Carver Mariner 33 - lake boat or ocean-goer?
 

Greetings.

I've been watching the commentary on this group for a short time (and
mostly looking at older posts about Carvers).

I live near Vancouver, British Columbia, on the doorstep of some fine
cruising waters. I'm looking for a boat for my family and I to cruise
aboard, mostly on weekends, occasionally for longer cruises in the
summer. For the majority of the time my wife and I and two teenage
children will be aboard, although there are also two adult children who
may join us from time to time, and there will occasionally be other
guests, friends, etc.

I boated in the area many years ago aboard a 30' sailboat my father
built. I live aboard a floating home on the Fraser River, and I worked
for several years doing marketing for a local yacht builder, but I've
never owned my own boat. It's been a dream of mine for years. It looks
like we can now afford a modest-priced boat, say $20K.

We're looking for a power boat around 30'-35' with twin engines and
plenty of interior living space. A bridge would be good, but the boat
would have to have a second station on the main deck. I like the idea
of inboards with shafts and rudders. Carrying a dinghy onboard is also
a priority. I'd like walk-around decks too. Other items we'd like the
boat to have a 120V AC and 12V or 24V DC systems; sufficient fuel,
water and holding tankage for our cruising requirements; a generator;
hot-and-cold pressurized water; and a stand-up shower. Cabin heat would
be great too. It's quite a list - I know - for the amount of
money we're able to spend.

Forestry operations and substantial tides result in there being plenty
of dangerous debris in the water (logs, etc), so most people don't
boat very fast. I'll be fine cruising at 12-15 kts, but I'd like to
be able to go faster to outrun a storm, or get in before nightfall, or
get to a particular location within a given period of time.

The Carver Mariner 33 seems to be quite a lot of boat for the money.
There aren't many of them out here, though. While Carver has made a
reputation for itself for building pretty good production quality
ocean-going boats during its later years, folks around here still think
of Carver as a Great Lakes builder of boats designed for Great Lakes
boating. From what I've seen, Carver's quality seems to be
improving, and their longevity as a builder speaks volumes in my mind.

But what about Carver's older boats? The c.1970s-1980s Mariners? Are
they any good? How would they hold up in the kind of conditions that
are found in my neck of the woods? I'll be boating primarily in the
relatively protected waters of the Inside Passage (between Vancouver
Island and the coastal mainland), but it can still get pretty lumpy out
there.

Any ownership experience that Carver Mariner owners (past or present)
could share would be greatly appreciated. Pros? Cons? Things to look
out for? I understand some earlier Mariners had plywood cored
superstructures? While not ideal, I don't have a big problem with
that as long as the construction was done right and there are no
delamination or other issues. Window leakage? Anything else?

Thanks in advance,

Strat

Carver Mariner 33 - lake boat or ocean-goer?
 

You will probably be using this boat in many of the same waters where I
cruise each summer; Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Princess Louisa,
Etc.

There is nothing abut the basic design on the boat you are mentioning
that would disqualify it from most peoples' consideration for that
purpose. However; you will be far happier with that boat remaining in
the inland waters listed above than trying to tackle the west side of
Vancouver Island. You'll want to stay off the Strait of Georgia (as do
nearly all the rest of us)
when it gets snotty.

Your challenge is going to be trying to find a Carver of that vintage
in good condition. There was a lot of wood used in the construction of
the boat, and unless it has been kept under covered moorage for most of
its life it's unlikely that the average specimen 33 Mariner won't
require extensive repairs. You will almost certainly need to settle for
gasoline engines, and the costs associated with overhauling or
replacing a couple of engines would equal the budget you're working
with for the entire project.

So good luck and shop carefully. If you find a 33 Mariner in good shape
it should be suitable
for fair weather use in your area. If.