Carver Yacht Group
5/23/2005 10:28:37 AM by
Very few boat companies surviveto celebrate 50-plusyears on the water. To navigatethe decades of growth andunpredictable marine sales, a companymust have a vision along witha strong commitment to quality andpride of craftsmanship.
The Carver Yacht Group facedchallenging times but never lost itsfocus to deliver the worlds best luxurymotor yachts. Carver YachtGroups two brands of Carver andMarquis Yachts have made Carver anicon in the boating industry.
Carver is the No. 1 selling brand ofcommand bridge motor yachts in the32- to 55-foot market. It also dominatesthe large yacht market. In 2004,Carver led the U.S. in the 55-foot plusmotor yacht segment, including allyachts of all types valued above $1million. This is an amazing achievementfor a company with humblebeginnings that never lost its focusor dedication.
What started out as two fledgingboat builders selling their crafts totheir friends, turned into a boatingdynasty. Milwaukee businessmenCharlie Carter and GeorgeVerhagen got together in Georgesgarage to build mahogany-planked,high speed runabouts. What firstbegan as a hobby, soon turned intoa business. By combining the firstthree letters of each of their lastnames, the Carver Boat Companywas born.
Carver is the companys signaturebrand and has earned a reputationproviding style, contemporarydesign and unparalleled exteriorand interior accommodations.With one visit to their sprawlingnortheast Wisconsin campus itseasy to see the heritage of thisMidwest company, but moreimportantly a glimpse of the futurein design and technology.
Carver Yachts are built entirelyin-house, handcrafted, one yacht ata time. Carver is highly verticallyintegrated with its own in-housewood, electrical, metal, fiberglassand upholstery shops. This enablesCarver to closely manage the detailsin each and every boat. A quick tourof the campus showcases theunique Carver difference and craftsmanshipwithin each of its manufacturingdepartments.
The wood shop retains much ofthe heritage using hand assembledmaterials, doweled and glued theold fashioned craftsmans way for astronger, tighter fit. Every wood partand component -- doors, drawers,cabinets, and bulkheads are producedin-house. Carver uses only qualitygradewoods harvested from the topone percent of U.S. forest products.Real cherry and maple are used on allCarver models, never plastic, and arefinished by hand using a six- to eightstepmethod to retain the beautifuland durable high gloss finish.Carvers handcraftsmanship isunparalleled in the industry in bothdetail and quality.
The upholstery shop goes beyondthe normal bedspreads and pillows.Carver designs and manufacturers allupholstered components, soft goods,exterior seating and bolsters in-house.Color coordinated upholstery anddrapery fabrics are specially selected,meticulously cut, and hand sewnwith precision. Carver even sews itsown canvas tops so that they are customfit to each and every model. Fordurability, they use scratch resistant60 mil Strataglass thats UV protectedand impervious to the foggy appearanceseen in lesser quality materials.
At Carver, boating enthusiastswill find the worlds best fiberglassexperts using the latest technology.Every Carver hull is a compositestringer system, an uncommonpractice in the marine industry. Thecomposite fabrication provideslighter weight and more strength.Most importantly, it helps preventthe potential of core deteriorationfrom water penetration and protectsthe structural integrity of theengine mounts.
The in-house design and developmentteam consists of more than 100men and women developing the nextgeneration of Carver Yachts with ablend of craftsmanship and technology.The design team continually introducesthree or four new models ayear. Quite an undertaking and notseen frequently within the yacht manufacturingindustry.
The metal shop is quite impressivewith a state-of-the-art laser water jetcutter. Carver produces in-house allits rails and cleats using 316-gradestainless steel. Rail systems are continuous-welded in sections forincreased strength and reliability. Railstanchion bases are double weldedinside and out for maximum strengthand prevents surface corrosion.
The biggest asset on the Carvercampus is the dedicated and talentedmen and women who make up the1,200-plus work force. Backed by astrong Midwest work ethic, experiencedCarver employees are dedicatedto building the finest yachts in theworld. More than half the Carvercraftspeople average more than 20years of experience, a key reasonbehind their well earned reputationfor quality.
But Carver reaches beyond, andpursues relationships with worldclassdesign teams from around theglobe. Its in-house design and developmentteam working with additionaloutside specialists who excelin the field of superior design andhave introduced new levels of interiorand exterior styling and influencethe dynamic new look of Carversupcoming head-turning models.
2003 was another definingmoment for the Carver Yacht Group,a major turning point that changedthe course of its future and set a newstandard of luxury for motor yachts.
Carver introduced its ultra luxuryMarquis brand. The design anddevelopment of the Marquis class isthe result of a unique collaborationbetween the Carver Yacht Group andItalys Nuvolari-Lenard, one of themost respected naval design andarchitecture firms in the world.Their reputation for cutting edgedesign and style is clearly evident inthe Marquis exquisitely Eurostyled,state-of-the-art exterior andinterior ever.
But that was just the beginning ofthe grand and beautiful new class ofyachts. The first entry for the Marquisclass was the 59 Marquis in 2003 followedby the 65 Marquis at the 2004Miami International Boat Show.
The Carver Yacht Group is currentlyworking on Hull No. 59 ofthe 59 Marquis and Hull No. 39 ofthe 65. This has proven to be themost successful launch ever in themarine industry for boats 50-feetand over. Now, the decidedly elegantMarquis class introduces twonew yachts, the 86 and the 78. Thelarger Marquis will be built at theCarver Yacht Groups state-of-theartfacilities in Fano, Italy, home tosome of the worlds most prestigiousItalian boat builders.
The Marquis class creates the ultimatestatement in luxury and livability.Marquis features luxurious staterooms,five-star amenities and richmaterials like marble, granite, exoticwoods and fine leather. Marquis isproof that the blending of twovisions is indeed a thing of beauty.Boaters can look for the 78 and 86Marquis to make their NorthAmerican debut in 2006. For thoseindividuals who cannot wait to seethese new models, the Carver YachtGroup invites them to personallytour their Italian facilities and seatrial one of these models in Europe.
With the strong presence in the 50-foot plus market, the Carver YachtGroup focused building the next generationof Carver Yachts. After thehighly, successful collaboration withNuvolari-Lenard, the Carver YachtGroup partnered with another leadingdesign firm, BMW Design Group tohelp influence and style the new 43Motor Yacht. The 43 Motor Yacht,with its innovative windows and dramaticexterior design, makes it debutduring the fall and winter boat shows.
Carver Yachts continues to dominatethe market with new productintroductions. This year proves noexception with the new 33 SuperSport Mid-Cabin, the 43 Motor Yachtand the latest technology usingVolvos IPS Drive System with the 38Super Sport and the all new 42 SuperSport which will premiere at the FortLauderdale Boat Show.
Once again a partnership withCarver Yachts proved highly successful.The recently launched 38 SuperSport with Volvo IPS 400 drive systemhas the docks buzzing withexcitement, according to a companyspokesman. This has been one of themost successful launches of the IPSSystem for Volvo. And, combinedwith the styling and accommodationsof a Carver Yacht, it is the best completepackage in its category today,the spokesman says. The new VolvoIPS drive enhances Carver Yachtswith better performance, better fueleconomy, less engine exhaust noise,less draft and better handling. Thefirst set of tests is showing an amazing30 percent fuel efficiency, he said.
The Carver Yacht Group deliversquality and value. Walking aboardthe 33 Super Sport, a boater will recognizethe same luxurious wood andmaterials found in the larger CarverYachts. In fact, where other boat companiescharge extra for air conditioning,generator and other boatingessentials in this boat size, each andevery Carver is fully featured withthe amenities one would expect for ahigher standard of yachting.
Another feature is the Carver confidencefound in its warranty one ofthe strongest in the industry.Carvers 7-5-1 provides seven yearsprotection on the hull and deck structure,five years against blistering ofthe hull laminate and a one yearcomprehensive on all other manufacturedparts. But, what sets Carverapart, is that its warranty is fullytransferable, unlike other manufacturerswho use percentages insteadof actual years of coverage.
The Carver Yacht Group continuesa dedicated focus buildingonly the finest motor yachts in theworld. Carver Yacht Group hasmaintained its success by blending atradition of fine craftsmanship witha clear vision of the future.
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CARVER YACHT GROUP
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