360 Sport Sedan

B

BryanK

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
RO Number
17747
Messages
35
I am looking for some opinions on this boat. I am in the market for a more spacious boat--I currently own a 2004 Formula 34 PC--for my wife and kids (6 & 7).

I recently checked out a 410 Sport Sedan and really liked the layout. However, the boat may actually be more boat than I want to take on right now. I like that the 360 has a similar layout (albeit, more condensed) and can easily be managed by my wife and I.

Does anyone own this model or have any experience with it? I'd be looking for something 2003 or newer.

Thank you!
 
We looked hard a 2003 carver 36 sport sedan before we bought our silverton. I think it's a good boat but the bridge is pretty darn small and the bow is as well. If you're in the carver line i'd seriously look at the 38 super sport- same exact layout but just a hair bigger.
Of course, I'd be remiss in my duties if I also didn't suggest you look at the silverton 38 sport bridge. I'd be really remiss if I also failed to mention that ours is for sale and best price in the USA! See the classified section!

Seriously though- check out the carver 38 before you decide on the 36. We liked the layout but one thing we wanted were the separate shower and head compartments that neither the 36 or 38 carver have. We loved the raised dinette though.
 
The carver 38 and the 36 are the same boat. My buddy bought one last year , we brought it up from wilmington , nc to annapolis md. Great boat, fly bridge is not small but smaller than the silverton 38 (duh). We had it in 6 to 8 ft seas, not comfortable but dealt with it OK. Overall an ungly boay but great internal accomodations. Get one with diesesl - they suck gas - whether its a carver 36 or a silverton 38. The only thing that would stop me from buying the boat, is when you are in the front stateroom, if you close the door, there is not enough room between the inside of the door and the edge of the bed to turn around nd undress !
 
I have a Carver 38SS. It is not really the Same boat as a 36 Carver. The Cockpit is HUGE much larger then the 36 & 38 Silverton.I looked at Both.The Cockpit is what sold me. It's great for my SON. Plenty of room for entertaining. Also the GIANT swim platform. Also the Carver 38 SS Guest Stateroom is a QUEEN size bed not bunks. The 36SS & 38SS are Similar in many aspects as far as the interior. The couch is bigger and it's a 2 ft Longer. But the COCKPIT as well as the Flybridge are Bigger. The 36 & 38 Silverton are nice as well. But compare all aspects of the BOATS. Since I spend most of the TIME in the cockpit and so does my FAMILY. The other MODELS don't even come close. To see them is to Believe what i am saying. MY friend has a 36ss and a my other friend has a Silverton 36. We spend most evenings on the Back of my Boat.

Sean
 
What is your intended use from this boat? I don't particularly like Carver, but with that said, your use and the waters you travel, it may be a better choice than Silverton. If you are looking for total comfort, little draft, floating condo, I would look at Meridian. As far as diesel or gas, again, this depends on your intended use of this boat, don't discount gas boats. If you are a weekend boater, 5 or 6 months a year, gas is what you want, not diesel.

Carver is a nice, well built boat, IMHO, they have not kept up with the times and our over priced for what you get. Silverton is nice, quality boat, Meridian IMHO, wants your business, offers you more. Look at all three, you will see where I am coming from.
 
I agree with Sean- the 38 SS by carver has an absolutely huge cockpit- probably the biggest i've ever seen on a 38 boat...MUCH bigger than the silverton 38 sport bridge (like 3 times as big!). Don't forget to really compare engine room access between boats. I looked through a 38 carver earlier this summer when a friend was looking at one and was a little surprised at the difference in engine room space between the carver 38 and the silverton 38 (carver was much smaller but adequate- silverton's is just huge).

Meridian 391 would also be a good option to look at per Walter's recommendation.
 
Bryan,
Don't buy new,used is the way to go, also look at the Regal flybridge boat. IMHO the 38 Sport Bridge Silveton is a winner, hands down, all around best value in that size.

Walter
 
Thanks for the feedback. I agree that the 38 SS is bigger in terms of exterior dimensions... something I need to consider. I am not a fan of the Silverton 38 Sport Bridge (no offense), but I do like the Silverton 38C. In fact, I nearly put an offer in on one a few months ago.

The Silverton 36C is a consideration, but I'm not sure about the bridge on that boat. I hate canvas, and without a venturi windshield, I feel like I would always have to have it up. Plus, without a hard top it doesn't look as good with the canvas down (minor details, but something to consider).

I really did not like the ride of the Meridian 341, but we also had 12 people taking a "test ride" at a dealer event. That may have had something to do with it. I also cringe at the Meridian brand name... especially when I will be coming out of a Formula.

As far as usage, I boat on Lake Erie. Gassers are without a doubt the better deal for me. I put 50 hours on my boat in a good year. The Lake Erie Islands (Put-In-Bay, etc.), Cedar Point, Maumee Bay, etc. are all within 12 miles of my marina. I also have a Scout center console that we use to run the family to the islands for the day when the conditions are good. In other words, I'm looking more for a floating condo for my next boat.

I'd love to hear from owners of the Carver 36... what is good, what is bad?

Thanks!
 
we have a 2004 360 Sport Sedan. we do love the boat and use it for cruising from Ct to Block Island, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket.

ours does have gas engines and yes it drinks a lot of it. also, it is tru that the cockpit is rather small. those are the only negative charachteristics we have about the boat. it handles great - even in moderately rough seas - and the living space is very comfortable for my family. my wife and I usually travel with one of our three kids - any more than that and it might not be so comfortable. we do agree with the comment about being difficult to change in the master state room with the door closed, though. we have 6 people in the bridge often when at port - and it's not real roomy but it is comfortable - specially for a 36 foot boat.

I do all of the routine service on it. everything has reasonably good access - particulaly with the oil exchanger. so far we have had no major problems whatsoever.

in the interest of full disclosure - the boat that we are looking at for the next upgrade is a Silverton 48 convertible. we do like Carvers a lot but we have looked at the Carvers in that size and just prefer the layout of the Silverton much better.
 
If you look at a Silverton 34-36c make sure you get a 2006 or later, these years have the center island berth in the master stateroom, only fault I find with my boat is the berth in the stateroom.

Marisol,
My next upgrade will be the 45c Silverton, 48 wont fit in my slip.
 
Here I am S....The 360 Super Sport is a nice boat...decent runner and all. The 38 Sport Sedan, however, is more than just a 2 foot longer boat...the extra length actually helps the boat run much better. We recently sold a 38SS to a guy that had a 360 Sport Sedan...he's amazed at the differences in the boats. He also loves the aft helm available on the 38SS. He's now ready to upgrade yet again...to the 43 Super Sport...time will tell. I would not avoid the 360SS as they were a popular boat and very enjoyable...there is one available in Vermilion, BryanK
 
Kenny,

Is the boat in Vermillion a brokered boat?

Thanks for the input on both the 36 and 38. I also just saw a 396 become available that may work as well. The only problem there is that the admiral is a not a fan of the motoryacht style.

Right now, I've narrowed my search down to Silverton 38C, Carver 36/38, Carver 396, Sea Ray 400 Sedan. Choices, choices...
 
If 38C is on your list avoid 2003 models, late 2004 and newer are ok.
 
I really like the layout of the sea ray 400 sedan myself! Several of the folks on our dock have that boat and it's got a great layout IMO. Only issue is don't raft up with a silverton next to them in rocky conditions- they won't stand up to the banging I can assure you! The 400 has a big cockpit with built in bench and good staterooms, 2 heads, a nice dinette, good bow area, and a good bridge for the size. Only issue for me are the windows in the salon are pretty darn small for the size boat it is but I do like the layout. Haven't crawled in the engine room on them though so not sure of layout, etc. for maint.
Seriously though- we were rafted to a 400 sedan that got beat up pretty bad by our boat when an idiot rocked the raft up with his massive waves. My boat barely sustained a scratch- the sea ray had some bad gelcoat damage and most amazingly the stainless steel bowrail on the searay got completely bent to heck by our boat, yet no damage to us at all. Silvertons, I have decided, are amazingly tough boats and I would not hesitate to buy one again (if they made a pilothouse which is what we want in our next boat!).
Really though, all the boats you listed are very good boats for what you are proposing IMO. The aft cabin design is not my cup of tea due to all the stairs going up and down but the 396 has a nice layout too.
Listen to Walter on model years to avoid!
 
BryanK...yes, the one in Vermilion is on brokerage with the area Carver dealer. Send me an E-mail for further information: ramsport47 at yahoo.com
 
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