Carver Owners Forum

We are new owners of a Hardtop Carver 504 CPMY. We plan to start the Great Loop in the Winter of 2018 from Florida after we get used to the boat. We looked for a year and a half and then found a broker we liked. He was patient and very knowledgeable. We also hired a surveyor who got me involved in the survey and provided valuable training to me on the survey, haul out and sea trial. We look forward to getting to know and converse with you all. Have a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

Welcome aboard Sam. Congratulations on the acquisition and taking the big leap to do the GL. That would be an awesome thread to start up and keep us posted with pics along the way

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Congrats on the nice looking boat!!!

Will also be interested to follow along on your voyage, so make sure you post a good thread here!! I know the FL to Great Lakes can be done with any boat, but isn't there some limitations on what can make it from Chicago back to the Gulf?

Welcome to the forum and Carver....Happy trails on your adventure around the loop.........

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. We will definitely be posting when we get underway on the epic journey!

Yes, there is a height limitation once getting to Chicago. The hardtop is listed at 18'9", so it is going to be close. Figuring full fuel and water and maybe take on some extra passengers to get her under the choke point in Chicago (see below)!

We know we will have to take off some equipment from the hard top. We are planning to upgrade the radar to Garmin, so would like to make that a quick disconnect item on the upper hardtop, as well as remount of the TracVision array. Anyone that has any tips for this we would welcome it - not planning on a re-rig until the summer of 2018. So it's an engineering challenge!

We understand we cannot get through the downtown bridges in Chicago (17'), but will take the alternate way around. Below is the information we have used according to www.captainjohn.org (a really good source of info). We are also members of the ALGCA (see http://www.greatloop.org), so using those two resources and this forum will be helpful to us.

see: http://www.captainjohn.org/GL-Boat1.html
Your Great Loop boat "must" be able to clear a 19' 1" fixed bridge. This means, after taking off or taking down, any
removable objects on your boat such as; Bimini, Masts, Antennas, Radar Arch, etc. Your boat's super structure must be able to pass under a 19' 1" fixed bridge just south of Chicago on the Illinois River. NOTE: There is no alternative waterway route around this bridge.

see: http://www.captainjohn.org/IllinoisRiver.html
From Chicago, it is 327 miles down the Illinois River to Grafton, IL and the convergence of the Mississippi River.
Obviously, the most scenic (head turning) route takes you from Lake Michigan right through downtown Chicago (above). In order to take this route however, your vessel must clear a 17' fixed over-head bridge. If you can not clear 17', you will need to continue 11 miles south on Lake Michigan to the Cal-Sag route. Both these routes merge about 3 miles upriver from that 19'1" bridge you must go under. "That 19' 1" Bridge" - Obviously, rainfall & water levels effect the height of this bridge. In 2011, (draught year) the height of this 19' 1" RR bridge was measured at 20' 7" above the water. We also heard of one Looper that flooded his bilge with enough water to pass under.

Again, thanks for the warm welcomes!
Sam & Rev
"Here's to Us!!"
Carver 504

Water levels are up about 4 feet on lake Michigan since then.

You might want to research your limitations before this trip!

And welcome aboard!

Welcome Aboard. Very nice boat (yacht) you have there. Hope you get her all fitted out as you desire. Good luck on your trip around the loop.

Welcome aboard!

I own a 2001 506, the replacement to your model and I know for sure that I cannot make it under the Chicago bridge. Also, the Great Lakes were way above chart datum for 2017 as mentioned above. That 19'1 is at chart datum. Just an FYI

Hi Lyndon. We looked at the 506. Great boat. Air draft was. Listed at 20ft 10in (the is one that is for sale in Baltimore.)
Our 504 is 18ft 9in. So a bit different. But still a challenge. Does anyone know how to lookup real time that clearance of the AT&S bridge?
Cheers, Sam

Actually, that is my mistake. Your boat is the cockpit version of the 455.

You will still be very close with the numbers well above chart datum...

Beautiful boat!