Carver Owners Forum

Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone got some time away and relaxed a bit. We have decided to move to Mobile AL on the ICW. We will be moving our Carver from Lake Lanier GA to Chatanooga TN so I can take a trip down the river systems (part of the loop) down to Mobile AL. where we will keep her long term in the Dog River in brackish water.

1) I have already installed flush ports on my Engines and generators for de-salting when we venture into the salt water which will likely be often. I did a video on installing the flush ports on my YouTube channel if anyone is interested (my solution was <$100 dollars per engine)

2) Once I have a new address in Mobile, I will add AIS (Garmin 800 Transceiver) to my Carver for the river trip and beyond

3) We will have Aluminum anodes installed as we leave Lake Lanier

4) Once we arrive in Mobile at our new home port - The marina has a boat yard that also does bottom paint. Any suggestions for the bottom paint (brand, type, etc.) being in both brackish and salt water mostly on the ICW and rivers in and around Mobile AL.?

Lastly, any suggestions for the change in venue, fresh water to brackish, anything I may need to consider? As always, any help is greatly appreciated. Hope you all like the video if you chose to check it out. We are looking forward to not being stuck on the lake albeit a large lake, still a lake.

You'll also want to add flush to the ac units.

When we were in the Ventura, we would have to hose the entire boat down after any ride out to the Pacific. Salt gets on everything!.

When we were on the Chesapeake, we'd rinse the whole boat down as well. Not so much for the salt, but for the brown film. The brown film may have had salt in it. Or it was just dirty water.

waybomb wrote:Source of the post You'll also want to add flush to the ac units.

Great point, I had not thought of the AC Units. Those should be easier than the engines.

And you'll want to keep your bilge very dry.

I live in Mobile, but I keep my Carver across the bay in Fairhope AL. Let me know if you need any info about the Mobile area. Sounds like you’ll be at Dog River Marina. They’re the only yard in Mobile that has a big enough lift for your boat. Good luck on the trip down river!

Not sure when you’ll be coming to town, but Mardi Gras season kicks off (first parade) Feb 14th.

Bottom paint suggestion, Interlux Offshore. Pricey but will last for a longer time in your dual water type environment. er

Just make sure the yard checks on, or applies a base coat like InterProtect first. I am assuming they will need to strip/sand off what is there now. er

waybomb wrote:Source of the post And you'll want to keep your bilge very dry.

Good thing is, my boat is very dry. It took me a while to get it that way but she has been dry for about 18 months now. I love it.

dgreene wrote:Source of the post I live in Mobile, but I keep my Carver across the bay in Fairhope AL. Let me know if you need any info about the Mobile area. Sounds like you’ll be at Dog River Marina. They’re the only yard in Mobile that has a big enough lift for your boat. Good luck on the trip down river!

Not sure when you’ll be coming to town, but Mardi Gras season kicks off (first parade) Feb 14th.

My wife grew up in Mobile AL. so it is coming home for her. Me, it is all about the ICW and boating. Good to know you are down there and thanks for the knowledge offer. Sadly, we will miss Mardi Gras this year as I will be moving our boat on March 4th and then wait a few weeks before my 11 day trip down the river system.

Cooler wrote:Source of the post Bottom paint suggestion, Interlux Offshore. Pricey but will last for a longer time in your dual water type environment. 8-) er

Thanks, I will ask them if they can get this brand at the Marina. Really appreciate the knowledge.