Carver Quality Comparison

L

LuBell

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2008
RO Number
30482
Messages
65
First of all, thanks to everybody for being such an informative community. Currently I'm running a real nice 1985 23 foot Formula Cruiser but need more room. I've been looking to buy a 1986 Carver Mariner 32 (mostly because I read in this forum that '86 was the Mariner's best year), and have heard varying opinions about Carver quality. Can I get an objective opinion about what are the more and less appealing aspects of used Carvers in relationship to others like Sea Ray?
 
I can't speak to Sea Ray, except I personally they're fine boats, if a bit overpriced. I have a 1980 3396 Mariner. The fact that it surveyed with only minor issues after 28 years has to say something about the quality! The only issues I've had were more engine-related. Although the boat is 28 years old, the engines only had 450 hours. Sounds good, except that means they were sitting for a long time. I had to make up for 28 years of neglect, and there are still some 'tuning' issues but overall it's been a great boat.
 
I just sold a 1990 Mariner. Not sure why a 1986 would be any better. Anyhow, it was the best boat I ever had. I don't like exterior teak and I love interior teak. I want to minimize steps. No steps inside. No steps topside. Few steps between. Pass through at the ladder from galley to flybridge -> no steps with stuff in my hands.

Boat was solid. Not so pretty lines, but total practicality.

Negatives. Access to reverse cycle a/c was horrible making strainer maintenance, etc. a nightmare. Wiring and plumbing often disappeared into areas without hatch access meaning lines have to be fished. The biggest negative is the v-drive-stuff-the-mechanicals-in-a-small-space engine/transmission configuration. The transmissions and stuffing boxes are problematic to service because they are crammed into an area with no access hatch.

To work on the carburetors one has to remove the cockpit deck or reach through one hatch with your left hand and the other with your right hand (or use both hands to pull the money out for a marine mechanic). Now that is relative to a straight inboard. Compared to a twin-engine Sea Ray my engine room was wide open space.

To me Carver is a quality builder and in this size vessel my maker of choice. However, I don't see myself buying another V-drive layout any time soon.
 
after 20 years any quality problems should have surfaced long ago. At this point the maintenance of owners will be more important than any model differences. Thorough survey of everything will separate the good from the bad on 20 YO boats.
 
I have am 85 36 mariner..Love the boat.. My v-drives have hatches and my AC strainer is easy.. Seems a solid boat.
 
Thanks Old32, Pdecat, and Manticore for what you thought. It gave me much more to consider. Van, I'm a casual boater on west Lake Michigan now doing a couple of hours out 2-3 times a week when the waves are 0-1 foot. With a bigger boat I want to cross the lake and do some overnighters with 2-4 people. With young grandkids I still need to cruise at 18 knots around the harbor.
 
So, Old32 talked about bad maintenance access on a '90 mariner and dmun said his '85 didn't have that problem. Without going into an '85 or older, are there mariners up to the year 2000 whose service access is cool?
 
The '85 36 Mariner is a totally differnt boat than old32's 32 Mariner...I have to somewhat agree with oldMariner on access to some items. The good news is the engines are so far apart that you can actually get to the trans and v-drives relatively easy...plus, that spacing makes the boat very easy to dock. As far as the difference between 1986 3297s and 1987 and newer is solely that for 1987, Carver took the keel off of the boat (it was part of the mold they bought from Pacemaker...bet alot of you didn't know that!). They determined that it didn't affect the handling or performance at all, so they removed it from the mold...and that's the only difference aside form cosmetics
 
LOL - thanks Kenny for the Carver-Pacemaker linkup!!!

IMHO Carver and Sea Ray are aimed at different audiences. Carvers are more plush than comparable Sea Rays, and more roomy. A 32 or 36 Mariner is much, much roomier than a Sea Ray of the same LOA. That's simply due to difference in design concepts - Sea Ray centered their brand on the Express Cruiser and "Sundancer" (mid cabin express) designs, while Carver pioneered the single level floorplan with flybridge used in the Mariner series...

On the other hand, I would submit that in rough weather performance Sea Ray has an edge. Their boats are faster, with deeper vees they handle rough seas better, and they are probably more fuel efficient too because their boats are a little lighter with somewhat less superstructure and windage than the Carver has...

So it all boils down to preference. There are very few Sea Rays I would buy because I want more space, and my Carvers have always had tons of that. On the other hand, my best friend swears by Sea Ray because of the performance. Either way, you'll have a helluva boat!!!
 
The last Sea Ray I had was a 1994 Gas 330 Sundancer. Great boat except it was too small inside for my needs. The only substantial complaint I'd have is that I ALWAYS HAD TO STAND WHILE DRIVING. I really solved the room problem since buying my current hotel. The Bridge sure does make seeing where you're headed easier. Even Carvers lower station is light years ahead of the Sea Ray's Helm position but they are two different boats.
 
I too am looking at moving from a smaller Sea Ray cruiser to a Carver Sedan. I'm still doing some research and will be sure to consult with you guys once I nail down the short list. The boat I am most interested in at this time is the 1993 300 Sedan Bridge. I'll be posting some questions soon.
 
I've got an '86 Mariner 3297-the one with the keel that Kenny mentioned. I find the keel to be a real blessing if you venture into skinny water. With the keel, its almost like having prop pockets. Many times that keel has saved my props when I was exploring (discovering)all the sand bars in the Tampa Bay area-and I think the keel does improve handling in choppy water. I've found working on it to actually be easier than some other boats I've had and helped on. The chases for running wiring, cables etc. are well thought out. I've added a windlass (with wiring) installed A/C (original northern boat) as well as replacing gas tanks, manifolds and risers, and found that on the whole, not too bad to work on. I did have to have the engine pulled to replace the port fuel tank but the starboard came out easily. I cruise at 18-19 mph per GPS and burn between 9.5-11 gal. per engine per hr-per Navman fuel transducers giving me a combined MPG in the low .90's-not too shabby for 5.7 Crusaders. Let's face it, on a 22 yr old boat, resale value comparisons aren't really gonna come into play. It's not a 2-3 yr old boat going thru massive loss in value from depreciation where brand choice could be thousands of dollars. I could probably sell my Mariner for more than I paid for it 7 yrs. ago but don't ask me how much I've put into it over those years. If the admiral actually knew, she would have a stroke!
 
Carver likes:
Space Space and more space. Interior teak and mahogany in 80's models. Affordability.
Colleagues on this forum who have great advice for about any project or question.
 
Hey Art, I'll bet that your 570 could carry that old 330 Sundancer piggyback!!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by PBardunias

Hey Art, I'll bet that your 570 could carry that old 330 Sundancer piggyback!!!

Click to expand...


Yep, talk about different worlds. But, I still have fond memories of that 330 Dancer. That boat really got my wife into boating. Just as I was hoping she started saying things like I'd like a bigger Kitchen! Nice when a plan works as expected :)
 
Originally posted by bkap

How about an 86 32 aft cabin? Very roomy. I would sell this boat to a friend.

---------

Thanks Bill, but sorry. I am stomp-down crazy-in-love with that Mariner.

And thanks to everybody else who jumped in to help me out.

LuBell
"Always Sea Sharp"
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top