1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

[Ed24]

hello everyone,
my name is Ed and im pretty new to boating. Im considering buying my first boat, and ive done a fair amount of research etc. and I am still undecided. Although, I have came across a few certain boats that strike my interest. First, the 1997 34' mainship. Next, the 1997 34' silverton and 1996 34' carver.
Since I know most of you here own boats and have an extensive amout of boat knowlege, I come to you here, seeking help and advice. Considering the costs, quality and everything else, which would suit my needs the best, between the three I have listed. Finally, if all three boats arent the best, is there anything else in that price range that would be better? Thank you all so very much for your time, effort and courtesy. Thanks again,

-Ed

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

well, Ed, you didn't tell us much, how are they powered? and how do we know what your needs are? areyou going to be fishing , where? or are you wanting to use it to cruise the world and a second home..? have you ever operated a boat before. something this big needs an experienced captain.

 

[Ed24]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

yes, I will be using this for fishing. I have a small amount of knowlege in handling boats. I believe the mainship is powered by diesel, and the other two by gas, but im not totally sure. thanks for the response, but I have one more question to add. How long does it generally take to get a feel for this size of a boat? Thanks again,

-Ed

 

[Ed24]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

I forgot to add this, it will be a fishing/cruising boat. Something that if I wanted to, I could spend the night on. Thanks!

 

[samsam]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

Ed,
"Pretty new to boating" are the key words here. Buying a boat is extremely easy to do, but to buy a good boat, new or used, is not so easy. About the hardest thing to do is to get out of boating without losing a big bunch of money. A boat that size is a huge commitment as you are at the mercy of marinas and marine mechanics and repairers. You can't trailer it home and put it in the backyard. You cannot operate it by yourself, you need a 'crew'. Whether it is running or not you will be paying a big chunk of money to rent space at a dock or a mooring or on blocks in a boneyard. Your whole investment can sink very fast for the smallest overlooked reason, and there are plenty of things to overlook. If that happens, your investment may be worthless, but your responsibilities don't end and in fact they increase as you have to refloat and remove it from where it is, pay to fix or dispose of it and pay any environmental damage or fines you may have caused. And finish paying for it if you didn't buy it outright. Maintenance will be constant whether you use it or not. Marine parts are very expensive as are mechanics. You will be in the realm of not MPG but GPM when it comes to fuel use. A 'day in the boat' will cost you hundreds of dollars. You will get the 'feel' of the boat immediately. It could take years until you learn to handle it safely. In a few moments you can do thousands and thousands of dollars worth of damage to your boat and others, or kill people. Insurance won't cover much.
A much more sensible plan is to develope friendships with people that allready have boats. If you're not taken along free as needed crew, an offer to help on the gas and/or food and beverages will get you out on the water without all the headache, bother and expense of actually owning a boat or the considerable nuisance of having to be the 'captain' and make all those decisions or accept the responsibilities, plus you have an automatic 'dedicated driver'. If they are fisherman, they have the equipment and have an idea on what to use and where to use it.
Hope this helps. Sam

 

[Ed24]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

samsam, thank you so much for all of the help and advice you have given. with your words, I am rethinking and planning everything I had originally planned on. Thank you so much again,

-Ed

 

[samsam]

Re: 1997 34' mainship vs. 1997 silverton vs. 1996 carver

Ed,
I'm glad it helped. It's very easy to get carried away by the enjoyable parts of boating and end up with too much of the unseen parts wrecking the fun. It might be better to start smaller and work up as opposed to something that overwhelms and turns you against boating. A trailerable boat will help avoid marina fees and costs and also give a bigger range of areas you can go boating in. Some of the same things still apply for smaller boats though, and to buy a boat with hidden problems is real easy to do, big or small. Your best move has been to ask for advice, and this site is one of the best to ask on. Good luck, Sam