New Carver owner

Absolutely nothing and considering where you are, on Pickwick, it's a great boat to own.

Same as with all the Post and Roamer owners here. Or even with all those at the yacht club on the lake who own 20-30' sail boats. If it floats and you enjoy it on the water, then great.

This site may be geared in some ways larger. Certainly the advertising is. But the reality is there are far more Carver owners out there than Feadship. Still the target of the site in reviews and ads and discussion is larger. But each comes here for different reasons and we're all part of the same boating world.

There are those here who only want to talk about 150' and up while others only dream of those. There are some here who only respect steel while glass and aluminum remain popular. There are some who believe only in older boats. There are some who come here only to talk about renovations while others of us would never consider tackling one. Not so much here, but on some sites, if it doesn't have sails they'll tell you it's just not a true yacht. I'm too lazy to be a sailor. There are those who believe only the Dutch know how to build a yacht. There are those who only believe it counts if you're boating in an ocean.

We're all part of the same greater boating world. Whether it's lakes or oceans, sail or power, small or large. In fact, most started smaller and got larger. Many started on sail and converted or started on lakes and now are on the coast.

I personally love it all. Until 2013, almost all my boating was on a lake, rather small one at that. Most of it was 18-21' and was Chaparrals and Sea Rays until I graduated to a 30' Cobalt. Now my smallest boat is 44'. Although like most of the big boat owners, I do still have fun with my tenders. I know one thing and that is that my wife and I both cried when our Cobalt sold just as we did a bit when we traded our previous Chaparral in on it. These boats hold so many memories. The Cobalt was the first one we purchased together. The Chaparral was the boat we got out on Lake Norman in the day after we arrived home from our honeymoon. Now, we're going larger and into the realm many refer to as yachts. But I fell in love with boating long ago, in a different place, on a smaller boat. Were it not for that, then I never would have dreamed of a larger boat and cruising the ocean. Were it not for some financial luck along the way, I'd still be back on the lake on the smaller boat and I'd still be loving it.

To each of us, our home is our castle, even when it's a one bedroom apartment we rent. And our boat is our yacht, whatever it is.

One last word. Don't ever let yourself be pushed into a boat others think you should own or want. Enjoy what you have. Love it. Find other owners of Carvers and boats that size. Then come here to communicate some with Carver owners, lots on general issues, and to see the beautiful photos of Monaco and the adventures of Milow. We all have our own tastes. I know he was a genius in designing computers and phones, but Steve Jobs idea on the ultimate yacht sure aren't mine. I'm glad people enjoy all sorts of boats and respect that my tastes and theirs may be very different. I think Norseman's electric is so cool. I think some of the newer radical designs of megayachts are just strange looking, but then I also respect them for what they are. Just not our style.

But then we all drive different cars too. Same thing. All take us on the road. Funny thing though is that maybe thats how I know I'm a boater as I have a Maserati and my wife has a Porsche to go with the requisite SUV. Yet none of them excite me as much as trying out a new tender. Cars remain transportation to me while boats are a lifestyle.

Good advice Olderboater.
If you read through the Carver threads you'll see the shortcomings of Carvers spelled out, but that doesn't mean they're bad boats. The right boat is the one that does what yours needs to do. A 110' Feadship is a great yacht, but I think it would come up quite short at being useful in your area. Likewise you don't want to get your 355 out in 20' seas.

The Tennessee River was our dream before the coast became it. He can boat for days without ever worrying about the sea conditions. We do still intend to explore the area he's in, probably three or four years from now. May even keep a boat a few months exactly where he is in Iuka, at Aqua Yacht Harbor. Fall Color Cruise and the Chattanooga Riverbend Festival are both high on our list.

It's about 220 miles on rivers where I assume you'll have to watch your wake. I'd plan 2 days with an overnight and fuel stop midway. You could probably make it in 1 day, but that would be a long first day, and trouble if you break down. This way you fix whatever might need while you're still fresh, and think about what's what on and with the boat. Then a short cruise to home and you'll pretty well know your boat.
Do you know what kind of GPS she has? If none I'd pick up a handheld. I like Garmin, but there's several good mfgs.

Pickwick Dam is mm 207. Nickajack Dam is 425, downtown Chattanooga 464 and Chickamauga Lock and Dam is 471. Those are statute miles.

You have in between those Wilson, Wheeler and Guntersville locks. So at an average cruising of 25 mph you'd be talking over ten hours plus stops for fuel plus three locks. The odds of making it in one day of daylight are very slim. The average locking is 30 minutes to an hour but if there is one red flag ahead of you or any problem, it can turn into three hours.

The great midway stop on that trip is Lake Guntersville State Park with inexpensive docking and good facilities. That turns it into a great two day trip.

Of course, don't stop at Chattanooga. There's a whole additional world to explore as it's just under 200 miles to Knoxville from there. I've only made the trip one time and it was enough to make me fall in love with the Tennessee River.

lots... i dont keep up with it or i would have to give up boating.. there are charts around google it...

Hope this helps:

I googled the phrase "fuel consumption charts for mercruiser 454" and got lots of results, the top 10 of which looked like they would be helpful, depending on your specifics.

One site that seems helpful is boat-fuel-economy.com . Now, what I've been told and seen on boats such as yours with twin 454's is a very wide range based on speed. Typically at wot you'll be doing well to get .5 mpg. At a cruising speed you may well double that to 1 mpg. At slower speeds so much depends on the boat. I had similar engines on a much different boat so lighter and more speed but used about 70 gph at wot, running about 53 mph. At 3/4 throttle I used about 35 gph and ran about 40 mph. On that boat, my mpg actually worsened at slower speeds. Obviously my speeds were much different than yours, but the consumption should be in the same general range.

Now all is speculative until you test your engines on your boat. Their overall condition combined with characteristics of your boat, especially on older engines, can vary greatly.

The "whistle" is your horn. The bell can be purchased at any marine store. It's supposed to be hung in the aft part of your vessel. Boating truth: Most recreational boaters don't have a clue as to its purpose, nor would they understand the meaning if they heard it. Most either don't have it on board or don't have it hung if they do. Those that do have one hung generally wrap a rag around the clanger because it'll drive you nuts.

With those questions, it concerns me as to what else you might be missing regarding either requirements or essentials for your boat. I would suggest finding someone in your area you trust, whether at a local shop or a West Marine type place and go through all requirements plus recommendations. Yes, you may pay a bit extra, but you're paying for the service and not to make mistakes. It's not just the legal requirements like extinguishers, jackets, bells etc., but the others like lines, fenders, anchors, chain and rope. I don't know what electronics you have, but you at least need to be able to communicate with locks and bridges and tows. Something as simple as locking a boat this size on the Tennessee. It can be so simple as the Tennessee and Tombigbee are the nicest locks you'll ever see. But it's a matter of preparation. Boating where you are can be the most incredible experience, but it can be the opposite if not prepared. Do you have a tow policy?

I mentioned the Tombigbee. Don't ignore it. Beautiful mostly undeveloped territory. The trip south changes as you reach Demopolis, but the upper part is very nice. My one trip down we made it as far as Columbus.

Now of course you have the other direction too with Kentucky Lake and Barkley and sometime a trip to Nashville and maybe even to the Mississippi sometime. Perhaps even up the Ohio one day. So much to see from where you are, but being prepared may well be the difference between pleasure and disappointment.

You're asking good questions, as far as I'm concerned, sir.
I, too, have recently returned to boating and found an OLD Carver ('83) 36' aft cabin which the wife, my son and I are reconditioning. For the price, I couldn't pass it up.
Can't say that I ever heard of the Carver / trailer park mind-set,...but I suspect some have to elevate themselves by putting others down.

Now see, you're in some ways falling into the same trap in talking negatively about "trailer parks." To many they are homes. To others even less fortunately, they'd love to have a home as nice as some trailer parks. You're so right that we never can build ourselves up by putting others down. Now to say under 50' Carvers don't fit into a particular genre is quite fine. But those genre's are so poorly defined. Perhaps if we discussed length or even purpose of boats for definitions as opposed to the general and often vague term of yacht. But then even those with 150' Trinity's get looked down on by some of those with 250' Lurssen's.

Thing is we get what is right for us. People make fun of Hyundai and Kia and they sell and sell and sell. I worked with two guys who happened to both have three teen age/college age kids. So five persons per family. One had five Hyundai's and loved them, no problems. His kids went to community colleges two years and then state schools. The other's kids went to major private colleges and their family had all Mercedes. Now they had six actually as they had an extra since one was always in the shop. However, sometimes two are so I've seen him drive his old Jeep Wrangler to work a few times.

Twenty years ago everyone made fun of Bayliner and they were the biggest selling boat on the lake I was on. They got people into boating who otherwise might not have been able. Those persons bought bigger or nicer later in life if they could afford and desired.

So back to Carver. Nothing wrong. Now others are here however to talk about larger boats, others for ocean going boats. Meanwhile, the old Post's and Roamer's seem to be the most popular topics. It's definitely to each their own. The idea of rebuilding one of them holds zero interest to me to do personally, but I sure admire the work of many here. The whole thing that started this though was simple. Post in the right part of the forum. If it's a post about Feadship, put it in Feadship. If it's Carver, put it in Carver. Now occasionally it's borderline as to whether it's brand specific of not.

I sure wish some of the brands that interest me more today had the enthusiasm and activity here that the Carvers and Chris Craft's and even the older Hatteras and Bertrams do here. Don't see much on the Ferretti brands, and Riva and Pershing interest me. Don't see a lot on Burger, Moonan, or even current Hatteras MY's or on Westport. Don't even see much Nordhavn here.

So on with Carver and it's time to end the discussion of put down, as it wasn't meant to be that to start with, even if it sounded that way. Just too many Carver owners not following the rules. Sure more Carvers out there in use and loved than any of the megayacht brands.

One final comment on the subject. Advertisers. Yes, let's be honest. We don't have this site and all we have here without them. They're not advertising old Carvers or Post's or Roamer's. If any of those take over the forums in general, they might not find themselves as happy. So confine discussions to where they belong. Now that doesn't mean they still aren't getting their money's worth. I look at the moment and certainly lots of owners might need Airsep Service Kits. Maybe you'll tire one day of the river and want to go across oceans and be looking at Nordhavn's. Cape Scott I wouldn't know about if not for their ad here. Those just happen to be the ones showing to me as I type this, but I have visited the site of every advertiser I've ever seen here.

355 Fuel Consumption

I had a 1996 355 with 454 Crusaders, and according to a review in Boating magazine, it made 0.88 mpg at cruise (3000 rpm)