It wasn't until about five years ago or so that I really started to pay attention to Carver Yachts. I had looked at a few used models to purchase for my own enjoyment, but that is where the familiarity ended. However, as a senior editor, of a national boating magazine, I was assigned Carver as part of my beat list. Hey some journalists are assigned the police beat, I was assigned one of the leading boatbuilders in the country.Yes, it's a tough gig I know.

I had a couple of initial take aways from my first visit to the company's Pulaski, Wisconsin factory. First, never visit Pulaski in the dead of winter. Secondly, and more importantly, I noticed there was a buzz around the place. Why does this matter? Well, I have a good friend who's been building boats for nearly 25 years, and he's determined that the lack of energy and noise is a telltale sign that things aren't healthy. Based on my visits to boatbuilding factories around the world, I think he's on to something.

What struck me then, and has held true on five subsequent visits to Carver, is the employee's enthusiasm from management down to a colorful chap I met entering his 24th year in the fiberglass shop. If you're still happy after working in a glass shop for nearly a quarter of a century, it speaks volumes about the pride in the product. Walking the production line, it was obvious that Carver employees felt they were part of an exciting venture.

Part of the buzz then could be attributed to new products coming off the line such as the 570 Voyager, the 460 Voyager, and the 44 Cockpit Motor Yacht. They were full of innovations and fresh thinking. Older models were phased out, and a new Carver began to hit the waterways. The buzz continues today with recently introduced models such as the Marquis 59 and 65, and Carver 38. The newest launch at this writing is the 33 Super Sport shown here and on the cover.

To call the 33 an entry-level Carver is misleading. The impression that many of us have about the term "entry-level" is that it's of a lesser quality than the other, larger models. And truthfully some manufacturers do make this a practice, simply because it's often difficult to maintain the necessary profit margins with a smaller model. Carver, on the other hand, knows that many of its buyers trade-up the line. We have a fair amount of buyers who are already on their fourth Carver,said Kim Riley, Carver's Director of Communications. This progression up the line, which every builder hopes to achieve, is much more difficult if the buyer's experience with their first model is mediocre.

This practice is evident when you take a look at the 33's extensive standard equipment list. This phrase is cast about so much in boat reviews that it has become a cliche. In this case, however, it holds true. For example, Carver realizes that most new boat buyers today desire air conditioning and a generator. Instead of making these optional on the 33, Carver included them in the base price. Even items like canvas, a windlass, and a full entertainment system are included in the base price. So when you're comparing base prices, take the time and also compare the list of standard equipment. When I was on the builder side, we had a rule that if an option was ordered more than 40 percent of the time, we would make it standard. More builders should follow this system.

Jim Thorpe, President of Spring Brook Marina in Seneca, Illinois, was gracious enough to make his stock 33 Super Sport available for our test run. She was equipped with the optional Crusader 6.0 MPIs and retailed at $275,975-this was for a very complete boat. At this price, all you need to do is throw on some cold beer, a couple of heros, a few T-shirts, head up the Illinois River and you're cruising.

The real appeal of the 33 Super Sport, however, isn?Ĵt just that it represents a good value in this size range. It's simply a well designed boat that is not only very spacious, but is a good performer. "Those engines are tough to beat," Thorpe said, referring to the twin Crusader 6.0 MPIs. They are especially well-suited for the 33 and provide the torque to pop out of the hole quickly and achieve a top speed of 28 knots or about 33 mph. On the bridge, noise was minimal, and we never saw the decibel meter go beyond 75 dB(A). Turns were tight, and there was no tendency to dip the shoulder in the water on the inside of the turn, which is not an unusual trait on some smaller fly bridge sedans such as the 33. "This is impressive," commented Thorpe, who was joining us for his inaugural run. You can expect an average cruising speed in the low 20-knot range all day long. This is more than enough to cover some distance on the Great Lakes. Carver also offers the Crusader 8.1 MPIs as an option.

There are two different fly bridge seating options. On Spring Brook's stock boat, the helm and two chairs were abaft a forward bench seat. There was plenty of room for Thorpe, Riley, Sean O'Leary and me to kick back and enjoy the ride. The line of sight from the helm is good on all points, and the aft location of the helm gives the captain an unobstructed view of the stern while backing down into a tight slip. The other option places the helm forward, just abaft the windshield, but in my opinion the use of space of our test boat?Ĵs layout is tough to beat.

Molded steps flow between the fly bridge and the cockpit. If you have kids or grandkids, you'll appreciate the functionality of this detail. The decks are also easily navigated and safety and grab rails provide security when walking to the bow. I also applaud the two cleats on the side deck for aft and forward springs. It sounds like a small thing, but the devil is in the details. Believe it or not, I've been on 50-footers with only one amidships cleat, and this is often poorly placed. Spring cleats can help you dock like a pro, if used properly.

Although Carver packed in the interior volume, they did not take it away from the aft cockpit. It's approximately 80 squarefeet, giving you the space to pull out several folding chairs and a table for a few appetizers after a day of cruising. The transom door leads to a big swim platform and there is enough storage underneath the cockpit for all your gear.

The first impression of the Carver's interior is of openness and light.You are not crawling into a dark cave. Instead, you're walking into a very inviting little condo. I could be very happy on the 33 for an extended period of time. The Flextseel sofa to starboard features double recliners and is perfectly situated to view the 20-inch LCD television. The 33 comes standard with a full entertainment system that includes a DVD, Sirius satellite radio system, and additional speakers in the forward stateroom and the upper helm.

The engineroom is accessed through the saloon sole, and the general fit and finish represent an improvement over some of the first Carvers I tested several years ago. One odd treatment, however, was the placement of the battery switches. Carver has placed them on top of the battery boxes in the engineroom. I would like to see these more accessible for daily use and in case of an emergency.

One item that did impress me was the warranty. Carver offers a transferrable warranty. It does pay to read the fine print and compare warranties when shopping around for a new boat. This is especially true when it comes to the structural and hull component of the warranty.

If Carver is hoping to capture a loyal following by enticing them with a smaller package, they have succeeded. This is a big 33-footer, packed with a lot of creature comforts, and is a great performer to boot. And when you dive into the equipment list, you'll appreciate the value that the Carver 33 represents. Contact: (920) 822-1600; www.carveryachts.com.