Hi all! My husband and I looked at an ‘85 26’ Carver Santa Cruz today. I’m including the description below. We’re pretty excited to be first-time boat owners and were impressed with the boat and the current owner. We live in Bellingham, WA in the San Juan Islands and we’re itching for something to tool around the islands in. Summer is blissful here, and even more so on the islands.

I’m sure it gets tiring to hear from to-be boat owners on this forum asking for advice, but if anyone sees this and has any advice to offer, we’d love your input. The owner is INCREDIBLY motivated to sell and we think we can get it for $10K. We’re up for a challenge and adventure — and my husband as a former construction worker is very handy with technical equipment (we also have a travel trailer that he enjoys upkeeping), and we have the right truck and a big shop to store the boat in, but we just want to make sure we’re not biting off more than we can chew.

Thoughts? We’d really appreciate it! Thank you! We’d love to make a decision by Monday.

1985 26' Carver Santa Cruz - very clean, rebuilt motor, 290 Volvo duo prop drive out-drive - everything works as it should - new batteries, full tank of gas, hot water heater, shower, electric head, 3000 watt inverter, not much for electronics but has a Lowrance, GPS, depth finder. Also has fuel flow scan, electric Windlass anchor, Bimini top on fly bridge, fly bridge cover, Bimini for aft deck. As you can see in pictures - interior is in great shape, - comes with EZload bunk trailer - $15000 OBO -