CARVER
OWNERS CLUB
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December 2007Headlines - Click on a Headline to see the Story |
Stories |
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One of our members owns a small business in Maine that specializes in making polar fleece fender covers for every size fender and ball. They also sell a few other items such as deck chair covers, great boat bags (also made in Maine), and polo shirts. They do custom embroidery on all products. They are offering all the club members a 10% discount on the complete product line. Embroidery is not discounted. Here's the web site http://www.mainecoastmarineproducts.com. The discount code to use is CAROC 07.
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Boat Business Slows The boat business appears to have been affected by the economic slowdown, so I was pretty surprised to receive a request to list a 1989 32' Aft Cabin for sale on the web site. The asking price was $1,000,999. That's right, just over a million dollars. Mistakes happen so I called the potential seller and asked if the price was correct. He said, "I heard that smaller boats and boats over a million dollars were selling, when others are not, and I really want to sell my boat, so I covered both ends." It must have worked. When I called back to get photos, the boat had sold. I didn't ask the final price.
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Featured Boat Our featured boat this month is a 1994 Carver 440 with 315 Cummings engines. Its been moved from Maine to a Kent Island Maryland Marina. For more information, go to http://www.carverownersclub.com/boatSales/detail.php?boatAd=167. Please note that the asking price is well under a million.
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Three boats made the cruise from Hampton, Virginia to parts south this fall. I've dubbed this as the "Marinas to Avoid Cruise". Not every one we stopped in should be avoided - some were very nice. We were held up for three days in Hampton for Hurricane Noel. After that, smooth sailing with great weather. The fuel prices were hard to believe, going from $2.75 when we left to about $3.65 at last fill up. The prices are for diesel fuel. We saw gasoline for about the same price as diesel, except at one marina where gasoline was $4.15. Our slower travel speed let us have anywhere from 1.25 miles per gallon average for the 55' to over 2 miles per gallon on the new boat. We are now at Oyster Creek Marina in St. Augustine, getting ready for the New Year's bash. Stop by sometime and say hello. Click here to see a few photos and notes related to the trip. One quick note of explanation - there is a vicious rumor that I actively participated in a karaoke show at a bar in Beaufort, SC on a Friday night. Let me just say that my name never came up at this bar. Some things are better left unsaid. Before we left on the trip, I received a few emails about other boats potentially joining us on the trip. I tried to explain that for many reasons, you are welcomed to come of the trip, but you are really on your own. Here is one email I received: "I too would like to join your band of ICW travelers. My boat is old and unreliable and I would appreciate having someone along who could fix things for me when they break. I don't have much money so would appreciate any help the Carver Owners Club could give me in paying for fuel....say every other tankful. Although my wife will be traveling with us, she doesn't like to mess with lines as they tend to break her nails, so could you provide at least one and preferably two deck hands to assist with the heavy lifting. "One other thing. A November 1st start doesn't work for me as I'd like to be in Florida in October to begin taking advantage of the early bird specials at Morrison's Cafeteria. Let's move the start up two weeks...OK." I think this guy is kidding, but I did receive an email asking if the club could provide someone to read charts and buoys for a couple while on the trip. Talk about the blind leading the blind.
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Taxes A friend of a member wintered his boat in another state last year. The state will remain unnamed. The friend was VERY surprised to receive a tax bill from the county where his boat spent the winter. It seems that the state either recently changed the laws or began actively enforcing them. The friend's tax obligation was about $8000. The friend's attorney doesn't see much wiggle room in getting out of the obligation. As Ron White says, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I'm quoting a New York City judge on that." The moral of this story is this - research the tax laws in the state where you will leave the boat for awhile. Some states have incredibly short time periods before significant tax bills kick in. South Carolina, for example, will tax you if you stay more than 60 days. Marina owners are trying to change the law. You may want to check with the state tax department yourself, rather than rely on a marina owner or manager.
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Here are the events we've planned so far:
I am receiving Event ideas for the new year. While plans are still being completed, we have at least one event planned for each month from January to July next year. In Florida, we are planning a Saturday Night Out for the Stuart area in February, probably around Valentine's Day. Again, if you are interested in hosting an event, let me know. We have begun planning the 2008 Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous. Again, we'll have more information soon.
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You may notice a new look for the web site in the next few weeks. The web site is being extensively reworked. I'm planning to add some new features that will continue to add value to your membership. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. If you forget your username or password, that can now be automatically sent to you from the web site. More specifically, it will be emailed to the email we have on file for you. If that email has expired, the automated feature will not work. It's helpful if you keep your email address up-to-date on the club records.
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| Salvation Army Most of us know about the Salvation Army because of its disaster shelters or, at this time of year, bell ringers and kettles outside of stores. Some of us know about the Salvation Army because of its work in military hospitals. The Salvation Army provides a toilet kit at no charge to soldiers who are admitted into military hospitals. There is no charge for this service, regardless of the faith of the soldier. Wounded soldiers arrive at the ward in military hospitals with virtually nothing - usually, even their clothes have been taken away. The gift of a toilet kit with razor, shaving cream, toothpaste and a toothbrush is a simple gesture, but it feels so good to get a gift - something that is your own, when so much has been taken from you. As you plan your year end contributions, please consider making a contribution to the Salvation Army and let them help you support our troops. The Salvation Army also accepts in kind contributions and mileage awards. All gifts are tax deductible. For more information go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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