Re: Carver 25 handling
Is this a fly-bridge model? That'll certainly amplify any roll the boat has, especially in a 25'er
I'd say it's probably the nature of the beast. Nothing wrong with a Carver, but they don't weigh a whole lot for their size and don't have an ultra-wide beam. A friend (he has long experience in all kinds of boats) with a 34' Convertible is the first to say that it's a good 'bay boat' and not a sea-going battlewagon like a Trojan. He and his wife had the bejeezus scared out of them some years ago when they got hit by a squall when running offshore. The roll was so extreme he thought they were gonna capsize.
I doubt I'd add ballast as that'll affect capacity, but you're already aware that you want to keep weight low in the boat.
My .02
