38 Carver Santego

Source: David A. Folsom, Sea Magazine

Boat owners speak, and Carver listens

If you’ve ever wished builders would make production boats the way you like them, with the features you want, then it may interest you to know that at least one company is listening carefully to what its boat buying customers have to say.

The company is Carver Boat Corp. the boats are the new Santegos.

“We asked present and previous owners of Carver boats what they liked and disliked about boats and Carver boats in particular; from that information came the ideas expressed in the new Santego line” including the 30 and 38 foot models, said Dick Nocente, communications manager for the company.

The two longer models are the second generation of Santegos, following the successful 1987 debut of the Santego 27.

“Boat owners wanting a pleasureboat asked for a soft ride, low maintenance and a contemporary design,” Nocente said.

Well, judging from Sea’s test run on the Santego 38, the soft ride is certainly covered. The 38’s modified-V design and double chine should make going anywhere fun – and fun seems to be the emphasis here.

We rode out of Chula Vista Marina’s winding channel entrance into south San Diego Bay, enjoying a smooth ride against eight to 10 knot breezes and small wind waves.

“The double chine allows the bow to strike a wave with the first chine and flatten out that wave, leaving a soft feel to the ride,” Nocente said. “This also helps throw the resulting bow wave outboard, making the boat very dry.”

Pushed by twin Crusader 350 gasoline engines, the Santego cruised comfortably at 22 knots. The standard trim tabs leveled it out nicely, flattening the short waves. I played the dual tabs, raising and lowering the bow until it rode with no pounding. And the well insulated engine compartment and hydrolift mufflers made for a quiet ride.

Steering is positive, but a trifle slow. That can actually be a good feature, as sharp steering can throw the boat into a curve too fast. Practice will allow the owner to adjust to the response time needed to handle the boat at cruising speed. The Santego also responds well at low and idle speeds, so docking shouldn’t be hard once the owner has had a little practice.

Contemporary design was next on Carver’s survey of desirable features, and that too is evident throughout the boat. The open bridge area is a good example. The central steering station is surrounded by cushioned seats with storage compartments beneath – a nice touch. The design is in the round, lending a closeness for easy conversation.

Optional fitted cocktail tables are also available, for enticing family and friends topsides on warm summer nights or for enjoying a leisurely lunch alfresco.

A walkway leads forward through the seating area to the foredeck and bow pulpit, eliminating the side walkways that are the traditional method of reaching this area. That leaves room for an expanded saloon and galley area below.

The steering station includes the usual array of factory installed dual engine instrumentation, with room for electronics in the panel.

But because the steering station is open, I would recommend a plexiglass shield to protect the instruments and gauges from sun and moisture. The Santego 38 is not a heavy weather boat. With no cover from wind or rain, little travel could be done in foul weather. The optional bimini top with boot or with full enclosure would be a plus.

Also, the bridge can be reached by the ladders on either side. Their steepness is offset somewhat by stainless steel hand rails.

The lower cockpit area located just aft of the bridge is also open. It’s not large, but it doesn’t need to be with the other areas available for owners and guests to congregate.

One nice option here is the carpeting, which snaps into place for easy removal for cleaning.

From the cockpit it’s an easy step down to the swim step, by way of stairwells on either side. That makes the stern a pleasant area for swimming, diving or relaxing in the sun.

An optional freshwater shower is conveniently located behind the aft cushioned seat, for rinsing off after a swim. That seat, by the way, also hides storage space – large enough for hoses, fenders and more.

Stepping forward and down into the saloon, I instinctively ducked – but I didn’t have to. The entry is ample for a six foot tall person.

Like the bridge, the saloon is designed with curves and flowing lines, complemented by traditional teak cabinets and trim. “We designed a contemporary look into the saloon and galley but left lots of real teak,” Nocente explained.

Form and function are combined in a fold-out settee and a dinette that converts into a double bed. A sleeping curtain, hidden away behind a teak panel door, pulls out to add privacy to these two sleeping areas.

A forward private stateroom with double bed, plenty of storage, a large hanging locker and a private door into the head rounds out the bow section. The head is, as always, small, but the separate shower stall is comfortably ample.

But what about that final feature boat owners requested, low maintenance? The Santego 38 offers that too.

The three-piece engine hatch boards with drainage channels are a mechanic’s dream, giving full access to the engine area, water systems and fuel systems. The use of ball valves, seacocks, grounded through-hulls and proper fuel and water hoses indicate Carver has listened to what many boat owners said about standard factory equipment. All these components are tied to the integral stringer system, made of hand laid woven roving and fiberglassed to the hull. This stiffens the hull, making it strong without adding excess weight.

“We built the stringers as one piece, without the usual wood core,” Nocente said. They’re heavily built, with tapered sides for strength. We felt the use of wood to stiffen the stringer wasn’t needed. The glass molded around the wood gave ample stiffening and strength once it cured, so we mold the stringers without wood cores.”

The hull below the waterline has no wood either, I learned. The balsa core fiberglass begins above the waterline, principally for insulation.

I wish I’d had a week at Catalina Island to put the Santego 38 through its paces: Several of its features could only be appreciated on an extended vacation. The boat is designed for fun cruising, for people who have owned boats before and decided that serious fishing or mechanical puttering aren’t high on their priority lists.

Unfortunately, the test boat was only the prototype model, due to be trucked back to Carver’s