Did Carver make a Sojourn 44 with Crusader 8.1?

[Lex1124]

I am trying to confirm if Carver made the Carver Sojourn 44 with the Crusader 8.1 engines rather than pods. I have seen in various literature and reviews that the pod drives were an optional upgrade, and Crusader 8.1 gas engines were standard, but I have never seen a used Sojourn available on the market with gas engines.

We live on a small lake in Colorado, and would like to upgrade from our Carver Mariner to a 2010-2013 Sojourn, but we can't have pods drives because there is no option for servicing them.

I feel like I am looking for a unicorn since so few Carver Sojourns seem to have been produced, and without ever seeing a used gas V-drive hit the market, I am starting to wonder if any were ever actually produced without pods.

Thanks in advance for any information you may have.

Alexia

[km1125]

Can't say definitively, but if the Powerboat Guidebook says the Volvo Diesels make it "No racehorse" I can't imagine their comments if the boat had 8.1's.

Carver_44_Sojourn.jpg

[Lex1124]

If any were built with the Crusaders 8.1's I am sure they are not fast! We are not worried about speed at all - our lake is only 6 miles long We would be buying it as a liveaboard and for the layout.

We are very limited by the owner of our marina on what models of yachts we can have, and he will not allow flybridge yachts because they put added stress on the docks when we get high winds due to their additional height/weight. He approved our Carver Mariner 15 years ago, and we would like to buy something newer. The Sojourn 44 would be an ideal option for us, but only if we can find one for sale that has gas engines....which I am not sure even exist.

From Jeff Hammond on Boattest: 'Standard power is twin Crusader 8.1 liter 385-hp gasoline V-drive engines. Or, you can go with IPS drives, powered with either 330-hp, 370-hp, or 435-hp Volvo Penta diesels.'

[Rocketman]

Yes they did. I have a 2009 44 Sojourn w/ the volvo IPS 500s. There was one for sale right next to mine w/ the gas engines when I purchased mine 3 years ago.
Also, I saw one for sale in Scottboro, AL recently that had the gas engines.
Mine w/ the IPS 500s will top out at 34 mph. We cruise at hull speed of about 7 to 8 mph and get 2.5 mpg on average.

I don't know what the gas ones would do but my guess is nowhere near that.

[Lex1124]

Thank you! Now to just find one!

I have seen the gas option for sale before - but it had Volvo IPS 500 rather than the Crusader V-drive. I have seen the one in Scottsboro, AL listed, but it also has the Volvo IPS drives (even with gas rather than diesel). I need to find one somewhere with the V-drive engines....that's what I have never seen come available.

https://www.popsells.com/motor-yachts-f ... -r3-376456