Carver Owners Forum

Hi all,

Thanks for reading my post and if anyone has any info to offer, it would be so very much appreciated!

I don't own a motor yacht... yet. I have driven a couple on and off with friends who have them around Vancouver and I have owned smaller boats before. I don't know what it is about the Carver Yacht but I think the layout, performance, etc. etc. are just great. My wife and I are planning to retire in a few years. We love the Caribbean and always vacation there. Would love to make it a lifestyle with a 36-40ft Carver.

So here goes: Is taking a 6 month journey from Miami to Barbados doable from a logistics perspective? By that I mean enough fuel/marinas along the way? I know that there are factors such as RPM, GPH used, weather and sea conditions, fuel capacity, etc. to consider but is it something that is done fairly easily in my 'planned 36ft-40ft Carver Yacht'?

Been looking at nav charts and trying to research online but it doesn't quite give me the confidence yet so I thought I would ask the experts.

Thank you for any info!

Blair

Welcome to the forum and maybe Carver.....one question for you....why the 36 to 40 ft restriction? My advice....Get as big ( wide) as you can....gotta anchor out and cross the gulf stream.....good luck with your search, should be fun.

Welcome aboard Blair. Can't comment about the specifics on traveling to those ports but I'd recommend diesels for sure.

Welcome Blair.
I love our Carver 355. Its a tad over 41' LOA.
However, spending a lot of time on the open ocean in purpose built sport fishing boats and encountering some really severe weather, I would not take my boat on the open ocean for any long trips that would leave me open to unpredictable weather.
Basically, if i wasn't sure I could get from a to be within a few hours on the ocean I wouldn't do it. Its not that the boat would break apart and sink, its just that it would be a very uncomfortable, very wet and very stressful ride.
These boats have no issue with 3-5 footers, but i cant image my boat in 12'ers.

Welcome Aboard. Hope you are able to make your plans come true. Sounds like the adventure of a lifetime awaits.

Welcome! You're right, starts with a plan. Plan with variations. In this situation, plan your work & work your plan does not apply. Flexibility will be key. First off - agree with Viper, diesels required. Fuel availability and quality, performance, range, are all important. Plan to have a extra part of every filter or maintenance item on board. Pick marinas with many slips, or anchorage with multiple vessels. At each point, talk the docks, and seek other boaters doing similar trips. Then, you can travel in groups, which is safer in all aspects. Change destinations if the group is going somewhere other than your original plan. Learn weather indication, which clouds mean what, etc.. You will most likely hit anomolies along the way, so respect Mother Nature. Make sure your travel documents are complete and up to date. You need to be mechanically able, not a certified marine mechanic, but at least an understanding of, and ability to figure things out and install parts. Sounds really fun! er

bud37 you're right. I'm thinking a little bigger now and agree with Viper on the diesels. I guess that's why we plan, huh.

And thanks tomschauer and Cooler for the weather and open seas advice! I've learned over the years Mother Nature always wins and to respect/research the weather. Love the boards and info on the site. Thanks all.

Welcome