I winterized my closed loop system buy pulling the exit line out of the V drive system, shoving a funnel into it, and feeding antifreeze through it until it came out of the heat exchanger. I also pulled the exh manifold plugs, and blew out the V drives. (just hooked a shop vac up to the exit port, until nothing came out of the water inlet that is fed from the Perko strainer) I shoved an 1 1/4" hose into the perko strainer, with my hand cupped over the end, and forced most of the water out, and filled those with antifreeze as well.

My question is:

1) do I need to do anything else with the Walter V-drives to make sure that they're good for the winter?

and

2) given that Walter recommends pulling the top cap and inspecting seasonally, would it make more sense to do it now, and dump some antifreeze in the coolant passage, and leave it loose for the offseason?

It is my understanding that Walter recommends a new gasket at the top of the V-drive, but would a premium RTV work as well? Doesn't seem like it gets much pressure.

The wife & I just bought a 2006 Carver 36 MY. It has the factory installed Clarion CMD4 head unit in the salon with speakers on the salon area and aft berth, plus 2 speakers at the Helm.

My question is how to play the radio or CD for the helm area, adjusting the Helm volume via the wired "remote" helm controller without blasting out the salon area ? is there a "zone" control similar to what Fusion does?

we're not ready to change out electronics just yet, try to understand and work with what we just acquired.

Insight would be much appreciated.

The wife & I just bought a 2006 Carver 36 MY. The PO had installed a larger foam topper on the aft berth bed. The fwd berth bed is factory mattress and very oddly shaped.

Those with similar layouts, what have you done? Meaning, have you purchased sheet sets (what size?) and done what to make them tuck in/fit? The wife thinks the aft berth is close to Queen size, I'm leaning closer to "full" size. As for the fwd berth, I'm guessing at least a queen, if not King, to wrap that odd shaped mattress?

We're thing of using suspender clips with elastic webbing, and fashioning 45 degree corner "snuggies" underneath the mattress.

Your thoughts and idea's much appreciated.

So another boring winter for those of us in the frozen north and the local sign has now reappeared much earlier than usual. Now my guess is, this might not be too interesting to some on this forum but for most , they will have some way of passing on info and maybe some humorous info to pass by the winter. So share.

Nevertheless here we go........ ......

I think this is my 6th year reusing the same shrink. I cut it at the back the first year and rolled it up towards the bow. Stuck it in a bag for the summer and pulled it out and put it back on in the fall. My process has gotten a little better over the years and each year I think it's going to be the last, but then I find I can get one more year. I have bought two rolls of 4" shrink tape over the years to patch little holes or to replace the old tape... seems like the tape glue is the first thing to give out after sitting outside a few years.

Here's a "before" and "after". I can get the shrink folded down small enough (about 18"x24"x42") to fit up my attic stairs ladderway.

From the "Boats For Sale" listings I've seen on line, it appears most Carver 28' aft-cabins, Carver 300 aft-cabins, 325's, 326's and probably many others of similar vintage (90's - early 2000's) were equipped with similar audio systems. Mine has a JVC Model KS-RX750 cassette receiver paired with a 25W KS EA400 Equalizer/Amplifier. The radio makes some intelligible noise occasionally, but my cassette collection predates too much of my current taste and I quite honestly haven't had the nerve to put my Cheap Trick tape in this machine.

Does anyone know if there is a more modern audio head that might either be a "plug & play" replacement or a simple installation without replacing the Equalizer/Amplifier?

Any advice will be welcome. I would like to have a functioning sound system, but do not need more than basics. Anything with a single disk CD player and MP3 jack would do.

Thanks!

Part of the refurbishment of The Black Rose will be reupholstering her exterior and interior seating. If anyone has had experience (good or bad) in this area, please share your advice, wisdom, and/or warnings. Exterior seating on the bridge will be first, then the dinette in the bow and fold-out couch in the salon. All is original and in fair to poor condition at best.

Can anyone tell me how to remove the radar arch on my 1996 Carver Voyager 320? How hard is it and how many hours are involved?

Hi all,

Just finished looking at a boat that isn't seen much in Pacific NW, but appears to fill our needs for a transition boat. Just repowered with a new long block 383, original volvo penta outdrive, appears to be in very nice shape. My admiral and I are 6 years from retirement, and plan to cruise between Bellingham and Alaska and points between in a boat we can't yet afford.

So, for just weekend San Juan Island cruising, or Vancouver Island, we have been on a search for a "transition boat". This Carver 26 meets our objectives but with so few like this around I have the standard questions: are there any particular caveats with this model? Anyone else in the Puget Sound with one of these that can speak from experience? Are Carver boats of this size typically utilizing an exchanger and fresh water cooling (forgot to ask)?

Last question: with a command bridge and a bimini top, I don't see where radar would be easily installed, short of a radar arch over the bimini.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice for this newbie

Does anyone know where to get replacement rocker switches for the control panels in 2001 Carver 506 flybridge ? See attached pics of my current switch panels.
Thanks for any assistance.
Jim