Posted: September 21 2006 at 09:56 | IP Logged

How about saving yourself about $150,000 or so? Look around for an older well maintained Carver and save yourself a bundle. There are quite a few that are exceptionally well maintained and almost like new since most of these owners seem to take pride in their boats and keep them up.  I did and found a 1986 Carver Aft Cabin twin gas that had been used only two months a year and kept in covered indoor storage the remaining 10 months! The boat was used to go about 20 miles and then tied up and used as a condominium for those two months. The engines had less than 800 hours on them when I purchased it.

I am a former USCG marine inspector and know a little about boats. I am used to seeing these older boats with rust, rot, corrosion, mold, mildew, leakage and generally run down. When I inspected this boat before purchase I would say that it looked like perhaps a four y/o boat. Even in the bilges electrical connections were like new.  Needless to say I quickly made an offer and then a purchase. The "professional" survey came in with an estimated value double what I paid for it.

So, my friend, spend a little time looking and earn a years salary in doing so, take off and have a nice vacation on the savings.

The only issue I have with the boat, and many like it, is that the engines are all sea water cooled which, over time, causes problems with the engines unless they are thoroughly washed out after each run; something unfortunately I cannot do at present.

Good luck in your search.