Great Loop Chronicles Part Four
Marine
- Sponsor
- OPTIMA Batteries
- Location
- Vonore, Tennessee
The Great Loop Chronicles will be an ongoing series, following the travels of OPTIMA Batteries staffer, Jim McIlvaine, as he travels America's Great Loop, a 6000+ nautical mile journey around the Eastern United States.
When we decided on our Carver 466 that was located in Vonore, Tennessee, the next step was to have a pre-purchase survey done on the boat. This would allow us to determine if there were any underlying issues that either needed to be addressed or given consideration on the final purchase price.
The survey was performed in late-January and didn't uncover any deal-shattering revelations, but as I already knew of the boat world, even the little stuff can add up to a lot. The broker encouraged me to attend the survey, but I didn't see the point. I don't have a trained eye and as long as the boat didn't smell bad, I'm sure I'd like it if the survey went well. The boat had largely sat since it completed the Great Loop, although the owner lived locally and seemed to spend a fair amount of time on it- somewhat of a condo on the water.
The survey took the boat out of the water, so the hull and props, rudders and hull could be inspected and the owner took the opportunity to add new zincs, which helps prevent galvanic corrosion. It's not an expensive component to replace...except for either lifting the boat out of the water or hiring someone with scuba gear to make the swap. The survey took place on a cold, windy day in January and the broker told me they were more than a little challenged to handle the boat in windy conditions (which will not be the last time you hear that), but the engines synched well and ran at speed fine.
The Great Loop route has an air draft (height) limit of 19'6 and this boat needs to have some mounted equipment removed to meet that maximum requirement, so it's tall and gets pushed around in windy conditions, especially at lower speeds, where the throttles and bow thruster are used to move the boat, instead of the steering wheel.
With the post-survey price adjustment settled, the purchase was made and we needed to get serious about getting ready for the trip. We had already dedicated a corner of our dining room for "stuff headed to the boat" and that effort kicked into overdrive. At the same time, I had very limited experience on boats of this size and wanted training. I also had to change insurance carriers, in order to find one who would cover the boat.
While I currently owned three boats, their combined length barely exceeded the 46-foot length of the Carver 466. I have rented larger houseboats on Lake Mead, but a captain takes those boats out of the marina for you, there's really nothing to hit on the lake besides canyon walls and no trees to run over. You just beach your houseboat, tie it off and spend the week playing in smaller boats and personal watercraft. The Great Loop was clearly a vastly different endeavor and I wanted proper training.
My next stop was the Griffin King of the Hammers powered by OPTIMA Batteries, but upon returning from that, the next step was to drink from the firehose of knowledge about how to operate such a boat.
When we decided on our Carver 466 that was located in Vonore, Tennessee, the next step was to have a pre-purchase survey done on the boat. This would allow us to determine if there were any underlying issues that either needed to be addressed or given consideration on the final purchase price.
The survey was performed in late-January and didn't uncover any deal-shattering revelations, but as I already knew of the boat world, even the little stuff can add up to a lot. The broker encouraged me to attend the survey, but I didn't see the point. I don't have a trained eye and as long as the boat didn't smell bad, I'm sure I'd like it if the survey went well. The boat had largely sat since it completed the Great Loop, although the owner lived locally and seemed to spend a fair amount of time on it- somewhat of a condo on the water.
The survey took the boat out of the water, so the hull and props, rudders and hull could be inspected and the owner took the opportunity to add new zincs, which helps prevent galvanic corrosion. It's not an expensive component to replace...except for either lifting the boat out of the water or hiring someone with scuba gear to make the swap. The survey took place on a cold, windy day in January and the broker told me they were more than a little challenged to handle the boat in windy conditions (which will not be the last time you hear that), but the engines synched well and ran at speed fine.
The Great Loop route has an air draft (height) limit of 19'6 and this boat needs to have some mounted equipment removed to meet that maximum requirement, so it's tall and gets pushed around in windy conditions, especially at lower speeds, where the throttles and bow thruster are used to move the boat, instead of the steering wheel.
With the post-survey price adjustment settled, the purchase was made and we needed to get serious about getting ready for the trip. We had already dedicated a corner of our dining room for "stuff headed to the boat" and that effort kicked into overdrive. At the same time, I had very limited experience on boats of this size and wanted training. I also had to change insurance carriers, in order to find one who would cover the boat.
While I currently owned three boats, their combined length barely exceeded the 46-foot length of the Carver 466. I have rented larger houseboats on Lake Mead, but a captain takes those boats out of the marina for you, there's really nothing to hit on the lake besides canyon walls and no trees to run over. You just beach your houseboat, tie it off and spend the week playing in smaller boats and personal watercraft. The Great Loop was clearly a vastly different endeavor and I wanted proper training.
My next stop was the Griffin King of the Hammers powered by OPTIMA Batteries, but upon returning from that, the next step was to drink from the firehose of knowledge about how to operate such a boat.