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Thread: Dive Boat - Not a DPV, or is it?

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Default Dive Boat - Not a DPV, or is it?

    OK, I don't know if anyone here will be able to help me with this question, but I thought I would toss it out there just to get some input.

    I am looking to purchase a new boat...... for diving of course. I am going to use it for other boating activities as well. Anyway this is what I am looking for, and anyone with any insight just jump in.

    I want something as small as I can find that will allow at least 4 passangers, be useful as a dive boat, be trailerable, and able to go at least 10 miles offshore (NJ area mostly). Basically what is the smallest size boat I can go offshore in? I understand the size will limit the conditions I can go out in, so something for the nicer calmer days. Which boat is most useful as a dive boat for recreational wreck diving? Feel free to add anything that I am missing.

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    Waterman Tigerbeach's Avatar
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    Hey Ace,
    Back in my Dive charter days we had a Boston Whaler. 24' twin 200 Mercs. Stand up bridge and open bow. She did everything we needed her to do in the raging Hawaiian currents; carried 6 divers and gear at work; even pulled me on waterskiis afterwards!
    We had enough juice to run the channel over to Kauai or Molokai, too.
    Unsinkable, great insurance rates for a charter boat.
    I can't say enough about her.

    Let me know what you end up doing, OK?
    Last edited by Tigerbeach; 09-19-2007 at 05:43 AM.
    ASW


    "Don't believe everything you think"

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    I will let you know. I am still in the process of shopping and looking at my options. I figure this is the time of year to do it as the boating season is near the end. I know there should be some good deals on leftover models as well as some used boats.

    I have always loved Boston Whalers, but as I am sure you know they are very expensive compaired to similar boats. I know you get what you pay for though.

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    Master of Mask Mold seasnake's Avatar
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    My friend and I dive out of a 14' inflatable. We have had four divers in it and if packed right it works great. Very stable, easy to climb in and out of. (as mentioned in another thread, we hang lanyards with ss clips over the side before we splash, and when you get back to the boat just clip your gear off before climbing in.)
    I worked on a project last year where we had a 24' RHIB with twin 90's on the back. 6-8 divers with 5 tanks each no problem, and the same stability and ease of ingress/egress. And the thing would scoot, too!

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    In the UK, most club diving - and, one or two, commercial operations- use RHIB's. Fast, stable, capable of carrying up to 8 divers + kit and able to travel a fair way off shore - with the proper safety equipment, of course! -.
    Their main disadvantage is the fact that you are totally exposed to the elements, but in appropriate diving apparel, this is not a major issue. Many UK dive clubs operate all year round in almost all conditions and sea states.

    Here in Australia, recreational boating is a big thing, and 5-6m half-cabin or central console aluminium cruisers, or "Tinnies" are very popular.
    A boat is on my own -far future- shopping list. At a local boat show last year, I came within a whisker of buying a brand new 6m half cabin cruiser with 250 Mercury outboard, GPS, VHF, all the safety gear and trailer. I was actually sat, pen in hand, with all the paperwork spread out in front of me, the salesman nodding encouragingly when the insistent voice of my conscience broke through my reverie and shouted.
    "What the Hell are you doing? ! You haven't got $50,000!".
    Thankfully, I listened or my wife would have killed me!
    SSMD Diver.

    Today is a good day to Dive.

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    Cave Diver amtrosie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by acelockco View Post
    OK, I don't know if anyone here will be able to help me with this question, but I thought I would toss it out there just to get some input.

    I am looking to purchase a new boat...... for diving of course. I am going to use it for other boating activities as well. Anyway this is what I am looking for, and anyone with any insight just jump in.

    I want something as small as I can find that will allow at least 4 passangers, be useful as a dive boat, be trailerable, and able to go at least 10 miles offshore (NJ area mostly). Basically what is the smallest size boat I can go offshore in? I understand the size will limit the conditions I can go out in, so something for the nicer calmer days. Which boat is most useful as a dive boat for recreational wreck diving? Feel free to add anything that I am missing.


    Ace,

    Having dove off of Jersey, and seen the weather/conditions change quickly, I am wondering about the wisdom of finding the "smallest" boat. A boat should be bought for the worst conditions to be faced, not the calmest. That isn't to say that 110' yacht is required, but neither would I go for a 14' open style boat either.

    just my 2 psi.

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    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    I agree with you 100%

    What I was meaning is the smallest boat that would be recommended. I was thinking about a 21 footer though.

    I am looking at a 25 foot Welcraft walkaround cabin, but I know my car can not tow that kind of weight. The other option is to dock it somewhere, but that is another expense.

    Then I started thinking about the RHIB boats, and I bet a 19 footer with twin outboards might be an answer. I know my car could tow one of those, and they seem to be able to handle all kinds of nasty waters. It is just hard to throw down that kind of cash on an inflatable boat as they are just about the same price as a traditional boat of similar size.

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    Master of Mask Mold seasnake's Avatar
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    The rigid hulls are very durable.

    We almost always assemble gear and dress in exposure suits before leaving the wharf.

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    Registered Users hbh2oguard's Avatar
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    Ace you have one more option, get the boat and a bigger car to tow it with But I have a 13ft RIB that works great for two divers, diving pretty close to shore. I went the eco friendly way and got a 4 stroke which weighs the same as the boat so it doesn't go as fast as I hoped but it gets me there. RIB's are pratically unsinkable too just like a whaler because mine is foam filled on top of the tubes.

  10. #10
    Wreck Diving Moderator acelockco's Avatar
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    Do you mean that instead of air in the tubes, there is foam?

    What brand and model RIB do you have?


    As far as the bigger boat, that will be done eventually. I would like to start out with something smaller to begin with and work my way up.

    At this point with winter on it's way, I am going to do the boat show thing to check out what is out there.

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