Future Carver Owner

Thanks for the pictures.....and education. I'm off to yachtworld to dig up photos of the 36 footer with the bathtub. My wife will love that.
 
Greg, We had a 1979 33 Mariner(lost in hurricane Frances) and recently bought a 1986 3607 Aft Cabin.I wanted a sailboat but the Admiral said she felt like she was in a cave. My observations after six months with the aft cabin:The salon on the the 36 is smaller than the 33. You have move furniture to get to the engine compartment. You go up and down the steps to the galley, the bedroom,the head about a hundred times a day. If I were going to have additional people overnighting a lot, the aft cabin is better. For use mostly by a couple, I was happier living on the Mariner. My 3607 does not have a lower station would take up even more salon space. The 3607 is a lot "yachtier" looking. The Mariner had one 16K split AC unit, the 3607 has three AC's, V berth, Salon, and Aft Cabin. And if you want to do any fishing, it is a long way down from from the aft deck of the 3607. Like any boating choice, there is a lot of compromise involved.
Jimmy
 
Good points on the 36s. The up and down was what convinced my wife it was not a good choice. I just liked the saltiness of that boat - you can't find anything else like it for near that price...

One of its handicaps is the relatively narrow (12'6") beam compared to most 36 aft cabins. That's why its tight in there...

The 3697 Mariner is a truly awesome boat for entertaining, or for a couple with small children (the 2nd stateroom has bunk beds in it). I had wanted a boat with 2 heads if we moved up to 36 feet, which would mean an aft cabin and not a Mariner, but other than that there is a lot to like in the more open design of the Mariner...

Alas, these are pipe dreams for now - I'm stuck at 28 feet for the foreseeable future...
 
As I am sure that we all can agree, every design is some compromise. Multiple levels on the 3607 for us has not been an issue. It does provide for multiple private spaces and is a tremendous space advantage over most cockpit style boats. One of our major dislikes (I should say that I will not have again) in another boat, Is the requirement to climb a ladder of more than 4 or 5 steps to access an area. Our last vessel, a 1980 34' Mainship w/ a single diesel was great as far as fuel economy goes but to access the fly-bridge is a very straight and tall ladder. I quickly grew to dislike this arrangement.

Rod
 
I will probably have the boat in a slip in salt water.
How often do you guys do a bottom paint job?
Beetween paint jobs, what do you do to keep your bottom clean?
I am concerned about this issue because I always had dry-kept boats.
Thanks
 
quote:
Originally posted by Up the Creek

Hey Greg, Don't forget to look at this one! We did not get a picture of the Master Stateroom bath but we do have the tub.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...omLength=36&man=carver&slim=quick&searchtype=

Rod

Click to expand...


Nice boat, Rod. I think your broker should fill out the "specs" part in that they reveal hours, cruising speed, etc.

Curious about this boat and others I've seen. Is the hardtop aft cover removeable. In my neck of the woods (PNW), we prefer an open cockpit. One doesn't see the ol Sole that often here.
 
Hi Greg, On our ABL listing, I did show that the engine hours are 1350 total. Cruising speed - I run at mostly trawler speeds, 1800 rpm = about 8 knots, if you push the throttles up, 3100 = 16 knots with WOT - 4200 = 26 knots. The factory hardtop was an expensive option, there are a several of 3607's out there without them but ours could easily be removed. We have the full enclosure for ours and this allows extended times for cruising. I did make a great 3 day trip Thanksgiving 2 years ago, cold front blew in but we were dry and comfortable.

Rod

ps: Harry, from what I have heard, the blanket statement of a salt water slip has very wide requirements for bottom care. Best is to talk with boaters in the area that you are considering, all depends on the quality of the water, temperature and other factors. I have always been puzzled when a boat is advertised to have the bottom cleaned monthly with zinc changes included. Fresh water is much, much better!!!
 
Hello Everyone,
I am also a future Carver owner. I currently own a 1984 Sea Ray 245 but I am just starting the search for a Carver 32 - 36 foot. As I begin my search (I expect to take about a year as that is how long it will take me to get a wet slip), one of my first questions is related to the engines. Which is the better engine...Mercury or Crusader? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Incidentally, I see some beautiful Carvers on this forum. I am excited about becoming a Carver owner myself!

Thanks to all!
 
Both Mercs and Crusaders are excellent engines, so its hard to choose a favorite. I have worked mostly with Mercs in my life...

That said, Crusaders are hands down the "cleanest" installations. Look at the way they route the hoses, wires, etc. Its just so neat and clean compared to the Mercs. There's a reason Crusader wins JD Power awards. I likely would not turn down an otherwise good boat because it had Mercs, but its worth considering that Crusaders are such a well-respected engine...
 
Harry

an inboard boat is a very different animal compared to smaller IO... you can't afford to touch
bottom which means you can't safely get as close to sandbars and beaches, especially when the wind
or current pushes towards the sandbar...

in so fl, bottom paint every couple of years, a diver scrub every month ($50/60).. that's no big deal.
only issue is keeping the boat safe when a storm comes in... much easier if you have a trailer !
oh and finding a slip too isn't that easy !

yachtworld is the best resource for used boat (at least over 30'). you should also browse other brands
and see what comes up, dont' limit yourself to just one target builder.

Rod and Greg, can you edit your links (original and quotes) this thread is impossible to read !!!
 
Thanks Pete. Do the Mercs come with a closed cooling option? This feature is making me lean toward the Crusader right now. That and the "clean" installation which you noted. I will be keeping my Carver on the Gulf Coast (Panama City, FL) so I believe the closed cooling will be the best option for salt water.
 
Roy: if you find an inland fresh water boat I would add closed cooling.
 
You can find closed cooling on both brands, but you'll probably find more Crusaders in salt water boats. On the other hand, a freshwater boat is more desirable now because its seen less wear and tear (usually) in its lifetime. So perhaps you can buy a retrofit kit if you need to add Closed Cooling, as Bruce suggested...

Lots of raw water cooled boats are operating in salt water as well, BTW. If, for example you buy a freshwater boat with, say, 600 hours on it, I wouldn't go through the trouble of adding anything to the engines. Run them like hell and enjoy the boat, and when the engines go kaput due to natural aging replace them with FWC (closed cooling) engines at that time. Its a better use of your money, IMHO...
 
Pete could be right but IMO 600 hours on a fresh water engine with decent maintenance is just broken in. :)
 
overall, crusaders are usually CONSIDERED to be better engine... yachtsurvey.com had an article on Merc Vs Crusader but keep in mind it's a few years old and Merc maybe have improved.

as to fresh water cooled, it's better in salt water but my first boat had a RWC cooled volvo which lasted about 12 years in salt water, year round, never rinsed. what you can do is add a valve on the water intake to connect a water hose and circulate fresh water after use. that will rinse the salt, or most of it, from the the entire system, including the block and manifold.

that said, one of the benefit of a closed cooling system is that if you suck a plastic bag in the intake, the engine is not going to overheat instantly; you will have a better chance to see the coolant temp going up...
 
That's a good point, Pascal! I learned when I was buying my current boat that you can run the engine on land for a couple of minutes, so long as you took the seawater impeller out...
 
quote:
Originally posted by awboater

We bought our 1995 Carver 325 Aft Cabin last year after being tired of living in a cave in our express cruiser.

So far we really like it. You would have to buy just about a 38ft express cruiser to match the room in an Aft Cabin.

Here is a link to photos of our boat: http://members.toast.net/boatguy/index.htm

Be sure also to check out my projects page for projects that I have done on the boat.

The 325 and almost identical 326 was made from 1995 until I think 2000 or 2001. They are not as many of those as there are older 3207s, of which there are plenty. Those are a classic boat and worth a look-seee.

Click to expand...


Great website! I liked your projects section.
 
getting close to getting a 1989 32 mariner carver.this one has one newer 350 merc the other has never been changed.no hr clocks on boat.we are going on sea ride with survayer next week.the bottom had nothing bad going on are the motors the same or is the port left turning?how much $ is a repower of one or two motors?it getting to be the time to say yes or no! BAYRAT
 
Down here in Carolina I got a quote for about $15k to rebuild both 350s and $24k to replace.

Tom
 
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