Tim,
What would we have done different....... Good question! The only option we did not order on Karma was the diesel furnace. We got the a/c with the reverse cycle heat. We use electric heaters when at the dock and on the hook with the generator. We keep Karma in Seattle so it does get cold and this arrangement has worked out well.
I would not have ordered the bimini. I would have went right for the hard top which we are currently having custom made. If you are interested in a bimini..... we have one for sale cheap!
If you go to our photo album you can also see some of the additional changes that we have made.
As for handling. She does great. We have been in five to six foot wind waves and she did great! Rain-x the windshields and you will never have to use the wipers! Have a fan of some sort hard wired that you can have blowing on the windshield. It does have a tendency to fog when you are taking the waves over the bow.... all that cold water against the cold glass....
She handles fine in tight quarters. We take her in and out of the slip 90% of the time without the use of the thrusters.
We have averaged a fuel burn of 4 gallons per hour with an average speed of 9 knots. We currently have 98 hours on Karma. We have only had her now for 4 months.
Other than a few minor bugs which Ranger Tugs has been very responsive in solving, we have no issues or complaints. We love the boat and do not regret for one minute having purchased her.
As for mounting a dinghy, yes you can. There are several options to doing this. Ours will be carried on the hard top. Zuma has theirs hanging on davits. Others have used the Weaver davits. If I were going to do a davit, I would do the Hurley. Go to Capt D's Photo Album and you will see these on a R-25.
