I am looking to buy Carver 444 pref-2003

There should be a reasonable selection of inventory at fair prices. You're going to have to look at several boats and then perhaps make written offers in order to find the right deal. You should be able to find a nice buy from a motivated seller.

I would like to point out a few observations that I have made relative to the 444 model. Take these for what they're worth. I believe this boat's layout presents some functional challenges. I have only ever been on one, so perhaps these issues were particular to this one boat. But, you should look and judge for yourself. Here they are:

1. The aft deck is encumbered by 2 wing doors and an aft door to the cockpit. If you take into consideration the door swing space needed to open and close all these doors, it will require moving any and all deck furniture out of the way of the doors. 2. The engine hatches cannot be accessed without moving both of the sofas. 3. The door to the aft stateroom cannot open fully because it hits the starboard sofa. 4. The microwave oven cannot be used if you have anything cooking on the stove as the door swing on the micro goes over the stove top.

These problems stopped my customer from buying the boat.

Good luck in your search. Its a good time to be a buyer.

Not to chill you out but my surveyor in Florida says to stay away from Carvers, the man is very well respected in the boating community. Good Luck

One man's opinion on Carver

Certainly everybody has an opinion and no boat is perfect, but Carver Yachts represent one of the overall best values in the business. Like everything else, you get what you pay for, but as many thousands of owners over the last few decades will attest, Carvers are a solid buy when it comes to small to medium motoryachts. Great design, excellent quality and resonably priced. I own a 2003 366 and have been completely satisfied.
My purchase decision was based in large part on the experience of several of my boating friends who bought Carvers and would pretty much echo my experience. The very well respected marine surveyor that we used agreed. A boat is no better than it's last owners mainteneance schedule no matter who built it. Hope you are successful in finding the boat thats right for you.

Antybody thinking about buying a used Carver should check out this forum:

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boatreviews/Carver370.htm

The author has pretty strong opinions on Carvers and Sea-Rays..

We just purchased a 2000 Carver 404 CMY and are constantly amazed at the first class construction and attention to detail. There is no doubt that a Carver is one of the best built boats on the water. I would highly recommend a Carver. I like them better than Sea Ray, even though I own one of them too, and Sea Ray is a very good and well constructed boat. But, in my opinion, still not up to the standards of a Carver.

My only advice would be to have a competent mechanic give it a once over if you have any doubts at all. It's a big investment and it doesn't take much of a mechanical fix to make what looked like a good deal not such a good deal, if you know what I mean.

Not meaning to insult, but you really need to look over the construction of boats like Hatteras, Grand Banks and the list goes on. I worked a 444 for 3 years. 2' had us down to 12 kts; 4' seas had the PFDs on;and I won't even get into the mechanicals. When you fill the reserve tanks the aft stateroom stank of diesel, and who came up with the 4 fuel tanks thing?

I think riverman said it best. Carver's are some of the best overall values in the small to medium motor yachts. Carver is no Grand Banks or Flemming, but who here that owns a Carver, Sea Ray, Cruisers, Mainship could afford a similar sized GB or Flemming? If you wish to compare a Carver to other makes, best to compare apples to apples.

Not everyone agrees with D. Pascoe. I think he forgot somewhere along the way that not everybody can afford champagne when we're on a beer budget.
And by the way I haven't seen too many GB's, Flemming or insert any boat you like come out looking too good after being smashed up by a hurricane.

My 355 Carver was never designed to operate in 6-8' seas, kinda like my Infinity was never designed to operate in the outback. Does that make it any less of a car?

Carver's vs "X"

Many people have already stated what anyone that can think has already done. Pascoe, has a negative opinion on just about everything, however he does make some good points.....BUT, look at the value for the dollar, lets face it, all of the boats have the same mechanical parts, so don't say that a GB has a better Cat than a Sea Ray....most of the plumbing is the same....electronics are always up to the owner/Captain. Buy what you need to get the job done may not be the best value, remember that it will be out of date in two years, no matter the name

Well, I don't have a 444, so it's a bit hard for me to comment on that. I have a 404 CMY. As for your comparisons, I wouldn't compare a Hat, Grand Banks, or a boat like that to a Carver. Hatteras, Bertram, Grand Banks, Viking, et al are very expensive boats that, I believe, sell for a lot more than a Carver. As fine a boat as I think a Carver is (and I judge from the quality of materials and finish work), it isn't quite in the class of a Hatteras, just as I wouldn't put a Hat in the same class as a Burger. The Carver I have is more of an intercoastal cruiser, not so much for the open seas. The lower bow readily indicates that it isn't designed to cut through four or six foot waves, and would be an unpleasant voyage to try to do so, as you can attest. It isn't going to handle high waves as well as a Hat, Bertram, or Viking, obviously. I am not surprised of your experience on the 444 during high waves, though. I had heard the same thing from others concerning this boat. But you can tell all that from the hull design at the get go when you are shopping for the boat in the first place. I actually bought this boat from a motivated seller just down a few spaces from where I have my SeaRay. By the way, my boat is on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky at Conley Bottom Marina Docks, and has never seen salt water. As you can tell, waves are not an issue with me. My wave might be an issue with other boats as I pass, but I never notice, and my drink never spills .

Perhaps I may try doing the great loop someday. I'm sure it would be ok for that. I'd even consider heading to the Bahamas in it, but I'd want to make sure that I had extremely calm seas (like when you are at sea and the water looks like a flat pane of glass...sweet). That would be the only way I'd attempt that. For now, though, she's a great lake boat and a good looker, too.

If you are ever down my way, look for the "Memory Maker". That's us.

Best start noticing before you try the Loop or your radio will be crackling non-stop, and those trawlers and snailboats you passed may catch up later that evening. Even heard of a few boats getting shot at from the land.

Wolfpuppy, well said.....I have a 406 and for the money it was a good buy, thus far I have over 26000 miles (GPS), have been to the Bahamas more times
than I can remember, yep some times the water is rough. Have done the loop twice...and I think the boat is ideal for half the price of a hatt or vicking, etc.

Would I like a higher "quaity" boat, yep.......but, I am not the US government, with unlimited funds.

It seems to me that many of the people doing post, do NOT have experience but are speaking of what someone else has told them. I wish people that do
not have the experience would say that is is their opinion and have no direct
experience to back it up.

As far a shots for the bank, I saw such a situation in NC some years ago, a larger boat, at idle was putting out about a 1 foot wake, the home owner ran out with a shotgun, did not shot but yelled at the boated (he was just ahead of me). The marina was a very short distance away and we both pulled in for the night. They called the police, which then arrested the home owner. The home owner was informed that the boat would have been within his rights the shot first, self defense, and no charges would apply. It all ended with the home owner saying he was sorry and out of line, charges were dropped.

Tempers can cause alot of problems, just like rude boaters.

Just to comment on a couple points. Yes, it's true that all boats, more or less, have the same mechanical parts, but that is where the similarity ends. They all may have similar parts, but the parts are not necessarily of the same quality. And, when it comes to construction, it's even more apparent. Ford and Mercedes could build the same identical car, yet, the Mercedes will be much better built with much higher quality and a much better repair track record. So, while a Grand Banks and Sea Ray might share the same engine block, it wasn't installed by the same people, nor under the same quality control. Sea Ray manufactures more boats anually, so the quality just isn't going to match a boat manufacturer who produces more carefully crafted boats. Enzio Ferrari only makes around 1200 cars a year. That is why he can demand around 200K for his product. It's not enough to note that two particular boats may share a 454 volvo penta motor, both have plumbing and electrical wires running fore and aft, both have heads that flush, and a fiberglass hull. One needs to also take into consideration the make of the boat, i.e. the manufacturer. A twenty year old Regal might be ok, but a twenty year old Burger? Who wouldn't jump on that for the right price!! My point is simply that quality is more than just the sum of the parts.

My Carver is much better, quality wise, than my SeaRay. They both have chrome, but the chrome is higher quality and thicker on the Carver. They both have wood belowdeck, but the finish work on the cabinetry in the Carver is stunning. You just don't see the finish quality and attention to detail on lower end boats. By the same token, I'm sure my Carver wouldn't compare to a Flemming, either, but, then, neither would my wallet, I'm afraid.

And, now, I am looking forward to a nice summer of boating. Hope all of you are able to get out, have no problems, and have a great boating season. And if any of you make it to Lake Cumberland in Ky., look us up. We are the "Memory Maker", docked at Conley Bottom Resort Marina. Always up for fellow boaters.

I was being humorous. I never create a wake in a no wake zone or deliberately create a wake to rock a boat. I have been known to power up a bit to give the jet skiers a thrill or two, but that is about it. My normal cruising speed is six to eight mph. As far as the Loop is concerned, that would be a lot of intercoastal waterways, correct? I'm sure protocol would be slower speeds, and I am ok with that. It's not really a fun boat to go fast in anyway, and the top speed is only around 26 mph. As for the trawlers and sailboats. . .I've always liked them. In fact, if I lived on the coast, I think sail would be the way to go. No fuel cost, more space aboard, no engine noise. Nice. But here in Ky., on a mountain lake, there is not enough breeze for sail, so, it's power.