Carver Owners Forum

Hi everyone,
I'm a new boat owner and totally green. I just bought an '85 Carver 36 (maybe a Mariner, but I haven't seen that label anywhere). Are the owners manuals available anywhere online? I want to know what switches do what, what the random knob under my interior steps does, what to do with the throttle and transmission levers if I can get it running (yes, I don't know which are which), how not to overheat pumps, and everything else... I bought it as a liveaboard and it's incredibly fun living in this marina and waking up to the ocean outside my windows, but it's my goal to get it running and learn boating.
Thanks in advance!

Welcome!
You may find the manual at the website referenced here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7396&p=63139#p63139

Welcome aboard!

Thanks, Kip-that was a big help. I found the 1985 Carver line-up brochure and the Mariner brochure, which confirmed I have a Mariner. I'm still looking for an owner's manual, if anyone knows where I can find one.

Post up some pictures of the boat and different stuff you have questions about. It'll be easier for folks to weigh in with info even if they don't have the exact same boat, as many boats of the same vintage had the same stuff on them.

Congrats on the purchase! I definitely agree that waking up on the boat is a totally different experience and seems you're on an "endless vacation" even if you're working remote and doing full days but you're doing it from the boat!

Welcome Aboard

Welcome aboard!

I have the same model (3697), but mine is a 1988. Which engines do you have?

The owner’s manual is available from the site linked above. It is named 1985-large-boat.pdf (or something similar). The Mariner may not specifically be mentioned in that doc (it’s not in the 1988 file), but I think the Mariner-specific pages are in the 1984 large boat file.

I’m happy to answer any questions you may have, but given the age of these boats, they tend to have modifications from previous owners. So, the manual is a decent starting point, but you usually have to spend some additional time figuring it why your boat is different than what’s in the manual.

I have a 1988 42. I am looking for the manuals
Can anyone help?