444 or 396 owners sound off

[Hap-E-Cruzer]

Hey guys and gals,
We are looking to buy a 444 Carver and was wondering how you run your boats. Slow, fast, inbetween etc. This one has Volvo 370's and I would like to know how the boat handles at 8-9 knots, and also a cruise. What is the fuel burn at these speeds. Is there a sweet spot below normal cruise speed that results in better mileage? Just need some input from actual boaters, not salesmen. We were originally looking at the 420 SeaRay but have switched our efforts to the 444 due to the cockpit, ease of boarding and overall layout. Just not a big fan of the Volvos, but I guess I could get over that. Any comments welcome.
Thanks

 

[370 Motoryacht]

I don't have a lot of experience on the 444 but I do on the 396 with 370 Cummins. The Volvo is a great engine and I would place it right there next to Cummins any day.

The 396 I used to run would do 25 mph all day long at cruise fully loaded up and handled nicely with the 370s. I never ran it at hull speed but I would just expect a little more roll in a beam sea than at cruise similar to any other bridge boat. The 444 is a better boat in my opinion for boarding, especially since you can enter through the master stateroom on the dock level.

 

[bradt]

444 has tons of room and the cockpit was a key for us. We cruise at 18-20 knots not sure of the burn rate, never really calculated it, you run at what you feel comfortable at and the conditions and your fill the tanks when they get low. We have Cummins and from everything we read and experienced, and if taken care of including heat excahnger and aftercooler regulatr maintenancem they are basically bullet proof. 444 is very easy to handle, never had an issue even in windy conditions and that is without thrusters.

 

[David M]

Pretty boat. When a Volvo breaks, it breaks expensive.