fever]

I recently purchased a 1997 Carolina Classic 25. The boat was repowered in 1999 with a new 7.4Gi (fuel injected). The risers were changed last year and I believe it included the "retrofit" that supposedly fixed the ingestion problem. I was well aware of the water ingestion problem prior to purchasing this boat. The boat sea tested well and got a great rating from the surveyor.

Of course, it seems that this particular motor is subject to the water ingestion problem.

Are the problems caused by this issue inevitable with this engine? What should I look for in detecting such problems? A gradual decrease in RPMs? Engine simply not starting due to stuck valves? Complete engine failure offshore? Any Carolina Classic owners with 7.4Gi's who have not expeinced this problem? Is an 8.1L upgrade inevitable for me? Any estimates on cost for such an upgrade? Would I have to change the outdrive as well, or could I just do a bobtail?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mike Lamonds
Carolina Classic 25 - "Spring Fever"
70 West Marina
Morehead City, NC

[FishinWuf]

Mike;

Use the "find" and "advanced search" features on this site to read more about it. There have been several threads relating to the water ingestion problems, and specifically on Classics. You may also want to call the factory and speak to Mac Privott. I have heard many guys say he is very accessable.

As far as the 8.1, whenever it's time, that is the only way to go on the 25 from what I am hearing. More spead, better economy, more power - just all around better. I am pretty sure you could do a bobtail w/out changing the drive. Mac can offer you insite there as well.

Best of luck with her!

[Spring Fever]

I think I have read about every message regarding the CC25 and the water ingestion problem. I guess I was hoping that there would be a few owners that had not experienced those problems.

You've got a nice boat. I used to have a '91 24 Albemarle I kept at 70 West until 1999. It was a fantastic boat.

[B-Faithful]

I believe that BoatUS magazine did an article on this about a year ago. You may want to do a search of their site. I think they stated the problem was only with raw water cooled engines. I do not know why or at least the problem was less wide spread but a closed cooled engine may solve any potential problems too..

[Spring Fever]

My 7.4Gi is raw water cooled.

[donald/tri-again]

make sure you have the anti reversion kit installed in the exhuast line and you will be fine call mac privot for exact cost ...cheap insurance against cam overlap pulling water into cylinders

donald / tri-again

[teshbach]

Call Mack at Carolina Classic 252-482-3699. He is real good to deal with. If in Morehead stop by and see Terry at 70 West Marina. He is also real good to deal with. I have a 98 model and have dealt with both and have found them to be very accomodating and honest.

[Pianotunna]

My 7.4 was replaced with the 8.1 and Mac's new exhaust system. The 8.1 bolts right up to the original engine mounts with no problem. No need to change the drive either but I am using new props. Originally Mac recommened B-7's which I have now but more recently he suggest using B-6's.

The new exhaust system involves a different down angle coming off the riser but now I'm hearing about some sort of "anti-reversion kit" installed in the exhaust tubing? I actually asked Mac about this two month's ago and he said that Volvo has some kind of add-on but he never saw it nor is he installing anything other than the new exhaust design?

[Classic25]

The problem is at idle. There is a kit to fix the problem. If you go for the 8.1, the earlier 7.4's had a different outdrive ratio that could make the 8.1 "too much" for the drive. The marine engine business accounts for less than 2% of GM's engine business. They fixed the problem by starting the 8.1 model. Good luck with the boat. Did you buy through Joe Green?

[Spring Fever]

I did buy from Joe Green. He and the entire staff have been wonderful. Terry told me about the potential problem right up front. So, I had to weight the pros and cons of purchasing the boat. I decided to proceed with the knowledge that I might have to change out the motor. Hopefully, I'll be keeping this boat for a while - so I would have probably changed out the motor anyway - eventually.

If I could only back into the slip without bending my outriggers! Spreaders get caught on the pilings at low tide.

[dry doc]

in my 5.7 gm, there are "flappers" in the ex-
haust line...when one of them broke, i dieseled
at idle and couldnt restart...cylinders on port
side all filled with water....are there flappers
on the 7.4???...are they intact???...you cant
see or feel them from the outside...also, can
you augment the flappers within the exhaust line
with some flapper system on the outside, much
as the water cooled inboards use...unprotected,
the engine can, at idle, such water back into
the block...is the 7.4 problem one of absent or
broken flappers or simply an inadequate design?

dan

[donald/tri-again]

last fall mac siad they were installing an antireversion kit in the exhaust and it was actually a mercruiser part....maybe it was just his boatshow speal but you can usually rely on what he tells you

donald / tri-again

[rcs1039]

Mlamonds,
Do you keep your boat at Topsail?

[Pianotunna]

Before the new exhaust design, Mac was using these coffee pot looking things called "Resonators" (spelling?) in the tubing off the risers. These resonators were disigned by Mercruiser. In the original exhaust, the resonators did not work on the 7.4.

[Spring Fever]

I keep the boat at 70 West Marina in Morehead City, NC.

I just got back from the coast this evening. Took the boat out yesterday for a full 12 hours on the water. First time out. Engine purred like a kitten all day long. Autopilot worked flawlessly. Eight Spanish, a 30lb cuda at 13 buoy, and a great picnic with with wife and son at the hook later that afternoon.

[gottaway]

Mlamonds,
I have a 26' Albe with the same motor, before I bought the boat I had the volvo recalll installed. Have not had a problem in 360 hours.
I have the same problem at low tide with the outriggers, real PITA. It helps if you have a lookout on the transom.

[Spring Fever]

Gottaway,

I'm glad to hear that someone has had success with the retrofit. Beautiful boat by the way. Here's my Classic 25 at "The Hook" near Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Picture taken last Sunday

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...8/P1010066.jpg

[gottaway]

Spring fever,
Nice boat! Its amazing how similiar the two models look. Good luck