Carver Owners Forum

I saw the post where someone had sold their Carver, so I thought I would post also. I was previously nharrison5 on this forum and you guys helped educate me a tremendous amount in working through the systems on my Carver 33 SS. I decided to sell it in September and sold it in October. Everyone looking at it told us it was the cleanest boat they had seen, including the new owner.

I will be back in the market next year. I got tired of having two engines to work on, and as I mentioned in several posts here, the yards on this lake and the lake, one lock north, have provided really poor work when I had to use them. In fact, of 6 items I asked one yard to correct, not one was repaired correctly and I had to repair myself. Not one.

The other yard put me off pulling my boat for four months with dripping dripless shaft seals. When they finally replaced them, they didn’t bother to polish the shafts, even though I went through the repair process with them including the need to be cleaned and polished. Drove the boat back to home port 27 miles away, and when I checked the seals they were leaking! As I was leaving on vacation the next morning, I called them and they came and got the boat. Fast forward a week, I get to my boat, the shaft seals are no longer leaking, unfortunately, they left the boat tied on the side of the visitors dock with no power, and the new house battery was completely drained.

So, when I look for a different boat, it will have one diesel engine, and hopefully light enough to pull at a small marina around the corner, where I can do my own work.

Loved the boat, really enjoyed it. But unfortunately the poor state of repair yards here precluded me keeping it. One thing I did enjoy greatly was the advice and counsel from all of you folks on here. Will still be on here, and will join in when I have something to add, and of course, will continue to ask questions of you guys. Thank you very much, each one of you, for all the help you provided over the past 4 years.

Glad to hear the sale went smoothly and I am sure you will eventually find the perfect boat for your needs. Single engine diesel does sound like a trawler style in terms of availability.

You will find another one. Once a boater, always a boater. Good luck on your next purchase!!!!!!

Midnightsun wrote:Source of the post Glad to hear the sale went smoothly and I am sure you will eventually find the perfect boat for your needs. Single engine diesel does sound like a trawler style in terms of availability.

Yep. I actually like the trawler approach, with its fuel efficiency. My wife was spoiled with the Carver space and plush furnishings though. We plan to go to the big boat shows whenever they open back up. I do like the newer Carvers, but I am kind of burnt out on dual engines and tight spaces. My home dock is limited to a 15’x40’ berth. TVA changed the rules in 1999, so the size of the dock restricts the size of the boat.

Hope you find what you're looking for so you can get back on the water, that's the important thing. Glad to hear you're sticking around.

Helmsman wrote:Source of the post

Midnightsun wrote:Source of the post Glad to hear the sale went smoothly and I am sure you will eventually find the perfect boat for your needs. Single engine diesel does sound like a trawler style in terms of availability.

Yep. I actually like the trawler approach, with its fuel efficiency. My wife was spoiled with the Carver space and plush furnishings though. We plan to go to the big boat shows whenever they open back up. I do like the newer Carvers, but I am kind of burnt out on dual engines and tight spaces. My home dock is limited to a 15’x40’ berth. TVA changed the rules in 1999, so the size of the dock restricts the size of the boat.

Good luck with your search. I think the single diesel, naturally aspirated/ dry stack keel cooled is the way to go. Lots of hours usage available there with normal maintenance. Still hard to get by the aft cabin size and room though...... That may be a tough search ....

One of the guys up here has a steel one like that..crash into the bottom/docks unscathed ...paint it with a brush....store it without a cover ( perfect )

Something better on the horizon

Boat shopping is really fun, especially when you do not have one to sell. No pressure and can take your time. Not long ago, I saw a small trawler for sale on one of the sites, but I can't remember which one. I remember thinking how unusual it was, as it was trailerable. If I see it again, I will let you know. Too bad a lack of mechanics forced you to sell. A friend of mine went through 4 different "service centers" before he finally got fed up and sold his boat. Ultimately, the problem was 2 switched spark plug wires, and a plugged up fuel vent that was causing his issues. You would think any reasonable mechanic would have found that in the 4 years the problem plagued him. Good luck on the search! er

Thanks Cooler, I like the Helmsmen 38E. There is an earlier version prior to Helsmen buying the model. Can’t remember the name of it.

Not necessarily looking for trailerable, as much as something I can work in without being a pretzel. My wife likes Carvers much more than a trawler style. We will have to see if we can compromise.

If not, I will give up on the bigger boats, buy a pontoon for when guests are around and want to hit the lake and take up some other hobby to spend my time on, I guess.