Boating USA — January 2018

C

CERTIFIED

TEST

RESULTS PHOTO: COURTESY CARVER YACHTS

platform and a high-low walnut table with

fiddle rails deliver an invitation to relax

and enjoy meals. To starboard, a 32-inch

flat-screen television provides entertain-

ment, and the galley area is outfitted with

solid-surface counters, an undermounted

stainless-steel sink, electric induction

cooktop, refrigerator/freezer, and a mi-

crowave at a convenient waist-high level.

Not as convenient: The AC power panel is

beneath the table in the sofa base.

Visibility from the helm is good,

although the sole-to-ceiling appliance

package partially blocks the starboard

corner. Backing into a slip, just keep your

eyes on the port side. The dash is covered

with brown leather to offset glare, and ac-

cessory switches and controls, including

the Axius joystick control, are aptly placed.

Try the seated and standing positions to

ensure you can see the instrumentation.

Our test boat had a Raymarine multifunc-

tion display, which I could see fine, but the

MerCruiser readout on the flat to the right

of the wheel would be better placed on the

dash panel so it would be more easily read.

Head belowdecks and the intrinsic ad-

vantages of the plumb bow design are

obvious in the size of the forward state-

room, which includes air conditioning, a

full-size berth and 6-foot-8-inch headroom.

Fixed hullside windows illuminate the

space. Ample overhead and rope lighting, a

32-inch flat-screen television, sizable hang-

ing locker, and Bomar translucent deck

hatch fill the bill for sleeping in comfort.

Amidships, a lounge area with an L-

shaped sofa converts to a full-size berth

and can be ordered with a bulkhead from

the factory to create a private stateroom.

The space below provided another surprise

for us in the nicely appointed head with its

Techma freshwater-flush marine toilet, an

opening port in the hullside window, air

conditioning, and a walnut-framed van-

ity with a solid-surface top. The molded

nonslip sole had us believing this was a wet

head until we saw the walk-in shower stall

with its seat and plexiglass door.

Performance impressed us as well. Our

test boat with twin 300 hp MerCruiser 6.2

Bravo Three DTS SeaCore sterndrives rips

to a top speed of 39 mph. It’s thirsty at 46

gph, yet it’s nice to know you can get home

in a hurry. Its midrange performance in

the mid-to-high 20s is comfortable and

efficient. The twin props grab plenty of

water for rapid acceleration, and maneu-

vering around the dock using the Axius

joystick is intuitive.

I had to remove the cockpit table to

access the engine compartment, but once

inside, I discovered that Carver hits a

home run. Mechanical installations are

clean, and chafe gear abounds. Through-

hull fittings and seacocks are labeled, and

access to engines, the 6.5 kW Westerbeke

generator, battery banks, bilge pumps

and other equipment is a walk in the park.

Acoustical insulation on the forward en-

gine compartment bulkhead and sealed

wire and plumbing passages result in a

notably quiet ride. Carver even includes

a pair of boxes that rest along the string-

ers for tools and spare parts. Beneath the

surface, the C34 Coupe has a resin-infused

hull, rugged fiberglass stringer system and

10-year structural-hull limited warranty.

Comparison shoppers might look at the

Jeanneau NC 33 ($295,000 base price with

220 hp Volvo Penta D3 diesel inboards).

The smallest Carver, the C34 Coupe will

appeal to new boat owners moving into the

cruising lifestyle, as well as loyal Carver

fans moving down. — Peter Frederiksen

High Points

Visibility from the helm is enhanced thanks

to a one-piece windshield and thin mullions.

Polished stainless-steel hardware is

plentiful and oversize.

Head includes a shower stall with a

fiberglass seat that spouses will love.

Low Points

Transom grill could use a cover over the

sink to provide a cutting board.

Steep staircase heads below into the cabin.

Cockpit table must be removed to access

the engine compartment.

· LOA: 34'0" · BEAM: 11'6" · DRAFT (STERN-

DRIVE): 3'1" · DISPLACEMENT (FULL LOAD):

17,300 lb. · TRANSOM DEADRISE: 14 degrees

· BRIDGE CLEARANCE: 10'0" · FUEL CAPACITY:

200 gal. · WATER CAPACITY: 78 gal. · MAX

HORSEPOWER: 700 · STANDARD POWER:

250 hp MerCruiser 4.5L Bravo Three DTS SeaCore

gasoline sterndrive

Price: $472,320

(as tested;

base $335,715)

Carver is big on its beefy

hardware, and much of it

is made in-house.

HOW WE TESTED

ENGINES: TWIN 300 HP MERCRUISER 6.2 BRAVO

THREE DTS SEACORE GAS STERNDRIVES

PROPS: 20" PITCH STAINLESS-STEEL BRAVO

THREE PROPSET GEAR RATIO: 2.20:1 FUEL

LOAD: 110 GAL. WATER ON BOARD: 50 GAL.

CREW WEIGHT: 360 LB.

CARVER YACHTS

Pulaski, Wisconsin; 920-822-3214 ;

carveryachts.com

SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION

naut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound

rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level

1000 4.30 4.95 3.00 1.43 1.65 258 297 0 68

1500 6.08 7.00 6.00 1.01 1.17 182 210 1 69

2000 7.82 9.00 8.00 0.98 1.13 176 203 2 70

2500 8.73 10.05 12.00 0.73 0.84 131 151 4 72

3000 15.25 17.55 16.00 0.95 1.10 172 197 5 75

3500 19.12 22.00 20.00 0.96 1.10 172 198 5 76

4000 23.98 27.60 26.00 0.92 1.06 166 191 4 78

4500 28.68 33.00 34.00 0.84 0.97 152 175 3 80

5020 33.89 39.00 46.00 0.74 0.85 133 153 3 84

MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED

AVAILABLE POWER:

STERNDRIVE

+ INBOARD

44 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JANUARY 2018