Boat Review: 366 Carver Motoryacht

Boat Review: 366 Carver Motoryacht

Source: Boattest.com

Formerly the 348, the 366 Motoryacht from Carver combines elements of a yacht with elements of an express cruiser to create a uniquely designed vessel. With absolutely no bulkheads between the galley, salon and dinette, Carver designers have enhanced the spaciousness that truly defines comfort and livability. The unique raised walkdeck design allows the cabin to run the entire beam giving the interior the same feel as much larger yachts.

Cruising Comfort at its Finest
Ever wonder what a boat would be like if a yacht and an express cruiser were melded into one? Well, the 366 Motoryacht from Carver is a good example of just that.

The new 366 Motoryacht fits nicely between the 356 and 396 models and further enhances the motoryacht experience. Boarding at the integral transom, there is a three step stainless steel swim ladder and molded-in steps leading to the aft lounge. The molded-in steps are a Carver staple and extremely sturdy. Up top in the lounge area, we found there to be a great deal of space. After decorating with your choice of patio furniture, you can entertain guests and not have to leave the helm which is directly forward of the lounge.

Up at the helm, we found that Carver paid attention to every last detail. There is plenty of room to flush mount your choice of electronics. As with all Carvers, it is a center line helm. There are only two pedestal seats as opposed to the three that are standard on most Carvers. A tilt wheel gave us the ability to stand or sit while driving this beauty. All the way starboard is a freshwater sink and a fridge underneath. Above the helm is a rear arch, that when you have your canvas down, creates an enclosed covering to keep you safe from the foul weather.

Unfortunately,the saloon is not one level since it has a big step down near the entrance, however it is wide open and roomy. Carver uses structural tricks so they don’t have to put bulkheads in resulting in a “full beam” saloon. The raised walkdeck design gives the interior of the 366 the same feeling of space and comfort as much larger yachts.

Within the confines of the large yacht in an L-shaped ultraleather lounge with a pull-out sleeper sofa optional for the guests you can’t sleep in the two large staterooms. A large facing dinette seats at least 4 adults comfortably. There are 3 televisions and 3 DVD players onboard the 366 and one of each is located in the saloon. The AC electrical panel is also cleverly located and easily accessible adjacent to the entertainment center.

The engine room has a very clean installation. Standard power on the 366 are twin 385-hp Crusader 6.0 MPI engines. There was plenty of room to get around them and good access to all the fuel fills, although we found the oil dipstick on the port side a bit difficult to reach. The engine is fresh water cooled and Carver has included dripless shaft seals.

The Wall-Vac system used aboard the 366 comes standard and is a very nice touch located in close proximity to the galley. Carver milks all the space it can by getting 10% more storage with a side-by-side galley configuration. The galley features a single stainless steel sink, solid surface countertops, 2 burner Princess hotplates, Sharp Carousel microwave, Black and Decker coffeemaker, and a cleverly situated refrigerator/freezer that opens aft so things won’t fall all over the place when you’re underway. We found the galley to be the same size as many condominium kitchens and between the 4 storage drawers and lazy susan, Carver’s reputation for mass quantities of space is well intact.

The staterooms are very large with one all the way forward and the owner’s stateroom aft. The forward stateroom has a very large double bed and a full size hanging locker with storage cabinet and shelf.

A day head is located on the port side and is equipped with two medicine cabinets, Corian counters, lots of storage, and a shower combo. The owner’s stateroom is smaller than the forward VIP cabin, but also has good storage and a full size hanging locker, above which houses the third TV/DVD combo found on this beauty. This cabin has its own en suite head and shower with separate shower stall.

We found the performance on this vessel to be quite strong. A top speed of 37.1 mph was registered at 4400 rpm. The best cruise was at 3500 rpm, coming in at 27.3 mph and burning 40.8 gallons an hour. You can expect a range of 118 miles at this speed.

The Carver 366 Motoryacht is new for 2003 and figures to be a strong seller in the Carver line. She is very spacious, innovative, and has outstanding livability. Whether you’re entertaining, extended cruising, or simply stretching her legs, the 366 from Carver has it all.

Wide and Roomy

Carver uses structural tricks to do away with bulkheads, giving the interior of the 366 the same feeling of space and comfort as much larger yachts

Room to Work

The galley features a single stainless steel sink, solid surface countertops, 2-burner hotplates, microwave, coffeemaker, and a cleverly situated refrigerator/freezer

Large Staterooms

The staterooms are very large and packed with innovative features like a flip down TV/DVD player over the bed area for the ultimate in convenience.

Boat Specification: 366 Carver Motoryacht

Length Overall            36′ 11”

Dry Weight                 21,800 lbs.

Beam                           13′ 2”

Fuel Cap                      196 gal.

Draft                           3′ 2”

Water Cap                   70 gal.

Deadrise/Transom       N/A

Bridge Clearance        17′ 10”

Max Headroom           6′ 5”

Std. Power                  2 x Crusader 6.0 MPI

Tested Power              2 x 385-hp Crusader 8.1 EFI engines

Opt. Power                  Crusader, Merc, Volvo up 8.1 gas engines
Cummins, Volvo diesels up to 300 KAMD