Carver Owners Forum

I am about to buy a '85 Santa Cruz with a cracked block 350 Chevy for $1500. I called the guy wanting the trailer it was on but have fallen in love with the boat as well. I pick it up tomorrow. Anything out of the ordinary about this boat to check other than the obvious old boat stuff like core rot , ect?
It will be a fun little winter project. I am a sucker for a boat project.
I have read about the tipsy nature of this boat but I assume it would be fine inland like I will use it.

Doesn't seem to be a super active forum. Im picking up a carver 2565 this weekend if the transmission shop gets done with my excursion today. Fingers crossed.

Not much to check other than the obvious. I think yours is too new to have the dreaded balsa core rot but i could ne wrong. My late 70s model does have it. So long as damaged coring isnt where you have to remove a cabin to get to it i dont consider it a deal breaker if you're a diy guy. Balsa sheets are cheap, epoxy resin is not but its easier to work with than the poly cheap stuff. Doing sailboat cabin tops just cut out the affected area with a router, coat the balsa and lay it in. Re coat then throw the skin back down.
Sailboats are known for core rot in cabin tops that support 30ft or taller masts so im not sure why power boaters consider soft balsa a death curse. In sailboats you usually reglass from underneath the cabin...doing it from inside the hull will be a walk in the park. It doesn't have to be pretty as youre going to cover it anyway.


As for tipsy im looking at bennett trim tabs 18x24 with controls at both helms to help with that. I like to vacation at the keys and my mom has a place in myrtle beach so sometimes the weather man is wrong in his forecast and i want to be prepared. I am a long time sailor, on sailboats not navy, so your idea of tipy is probably different than mine when it comes to personal comfort. My son and i dont worry unless the windows are only viewing water and the little lady has had enough when her margarita starts to spill.

Im going to address the tipsy issue by installing larger fuel tanks. Id like a total of at least 100 gallons. All that extra fuel in the bottom of the hull will help. Im wanting it moved as far forward as possible but want to play with bags of sand or water bladder first in different locations to be sure what works best. I will be adding. A/c and a generator for weekend trips and week or two vacations

Good weight distribution is a must. Also keep the clan off the fly bridge when in anything other than mirror glass water, a crew up top can make her top heavy.


I plan on adding a 9.9 or 15 hp outboard for trolling and emergency back up as well as a swim platform and ladder, some updated navigation, gauged and sonar fish finder. No need for fancy electronics in the cabin as i can use a phone or tablet or even lap top to navigate as ill never venture far off shore.

Congrats and welcome aboard guys.

Thanks dude. Heading out in about an hour to pick up my new to me carver. I originally got it for the trailer (i have a concord owens 27 i need to haul home) but i like the trailerable size of this 26. I don't know how many of you have went through Miami to hit the keys but in my excursion alone its almost like an obstacle course, i couldn't imagine doing it with an 11 ft wide boat.

Jacksonville is only marginally better. If i wanted a full trifecta to achieve certian mental collapse id drive through Atlanta on the way down as well.

If i can future out how to post pics ill snap some this afternoon once she's been hit with a pressure washer.

You're a busy guy! We definitely like pics. Hope everything goes well.

RobertM wrote:Source of the post....It will be a fun little winter project.....

Start a thread for your project and document everything you do. Pictures are always a favourite here. The thread will help others thinking of or in the middle of doing the same thing. Good luck and keep us posted.

Welcome aboard, sounds like a nice winter project ahead. Hope it works out well for you and yes we all like pics.

Ill have to figure out how to post pics on here. Was supposed to start on her today but instead im pulling axle seals on my excursion. Have to be ready for the race in Charlotte next week.