Not an owner (sniff) just a wannabe!

By working you over I mean you'll be on the helm steering the whole time if the seas are pushing or hitting you in the rear quarters,Case in point going home one time, we went to the mid-bay area for a long weekend and N.E. blow came in Sunday night and waves were 3 to 5 and steep I had to steer N.E in to it for awhile to get lined up to turn S.W. when the whole time I needed to ahead due south. Going N.E. she plowed the waves well, when I could make my turn She went pushy in the stern and I had to work the gas and the helm alot for an hr. or so needless it was fun and I learned alot about my boat and myself.
And I'll recommend this to you get the size boat you want if it's a 36,42 or 44 get it and hire a Captain to teach you docking for a day or two and tight channel maneuvering and get your Wife at the helm to, Have to owners broker pay for a day of it.
The reason I say get the boat size you want, is after you master (haha) the one you think you can handle you'll want the next bigger one the one you really wanted to start with. And if I had to do it again I wouldn't get and thing under 42'acmy with diesels. Anything over 32' with gas is for short trips it just works the engines to hard and they suck up the fuel.
Pusher or displacement hulls do ride better but at 7 or 8 knots MAX. The semi-displacement hull do well at 7 or 8 knots but the boat can plane and get you out of trouble fast if need be, out run storms and such.
And I wouldn't buy a boat with a cored hull, read up on them and make up your own mind on them but I wouldn't have one. I want that weight of heavy fiber glass under me.
 
Soapstop, my gut feeling was to walk. Maybe I should but the admiral wants the boat and so far the seller is willing to make things right. The engines on these boats are the biggie and I've been told by several sources that when Cummins OK's an engine, you can take it to the bank.

Hogan, I have talked to Cummins south in Ft. Myers and they will be the only ones I will accept to accomplish the engine survey. Thanks for letting me know you have confidence in them.

Considering the type of hull, I understand most recent vintage Carvers are made to plane and that reduces their seaworthiness. None the less the prudent mariner would avoid to the best of his ability conditions for which his boat is not made. Easy to say, but hard to do if you're going to use the boat. Boating on the west coast of FL allows one to avoid sea conditions that would require experienced handling most of the time. But perhaps going out in such conditions to "learn" how the boat handles and gain experience and still be close to sheltered water sounds prudent.
 
Tim: I admire a man who perseveres. I wouldn't be hanging in there, but that's because I don't have the experience to know when to quit. I believe if you are knowledgeable, then you can turn an experience like what you are having into an advantage, but only when "the seller is willing to pay for it". No, I would be bailing (no pun intended) because I know my limitations, I know I wouldn't know when to persevere and when to cut bait. The longer I persue what appears to be a less than desireable deal, my heart starts getting involved (or the admiral does, :-)) and then all objectiveness takes a boat trip out to sea! I commend you. Wish I had the smarts to do the same. No, I will need to pay for peoples opinions of my purchase. Such is life when you don't know enough yourself!

Talexander38: Thanks for that. This sounds absolutely asinine, but I really like reading boating experience stories, managing winds, swells, quartering seas, whatever. It somehow makes me feel better, as I look out my office window at snow, flat prairie, and oh, interestingly enough, a dog peeing on my tire outside. Sigh, I love my landlocked life......not! Your comments about wanting bigger once you've mastered what you have, isn't that always the way, lol? All except in matters of relationships with current Admirals of course! Never mastered, never wanted bigger!!

Scott: Thanks for the insight. Whatever I buy, I will undoubtedly be supremely cautious. I know it's going to happen sooner or later, but my first hard scuff/squeal from a hard docking is going to be met with some tears and apoligies to my baby. Maybe I should buy my own private one slip marina, dock all day, drink all night, and if I shear off the end of the dock, it's "cause I meant to, that's why"... oh wait, I'm getting reality mixed up with my dreams again, my doctor warned me about that....
 
Soap: boats shrink rapidly after you own them. A 50 footer is probably easier to handle than a 30'. You can always get a captain to teach you and most insurance companies will require it anyway for a while unless you have demonstrated experience.
 
PdeCat: "Most insurance companies...will require it for awhile". Do you (or does anybody else out there) have any experience on how long "awhile" is? I have no problem with it, and it makes sense, but just wondering what I might be signing up for.

Thanks for the thoughts
 
A friend went from a 27 Rinker to a 54 Maritimo, and they required him to take 8 week(end)s of lessons from a captain.
 
tim - i put a grand into a survey once and wisely walked away from the deal. it sounds similar to your experieince. could get the engines started, finally did, lost both engines on seatrial, etc. lesson learned.....bring someone with you who knows boats to give it a once over. once he's ok with it, only then bring in a surveyor. if i were you, i'd RUN away from this one.

soap - deep v's are found on planing hulls, not displacement hulls.
 
Thanks guys for your input. I'm reluctantly staying with this deal for now. I have had some very good advice from far more knowledgeable folks than me.
I'm staying in the deal because
* The owner wants to make things right, has offered to fix all but the small stuff.
* Cummins will survey the engines. I have confidence they will tell me anything that would adversely affect my pocketbook as supported by others on this forum and elsewhere.
* The boat appears to have been well taken care of except for the last 2 years when the owner lost interest in boating.

The mechanic has got the stbd engine running properly according to him and we are waiting for a fuel S/O solenoid to get the port engine running.
I am in close contact with a couple of guys far more experienced than me in these matters. Until the engine survey turns up something, they are advising me to stay in the game. So far I agree, but the owner has not committed to paying for the engine survey. My broker is well aware of my conditions.
Oil samples will be taken when the port engine is running. The results will determine our next step.
I'll certainly let you know how all this turns out.
Tim
 
Bruce:
Doh!!!! Thanks for pointing that out. All I had to do was think about that for a bit. See, when you are used to a "powerboat", you stick a 300 hp behind a piece of styrofoam coated with shiney stuff, and everything is a "planing" hull, whether it likes it or not. I think I'll stop talking now, and ask that everybody refer to my first post regarding opening my mouth to dispell doubt. Thanks to everyone for their patience. What a newb!
 
another thing to keep in mind is the size of the slips in your area, I boat on lake of the ozarks and there are very few slips larger than 46' x 16' X 19' tall. My 406 fits in the slip nicely, with about 6" between the masthead light and the roof. But I'd be hard pressed to fit a larger Carver in the same slip, or find a larger slip for a larger boat.
 
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