Welcome to Carver Yachts Owners Forum

We are a boating forum for owners of Carver Yachts to enthusiastically discuss all aspects of Carver Boat ownership. Whether you are looking for your first Carver or currently own one, you are sure to feel at home on CarverYachtOwners.com

You are currently viewing our board as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access our other FREE features. By joining our free community you will have access to searching the forum topics, post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload your own photos and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Chat with fellow Carver owners about cruising destinations and more. Plan rendezvous, raft ups & get together's here.

Topic author United States of America
Serendipity
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 148
Joined: June 28th, 2018, 9:31 am
Vessel Info: 1998 Carver 405
Location: Madison MS
Has thanked: 234 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Serendipity » July 19th, 2018, 12:25 am

Okay friends so my boat is in the Galveston/Houston Texas area and I need to get her home. I have been quoted some crazy shipping prices to get her home, one was even comical to my broker and my mechanic in the area. So after speaking with an experienced captain/mechanic who has made this trip numerous times and I am told he could almost do it with his eyes closed.
Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets drive this baby home or as far home as I can come with her. I mean all the maintenance is done on the engines and generator, so why not? Props are being finished and polished so they should work as designed.

Boat is going to stay on a reservoir that is 16 miles wide and 7 miles long that is land locked. I am not exactly going to have room to stretch her legs so to speak if I don't take this trip. Besides can't I call this a bucket list trip because how often do with get to do something like this trip? Just going to use the boat for my daughter and her friends to jet ski back up too. At 17, she isn't going to want to hang around her 51 year old daddy and mother much longer, so I am hoping this will entice her too :-P

So I have some concerns and simply wanted your input on how you would plan for this trip. We are going to bring the boat to New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to a old town called Vicksburg MS. From there it is only an hour to where my boat slip is located.

So my concerns are the fuel that is in the fuel tanks currently. Not sure how much fuel is in the tanks, but wouldn't it be wise to pour some additive in them to dry up any water that might have accumulated over these past few years and maybe some octane boost as well?

I would prefer to run them almost to empty on this trip to clean out the tanks as best as possible. In doing this I was going to pick up 2 new fuel water separators and new fuel filters even though they will be brand new at the start of this journey. Who knows what they will get clogged up with on this 3 or 4 day trip.

For my experienced boating friends in the forum, can you give me some advice on how you would prepare for this trip? I will have plenty of refreshments on board, supplies, all the tools I can possibly bring with me, cell phones if they will even work and the navionics boating app as a back up. It will only be the captain and a buddy of mine on this trip.

Thank you for your responses and happy boating :beergood:

User avatar

Canada
Midnightsun
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 2831
Joined: March 27th, 2016, 2:27 pm
Vessel Info: The Midnight Sun
2007 41CMY
Volvo D6-370's
Location: Montreal, Canada
Has thanked: 253 times
Been thanked: 1093 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Midnightsun » July 19th, 2018, 5:37 am

Can't help you out on your extended cruise home however I can see where the shipping costs can get up there on this size of a boat. Wide load, special permits for each state, escort vehicles both front and rear. Gets complicated and costly.

You mention shipping costs but have you taken into account the dismantling of the hard top/bridge? The work to remove and replace is extensive. The boat is so tall it cannot fit under any bridges and most utility lines. (same for all fly bridge style boats) Even if you cruise her close to your destination I would be surprised if you can haul her to the final destination without major disassembly however closer is definitely better. Take a look at my pictures in my signature to see a little of what is involved. I needed 2 loads to bring her out of the land locked lake she spent her life in. my haul was only about 2 hours away.
Cheers, Hans
2007 Carver 41 CMY
Twin Volvo D6-370's
Montreal, Canada
Midnight Sun I Photos
User avatar

Canada
pepmyster
Admiral
Admiral
Posts: 961
Joined: June 5th, 2018, 7:17 am
Vessel Info: 2004 Carver 360 Sport Sedan
8.1 Volvo Penta
Fresh water boating
Location: Ottawa
Has thanked: 433 times
Been thanked: 188 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby pepmyster » July 19th, 2018, 6:11 am

Congrats! Sounds like a great trip.You are on the ball by saying to change the fuel filters and such. Additives are great, they will definately help. Just plan like your doing with whatever you need, tools etc....extra oils for the engines , trans... Have a great trip!!!
User avatar

United States of America
CYO Admin
CYO Administrator
CYO Administrator
Posts: 418
Joined: January 30th, 2013, 9:07 am
Location: Florida
Has thanked: 269 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby CYO Admin » July 19th, 2018, 7:17 am

I don't recommend running the tanks down to near empty. You could be replacing filters every 10 minutes if there is a ton of sludge down there. How old do you think the fuel is? It might be worth having it polished before the trip begins. :)
User avatar

Canada
bud37
Admiral
Admiral
Posts: 4676
Joined: April 23rd, 2015, 10:22 pm
Has thanked: 547 times
Been thanked: 1142 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby bud37 » July 19th, 2018, 7:23 am

What does your mechanic say about the fuel onboard now,..... If it is quite old maybe you should consider getting it cleaned /polished, lots of filters, I would ask local diesel guys about additives, should be some good advice there, sometimes they can cause more harm than good. Double advice.........same time post.... :-D

Good luck on your trip home, should be a memorable experience......... :beergood:
The above is strictly my opinion always based on years of doing...remember to support local business , it pays back.

Topic author United States of America
Serendipity
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 148
Joined: June 28th, 2018, 9:31 am
Vessel Info: 1998 Carver 405
Location: Madison MS
Has thanked: 234 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Serendipity » July 19th, 2018, 9:19 am

I was okay with spending 5 or 6k to bring her home by truck but my highest quote was $10500 which was double most of the other quotes. Even my broker and mechanic said that was crazy. It is not going to Canada and I get they need to make money as well. I just expected the estimates to be closer. I will have an experienced crane operator to set her in the water. Besides, ya know this gave me an excellent excuse with the wife to drive it home which I really wanted to do. So thanks to the high estimate guy in the sky because that was the only one I shared naturally. Lol

For the same money in fuel and a licensed captain the trip will be fun. I am sure they know but for my knowledge how do you go about polishing gasoline? I am not sure how much fuel is in the boat but with it holding 342 gallons that would be a lot to strain out and refill I would think. Is there a process the boatyards have for doing this though?
Yes lots of filters will be on hand
User avatar

Canada
bud37
Admiral
Admiral
Posts: 4676
Joined: April 23rd, 2015, 10:22 pm
Has thanked: 547 times
Been thanked: 1142 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby bud37 » July 19th, 2018, 11:51 am

Sorry , for some reason I thought was diesel....woops.....you can get the tanks pumped and filtered though.
The above is strictly my opinion always based on years of doing...remember to support local business , it pays back.

Topic author United States of America
Serendipity
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 148
Joined: June 28th, 2018, 9:31 am
Vessel Info: 1998 Carver 405
Location: Madison MS
Has thanked: 234 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Serendipity » July 19th, 2018, 1:11 pm

Midnightsun your pics are very impressive. I am not sure most realize how big a task boat moving really is but still 10k is crazy compared to the other estimates. It was determined by my broker in New Orleans who has been in the business for 33 years we could take the props etc off the bottom and the top. Then truck it and most agreed.
I really wanted to drive it but my wife was concerned it would break down. She will never read these posts but after 22 years she knows everything and doesn't care what I do. Lol

I really did think I could hook it behind my dually when I first started looking and drive it around normally. Just wasnt thinking about the width or height I guess, not to mention the 28k weight.

First pics I have seen of the bridge coming off? Do you care if we upload these to a new Instagram account we are discussing for Carver Yachts:)
User avatar

Canada
Midnightsun
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 2831
Joined: March 27th, 2016, 2:27 pm
Vessel Info: The Midnight Sun
2007 41CMY
Volvo D6-370's
Location: Montreal, Canada
Has thanked: 253 times
Been thanked: 1093 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Midnightsun » July 19th, 2018, 1:34 pm

No problem using my pics, they are public. From what you are telling me the hauling price included breakdown and rebuild of your boat? That would be dirt cheap as just break down and rebuild is probably 10 grand alone if not more.
Cheers, Hans
2007 Carver 41 CMY
Twin Volvo D6-370's
Montreal, Canada
Midnight Sun I Photos

Topic author United States of America
Serendipity
CYO Supporter
CYO Supporter
Posts: 148
Joined: June 28th, 2018, 9:31 am
Vessel Info: 1998 Carver 405
Location: Madison MS
Has thanked: 234 times
Been thanked: 38 times

Re: Gulf of Mexico Trip Cruising Lifestyle

Postby Serendipity » July 19th, 2018, 3:48 pm

We are only taking the bimini top, windshield and radar arch off to truck it, maybe the props and shafts, not even the hard top unless it needs it.
So not that much expense in that I have been told by 3 experienced boat shippers $800 or maybe a grand for the r&r. That will get it under the desired bridge heights on my route.

I am all for everyone making a living but this industry has no agreed upon price. So it is whatever you are willing to pay.
I will get 6 or 8 estimates from various places and companies for more of a consensus.
One of my boat owner buddies said for 10 grand they had better provide a blonde and a brunette who feeds you dessert with gold chocolate flakes while you follow the boat. Lol

I know up north the bridge clearances are lower but we pretty much have the 16ft clearances and not a lot of bridges here.
I forgot to mention my wife's best friend's husband has been planning the routes and shipping large items for years.
It is probably cheating that I am getting a lot of my information from him but they dont have the trailer I need. That is the key, the low trailer.

Return to “Boating & Cruising Lifesyle”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests