New Gadget
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There is a
new wireless command device for boats with electronic shifters.
It’s called the Yacht Controller and is available from
New Wave Dynamics, Inc. The
wireless control center looks like something you would use for a
remote control boat. It has controls for each engine and optional controls for the
bow thruster, stern thruster, and windlass.
The wireless device works for distances of up to 150
feet. Basically,
the Yacht Controller gives you a second, portable helm station.
If you have
ever tried to back into a slip where you could not see the dock,
tried to pick up a mooring line, or needed another set of hands
for the lines, the Yacht Controller may be something you would
be interested in. Ben
Wilson is the director of marketing for New Wave.
You can reach him at 410-507-4005 or you can visit their
web site at http://www.yachtcontroller.com
for more information.
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Boat Talk Questions
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| Two
types of questions frequently come up in Boat Talk – What kind
of performance should I expect from my boat? And, Where can I
find parts for my older boat?
The performance question is always tricky.
When I ask about performance, I am always asked, “where
is the boat kept and how is the boat used?”
Performance degrades fairly quickly in brackish or salt
water due to marine growth. There are two ways (at least) to minimize the loss of
performance. You
can have the bottom cleaned or you take the boat up to cruising
speed at least once a week to abrade the marine growth from the
bottom. One of our
members attempted to clean the bottom by dragging it through a
sandy bottom. NOT
RECOMMENDED and very expensive.
When posting a question to Boat Talk about performance,
let us know where you boat and how often you use the boat at
cruising speed.
Finding spare parts for older
boats can be a major problem. TechGuy and AnswerLady do a great job finding spare parts and
referring owners to that source.
McDaniel Yacht Basin, a Carver Dealer for more years than
Tom Trainer would want to admit, is also an excellent source for
original parts or acceptable replacements.
Call parts and ask for Paula.
Tell her you are a Carver Owners Club member and ask her
to help.
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My Most Recent Mistake
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I
recently sent out renewal notices to members using an
out-of-date membership list.
Please accept my apology for this mistake.
I’m still trying to get the new web site to work
properly. Thank you
for your understanding.
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Circuit Breaker
Problems Notice of Recall
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| Let me
close this out. Carver
notified all boat owners with the recalled electrical panels via
certified mail. If
you received a recall letter, contact your dealer for
replacements.
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Upcoming Events
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| The
Club is beginning to plan events for next year.
We are planning more rendezvous, more Saturday Nights
Out, and a Cruise Ship Cruise.
We may also look at setting up a way for singles to find
additional crew members.
The cruise ship cruise is a
member-sponsored event. That is, the Club is notifying members about it, but does not
sponsor it. Here is
an overview of the Cruise.
It will be held January 8 – 15, 2005 on Royal
Caribbean's newest ship, "Serenade of the Seas. It
has a rock climbing wall, a golf course, casino, swimming
pools, jacuzzis, hot tubs, restaurants, theatre, etc. etc. and
the most glass any ship has. The prices are all
"per person" based on double occupancy and start at
$927.00 for an inside cabin; $977.05 for an ocean view
cabin per person; $1,297.05 for a deluxe suite with
balcony; and $1,627.05 for a Junior Suite. It
includes all your food, coffee, tea and ice tea, but not
alcoholic beverages. Please note that these
prices are based on first come, first served basis, and are
subject to availability. Prices
are subject to change based on demand.
That is, prices may go up from these prices for the same
accommodations. Prices
do not include insurance (about $89.00 per person if you care to
have it) or airfare. Third persons in cabins are a lot
cheaper. You
can arrange airfare on your own (generally cheaper) or ask the
travel agent to make arrangements.
You can visit Royal Caribbean’s website at www.rccl.com
for more information.
JOE MARTINEZ is the Agent the
Carver Owner's Club members need to contact regarding the
Cruise. His toll-free telephone number is (800) 683-7447.
Enter # 1 at the prompt, and his Extension is 77148. He
works daily from 11:00 a.m.. until 8:00 p.m. You may get
his voice mail so leave a message. He is very prompt in
returning calls. Tell him you are a member of the Carver
Owners Club. This
will guarantee that we can be seated together for meals at the
main seating. You
do not have to eat with other Club members, but it is a way to
meet one another.
Finding
additional crew members.
I received this note from one of our members. “Do you know of any other [crew
members] out there? I love my boat & I need help.”
This is a fairly common question and we’ve tried to
figure out a way to introduce boaters who prefer not to take
their boat out alone to interested potential crew, without the
risk of spending a weekend with an unpleasant guest.
One of the ideas we’ve had is to have a Saturday Night
Out specifically for boaters looking for crew and crew looking
for boats. That
way, you could meet one another in person and form your own
opinion. We may be
missing other opportunities to do introductions.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Saturday
Night Out.
We had good success with the Saturday Night Out during
the summer. We’d
like to expand this to more areas.
Saturday Night Out is where members and owners who may be
interested in becoming members meet at a restaurant on Saturday
night and have dinner. One
member coordinates the restaurant.
People attending pay for their own dinner and drinks.
In the summer or in nice weather, we usually cruise in.
The Club’s goal is to have a member “host” one
month a year in an area. For
example, Woodie and Ann Herrin hosted the August 2004 SNO; Jim
and Sue Shilling hosted the May 2004 SNO; and I hosted the July
SNO. This year,
we’re looking to have a SNO in Chicago, New York City, the
Upper Chesapeake Bay, and the lower Chesapeake Bay during the
winter months. If
you are interested in hosting a Saturday Night Out, please
contact me and we’ll begin to make arrangements.
Rendezvous.
The Florida hurricanes created all kinds of problems for
our winter Rendezvous planning.
One of our challenges is to find marinas that are not so
extensively damaged that they can accommodate a 30 – 50 boat
rendezvous. We are
still working with Don Wilson to have a Florida East Coast
Rendezvous and we are planning another Florida West Coast
Rendezvous early next year.
The Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous is planned for June 10, 11,
and 12 2005 at Baltimore. We
are hoping that we can get sponsorship for rendezvous in Canada,
Chicago, New York, and Tidewater Virginia.
One of the ideas we are considering is having a
rendezvous one weekend in Baltimore and one in Tidewater
Virginia either the weekend before or after.
That way, members could attend each rendezvous and we
would cruise as a group to the next location.
Again, any ideas are greatly appreciated.
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The New Web Site
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| The
accessories marketplace has been missing from the new web site.
The reason is simple – I ran out of time while getting
the new web site up. It
should be available by the time you read this.
The accessories marketplace has been very successful in
selling spare items. In
many cases, items sold from the marketplace on the same day it
was listed. It is
now available for browsing by anyone coming to the web site, not
just members.
I encourage you to update your
Owners Album listing or add your boat to the Owners Album.
This is a very popular part of the web site and a nice
way to meet other members who have the same boat or who are
nearby.
I’m changing the Boats for Sale
listings so you can make changes to the listing without having
to contact me. This
should be available by the middle of November.
We are also putting together a
photo album of members using their boats or just having fun.
If you have a photo or two that you especially like, send
it or them to me (email is preferred) to be included.
One photo I received was a Carver Sandwich – a Defever
between two Carvers.
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Features
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| Our
Featured Boat this month is a wooden Carver.
Originally from Ohio, it retired to Texas for a full
restore. It is a 16
foot, 1965 Carver Commander, powered with an 85 horsepower
Johnson outboard. It includes a trailer and is listed for sale at $3,000.
Check it out. For $3,000 it makes a great conversation piece.
We received a response to the
featured article last month about service affecting sales.
“I have read your article on slow sales with interest.
While it may be partially right I really think that the
disposable income available, the cost of fuel, shortage of
moorage spaces, the sharp increase in the price of boats, and
even perhaps the trend to Euro style over traditional style all
are factors that cannot be overlooked.
‘While
I have had and have heard of poor service from the dealers I
know that what kept me back from moving up was the price and
style of the boats. In our area (British Columbia) we had a
depressed economy (work available but no profit, forestry
cutbacks, Asian flu, fisheries closures, etc.) all had a
devastating affect on the economy. Now take a look at the price
of a boat like mine in 1992 (350 Aft) and then in 2004 when the
ceased production on the model. Has your income gone up that
much?. I generally buy new but we are now buying a 98 405 at a
very good price. A new equivalent boat, such as the 396/444, is
out of the question due to purchase price. Fuel everywhere is
expensive and a concern.
“I really think these are the
real issues and they are issues manufacturers and dealers do not
want to talk about.
“I think Carver has made a
mistake going away from the traditional style. While some Euro's
look great not everyone likes them. A mix is good. Look at the
mileage that Navigator gets from its "Classics" and
Bayliner/Meridian's refusal to change the style of the 47/49
Pilothouse.”
All of these factors were
mentioned in the research for the original article about
service. The result
has been a very active resale or brokered boat market, with
older boats increasing in value.
Thanks, Russ, for a thoughtful reply.
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Gift Ideas
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With
the holidays coming up, you may be interested in some nautical
themed jewelry. Check
out Jewelry By Design at http://www.virtik.com
for some unique ideas in most price ranges.
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| Safe Boating, Dave Bishop, aka webdude@carverownersclub.com |
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