Carver 355/356 Aft

[bud37]

Source of the post If one of them is in Starport Port Severn, I heard the owner has already purchased another boat. That could be a bargaining chip and ease the impact of some deficiencies.

Interesting.

I see the 33 ( top of couchiching) with the diesels is back on the market ..... Starting to get gun shy I have to say....we are too old for another project/restoration and everything so far not just 355/356's has been either overpriced real scary junk or nice and just used up with high hours and little to no updated equipment or proper maintenance evident.

A few even if we got them for what I believe they are actually worth, I would still have to do the work or manage other folk to do it for me. We would pay for nice, just haven't seen it yet. Close but no joy.

We have fairly high standards after all these years I guess.....maybe this idea of a floating cottage will have to die.

[bud37]

Just a little advice for anyone looking to get into a larger boat and wants to pre-inspect to consider which ones to submit for a pro to do the final survey.
That survey I would recommend no matter what, research your local surveyors as some are a bit iffy, you want someone working for you. The following are things owners can do that are free for the most part and will give a buyer an idea of how a boat has been kept up for the most part. Some owners are just users, ride it hard and put away wet then sell when done/used up.

Stand back and look, sight up and down the hull sides, if clean decks, clean plastic, shiny gelcoat, good. Check for deck gelcoat cracks around fittings/windlass area, swim deck and cabin coaming sides, aft deck entry way. Look at window/door slides and frames....see if clean and operable without forcing. Window drains should also be clean, good. Floor access hatches should be obvious and when opened are clean around the opening below and more important you are not struck with a bad odor. Bilges should be dry and have been kept clean, no evidence of dried up historic high water levels on stringer sides and bilge pumps.

Cabin carpet fitted properly around hatches and beds ,furniture etc. clean and odor/stain free, light wear especially near steps etc.

Check engine area for clean, rust and corrosion, ask for maintenance logs/receipts or just owner info, get engine hours and generator the same. Remember even if the engines are rebuilt, that is good , yes, but the trans and perhaps drives that are attached may now have the hours from the original plus whatever is on the new engines. Now that said, they could have been redone with the engines but still ask/check. None of this costs any money or requires mechanical aptitude other than your time and a check list.

I can say from personal experience even lately....It is truly shocking what you find opening a few hatches and looking under bed hatches.

Guys please add to this as I am sure there are more free things folk can do, look for.