CARVER OWNERS CLUB
This site is owned by, managed by, and exclusive
to Carver owners.

Members Update

Club News

Featured Article

Our featured article this month deals with computers on board.  If you are not especially interested in computers, please accept my apologies.  Thanks to Ray Starsman for suggesting it.  Next month we hope to have an article about insurance, written by a member who is an expert in marine insurance.  We’ll try to have a feature each month of topics of interest to our members.  If you have a suggestion or would like to write an article, please let me know.

Florida Rendezvous

We still have some slips available for the West Coast Florida Rendezvous and we have plenty of room for those of us who can’t take our boats, but would like to spend three days in the sun, partying with a great group of Carver Owners.  The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, February 18, 2004.  Go to the web site or call me or Patsy at 800-835-1996 to make reservations.  Regardless of how many slips we have reserved, we will do everything possible to not turn anyone away. 

Insurance Recommendations Follow Up

Insurance has to be one of the most discussed topics in the newsletter.  Mark Hoey, a member associated with the insurance industry, provided several interesting insights into yacht insurance.  For example, he mentioned that insurance rates sometimes went up on older boats as the “new boat discount” no longer applied.  He cited one instance where insurance rates actually declined for Great Lakes boaters.  He also asked if the membership might be interested in the club offering insurance, along with some special offers, such as free towing.  Let me know what you think about that.

Dick Fille sent this along.  “My ins company, Allstate Floridian raised my insurance from $1890 last year to approx $2900 this year. ( I have no prior claims) I have switched to the insurance offered by the US Power Squadron since they gave me a quote of slightly over $1900 for identical coverage. I know this requires belonging to a local US Power Squadron. However, the $40-$50 annual membership makes the insurance available to you. Plus, the education courses are worthwhile.”

I also received a recommendation for a specific agent.  “Eric Kinney at the Fritsch-Kinney Agency in St. Clair Shores, Mi.  1-888-417-boat.  (586-772-0650) www.f-k-agency.com  With two boats to insure I obtained a lot of quotes.  They were the best and service on the policy has been superb.”  The person providing the recommendation went on to say that they filed their first ever insurance claim.  I don’t mention this much, but I receive my insurance at no charge.  First, I get a volume discount for claims.  Second, my marina mates chip in each year simply for the entertainment value I provide.  I am the only boat to be towed into a slip at midnight – cold sober.  Far better than the reruns on TV. 

Jerry Lazarus Named Commodore

Carver Owners Club members must lead interesting lives.  One example is Jerry Lazarus.  Jerry works for the National Federation for the Blind (NFB).  His major project over the past year has been creating the new NFB Research and Training Institute.  Its grand opening was Friday evening, 1/30/04.  Jerry was named Commodore for the No Name Yacht Club in Pasadena Maryland this past weekend.  Congratulations to Jerry on both accomplishments.

Crusader Engines Follow Up

We received several responses to the Crusader Engine article. “Also I may be able to help the folks who are having a fuel problem with their Crusader engines, Since I had a similar problem in 1996.”  Another,  “In regard to the gentleman with the crusader engines in the carver....had the same problem , replaced carb. fuel pump and blew out all lines,still the same problem , running out of fuel, i assume his is fuel injected ...well it turned out to be the ignition chip in the port engine,not the pick-up... worth a try, felt like it was running out of fuel on the port engine.....”

“I too had a fuel delivery problem with my 350 Crusader engine in the 31 Santego. After running through all the normal diagnostics and changing parts it turned out to be a fuel injector. It took several weeks for myself and friends to find it because " they never normally go bad".  The symptom was the engine wouldn't rev up beyond 3200 and slowly decreased to 2900. My friends and I took the boat out with the flame arrestors off and noticed the lack of a good spray pattern. By the way, we had 3 fire extinguishers at the ready just in case. WALLA !!!  $ 135.00  later the boat ran like a champ. I  purchased a new injector at the NAPA store. FYI -  Injectors are color coded and numbered so make sure you get the right one. The imbibing was plentiful that evening.........”

And the original writer’s response.

“Thanks so much for forwarding the responses on our article.  I'm keeping all of them for when we re-visit the situation as we re-commission in late March. 

“Since I last emailed you, Crusader flew their team in once again, replaced more parts, and has recommended that Carver modify the design of the anti-siphon valves, replace them, and vacuum the fuel tanks.  Carver has agreed - in writing - to take care of the valves and vacuuming of the auxiliary tank at their expense.  We're still negotiating on the vacuuming on the main tanks, but I have provided extensive documentation, and anticipate they will cover that expense as well.

“I think one of the key reasons we've had such cooperation from both Carver and Crusader is all that documentation we've been able to provide to them, which I have kept in our Log Book since [our] maiden voyage from Shady Oaks.  The Log Book is primarily to record expenses, where and what we ate, the usual stuff, but when I went back and reviewed the log, I found several incidents that went back to within the first month of delivery, well within the initial warranty period.”

One final note – other members complained about slow response from Crusader when contacted about warranty issues.  This is well after Crusader emerged from bankruptcy.

No Discharge Zones

Captain Tom Baldwin, one of our members, did some excellent research on an issue I raised in the Featured Article last month about not being able to find maps or other descriptions of No Discharge Zones where Lectra-San type toilets would be prohibited.  Here is a complete list...nationwide. http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html

Members, if you need a print out of the No Discharge Zones in your area, please drop me a note or call and I’ll print one out for you.

Thank you, Captain Tom for your research. 

Novel Idea

One member from the frozen north suggested that I ask the membership for ideas of how to get through the winter, without boating.  He goes to boat shows and dreams.  Techguy and AnswerLady go to Costa Rica.  Patsy and I shovel snow.  So, how do you get your boating “fix” through the winter?  Drop me a line and I’ll include the responses in the next newsletter.

Accessories Marketplace

Anchors and props seem to be selling well, or at least offers for them are coming into the Accessories Marketplace.  Send me photos of your extra, boating related items to sell and I’ll put them up for you.

Rendezvous

I received the following note, “Hey it would be nice if you would let us in on WHAT CITY your events are to be held in”  Great suggestion.  I’ve added the city when I know what it will be.  Keep helping me make the newsletter better.

Here is the schedule of events that we have planned:

·         Florida West Coast Rendezvous, Palm Island Resort – Cape Haze (Punta Gorda), February 27, 28, and 29, 2004. 

·         Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous, location TBD – Cambridge or Solomons Maryland, June 11 – 13, 2004

·         Tidewater Rendezvous, August 27, 28, 29; Tidewater Yacht Club, Portsmouth, VA.  Bob and Ann Rippel and Bill Jackson are hosts.  This is a change from last month. 

Here are the Rendezvous we are planning, but DO NOT have commitments for:

·         Florida East Coast, TBD (Daytona, St. Augustine, Jacksonville)

·         Outer Banks, North Carolina, TBD

·         Lake Ontario Rendezvous, late July, early August, Canadian side of the lake.

·         New York City Rendezvous, early August – Montauk Yacht Club, or Liberty State Park Marina, or Haverstraw Marina

·         Northern Lake Michigan Rendezvous, July 9, 10, and 11 – Milwaukee. 

We also have events that we would like to have, but have not planned to the point that we are sure they will happen.  These are:

·         California Rendezvous

·         Mini-cruises, such as Norfolk to Mystic Connecticut

·         East Coast ICW cruise.

If you have an interest in helping out with a Rendezvous or event, please contact Patsy at events@carverownersclub.com.  Patsy thanks all of the volunteers who have offered to help.  We are able to plan for so many events because so many people have stepped up to help.

Interesting Request

Fairly frequently, I receive requests for a specific boat.  That is, someone writes to me saying something like, “I want a 32 footer.  Thanks.”  It is helpful to let me know where you live, what your budget is, and which boats you’ve already seen.  I need to know if you are willing to pay shipping from Washington State to Texas.  One of these requests was from someone who wanted to trade his 25 foot sailboat for a Carver boat because the sailboat was too expensive to operate.  He and his wife wanted to cruise from Texas to Mexico.  His budget was $17,000 for the boat.

More Shameless Commerce

We just expanded the Club Store.  One of our goals is to offer sufficient savings to offset your annual cost of membership.  Thanks to a member who must remain nameless, we are able to offer an extensive line of marine supplies, including some parts and maintenance like cleaners and paints.  For example, the low end of bottom paints (no pun intended) comes in around $10 a gallon less than West Marine.  Even with the additional cost of shipping, you can still save more than your dues when you buy marine supplies from the Club.  If you need something and don’t find it, I probably just haven’t had time to add it yet – the lines offered are quite extensive.  Look at the Club Store as you prepare for the recommissioning.  Use the discount code reorder to save 10% off the published prices.

Photo of the Month

Last month, Ron Cohen asked, “Was that a Carver Tanker in the pic of the month ?  :>)”  Yes, Ron, that is the new line of ‘floataminiums’ by Carver.  Plenty of room, if somewhat boxy.

Safe boating,