What makes a great dive boat?

[TSandM]

A couple more questions . . . Are you envisioning weekend dive trips, or day trips? If the former, where are you going to get your fills, and is Nitrox available there?

Second, when you have divers on board, are you going to dive off a tender or off the main boat? (Dive gear is very hard on fine woodwork!)

And finally, what are you envisioning for price?

If the answers to those questions work for me, you will see me on your boat. I really want to do more BC diving!

 

[muddiver]

1. Overhead stoage over the diver benches for small breakable stuff (a tight knit cargo net hammock type works good).

2. At least 10 square feet of space for each diver to dress out for a dive.

3. deep benches that excess gear or bags can be stored under, or designated dive bag storage. I have been on one boat that had platforms on the gunwhles that hung out over the side with bungie straps to lay dive bags on. It saved deck space, but was a little percarious if you were trying to stoe something.

4. A head accessable from the wet (main) deck with enough space for a diver to pull their dry suit down and use the head.

5. Snack area that is accessable on the wet deck so divers are not dripping water all over the dry (i.e. state room) areas. Also a waist high table (2' X 3' is big enough) to sign log books and paperwork on is good.

6. Depending on the number of divers chartered, a Rubbermaid medium to large storage tub filled with fresh water makes a good camera rinse bucket. Have a smaller bucket near the dive exit with either fresh or salt water for divers to rinse mask before jumping off the boat. Clearly identify both with signs so there is no mistaking the camera rinse for a mask rinse.

7. A designated location off the deck for cameras and other wet delicate gear that is away from the snack area.

8. The 45 gal. drum would make a better post-trip equipment rinse tub. I wouldn't fill it until headding back to port so divers can dip their dive kit before returning to dock.

9. Dedicated wet suit hanging locations are nice. There is a boat in Hawaii that has a rail down the center line that wet suits are laid over to drain and the additional scuba cylinders are stored underneath in a row of two along the center line of the boat.

10. Lots of hand holds, like 1 1/2" railings where ever divers need to move about. Divers in their gear are top heavy and need places to grab to stay up right.

11. Most important, the hand rails on the dive ladder(s) must be wide enough for a fully rigged diver to get up. 2 feet and 6 inches from rail to rail is probably good. And divers should be able to reach the railings from in the water as they get ready to climb, and the rails or some type of hand hold should be accessable all the way up to the deck. The bottom rung of the exit ladder should be around 4 or 5 feet under water when the ladder is deployed. It sould also be secured so that it does not bounch up and down when the boat moves with teh swell and waves. Pich points where the divers need to clib up are bad and I have seen a number of poorly designed ladders that bounch up and down with exposed hinges to pinch fingers.

Without looking at your vessel I don't have any other comments. If it has a typical tug boat gunwhale that runs around the back deck you might want to think about steps up to a small landing on the gunwhale and then steps down to the water or swim step where the ladder(s) will top out at.

 

[MVReliant]

Lots of info this is great. Once again VRBO.com for pics #274896 in the search.
I have lots of room for tanks under the aft deck and above the house and up forward. 50 tanks I dont think would be a problem. I can build benches on aft deck and grab rails. I would add more railings along the sides as per transport Canada.
Head with hot shower is on wet deck. Floors in galley and side cabins all wood and no prob if there is dripping. Keep in mind she is a tug and intended for hard in her day. No bright work of note to be worried about. Shes a tough old girl just restored to working quality not show quality. Only carpeted cabin is the main cabin with the twin bunk.There are 3 bunks and more storage in the Fore Peak.Drying room/sleeping/storage.Ladder climb down. This boat has lots of room!! The engine room is 10 ft high.Super warm and dry with room for hanging clothes safely away from machinery.
Price has to depend on destination and time. I can tell you that $1000.00 per 24 hrs no frills would help me get started. That would be boat/ crew. You bring the dive master and 6 divers.
Would any one like to come to Gibsons and tour the boat? I could throw some ferry fares in.

You can email me through the web site to make arrangements.

It sounds like I am in good shape so far. Some benches and railings and very important ladders need to be added. I think a platform or tender may be in order. Racks for tanks up top no problem.

My thought is 24 hr trips. Close by Gibsons to start so you can night dive. Hoping Annapolis may be sunk close by???

 

[jar546]

Great response below. I will add my 2 cents:

1. Overhead stoage over the diver benches for small breakable stuff (a tight knit cargo net hammock type works good). Agree +1

2. At least 10 square feet of space for each diver to dress out for a dive. 3x3 is not asking much, agree.

3. deep benches that excess gear or bags can be stored under, or designated dive bag storage. I have been on one boat that had platforms on the gunwhles that hung out over the side with bungie straps to lay dive bags on. It saved deck space, but was a little percarious if you were trying to stoe something. Very important that you are comfortable with your gear storage which is always a problem

4. A head accessable from the wet (main) deck with enough space for a diver to pull their dry suit down and use the head. Amen to that, don't like bouncing around and getting pee spray in my drysuit

5. Snack area that is accessable on the wet deck so divers are not dripping water all over the dry (i.e. state room) areas. Also a waist high table (2' X 3' is big enough) to sign log books and paperwork on is good. Agree but more of a wish list for me

6. Depending on the number of divers chartered, a Rubbermaid medium to large storage tub filled with fresh water makes a good camera rinse bucket. Have a smaller bucket near the dive exit with either fresh or salt water for divers to rinse mask before jumping off the boat. Clearly identify both with signs so there is no mistaking the camera rinse for a mask rinse. Just about standard on all boats

7. A designated location off the deck for cameras and other wet delicate gear that is away from the snack area. Again, wish list only for me

8. The 45 gal. drum would make a better post-trip equipment rinse tub. I wouldn't fill it until headding back to port so divers can dip their dive kit before returning to dock. Agree, post trip only, use that space for something else

9. Dedicated wet suit hanging locations are nice. There is a boat in Hawaii that has a rail down the center line that wet suits are laid over to drain and the additional scuba cylinders are stored underneath in a row of two along the center line of the boat. Wish list again, could live without it

10. Lots of hand holds, like 1 1/2" railings where ever divers need to move about. Divers in their gear are top heavy and need places to grab to stay up right. BIG yes for safety. Agree!

11. Most important, the hand rails on the dive ladder(s) must be wide enough for a fully rigged diver to get up. 2 feet and 6 inches from rail to rail is probably good. And divers should be able to reach the railings from in the water as they get ready to climb, and the rails or some type of hand hold should be accessable all the way up to the deck. The bottom rung of the exit ladder should be around 4 or 5 feet under water when the ladder is deployed. It sould also be secured so that it does not bounch up and down when the boat moves with teh swell and waves. Pich points where the divers need to clib up are bad and I have seen a number of poorly designed ladders that bounch up and down with exposed hinges to pinch fingers. Absolutely. A ladder capable of being used with fins is another potential option.

Without looking at your vessel I don't have any other comments. If it has a typical tug boat gunwhale that runs around the back deck you might want to think about steps up to a small landing on the gunwhale and then steps down to the water or swim step where the ladder(s) will top out at.

 

[jar546]

One more item. No one wants to spend an hour one way just to get 4 miles off shore. Speed is important.

 

[Lee Taylor]

I INSTALLED A HOT SHOWER ON THE AFT DECK.

For some divers, especially in the Southeast US, this is worth its weight in gold.

When the water and weather turns cool, having the ability to easily fill ones wetsuit (few dry suits in the south) with warm water is of great value. Cold water cannot rush in due to the warm water. The diver maintains heat and energy. A suit full of warm water makes a much more enjoyable dive in the cooler weather. It is a way to extend your dive season.

I dont know how to say this other than just spit it out. Some divers like to flush their wetsuits after a dive. It promotes good hygiene. A warm water shower is a pleasant way to accomplish this.

For these reasons, a warm water shower would be seen as a BIG FEATURE to me.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Clearly identify both with signs so there is no mistaking the camera rinse for a mask rinse.

This is critical. There are always some that have no respect for others, and will intentionally toss their mask in the camera bucket.

 

[muddiver]

This is critical. There are always some that have no respect for others, and will intentionally toss their mask in the camera bucket.

That is why I have #12 steel toe boots on my dry suit. Mask crushing capacty is excellant!

BTW MVRelient, beautiful boat.

 

[paddler3d]

The tug is yours? Just want to make sure I saw the right thing.

For an actual dive boat, I like the Flying Fish out of Cape Hatteras. It is a dive boat.

Each diver has enough area to secure and don doubles and a drysuit right. The deck on top of the dive platform is a great place to chill. They have bean bag chairs up there.

If the weather is bad, the cabin is comfortable.

The ladders are fin friendly.

There is a hang bar with emergency regs on it.

There is a granny line from the back of the boat to the mooring line.

The wrecks off NC are 30 miles sometimes. Speed is important.

Free water! Charge me for sodas, that is fine.

A briefing on the conditions and the dive site, make sure my air is on and take my fins off or support me while I take them off when I get back on the boat, and that is about all I want from the staff!

Obvious safety gear. I want to be able to glance around and see the O2, see the AED, see the First Aid Kit, see the PFD's that you toss! i want to 'see', actually hear, that radios are on.

Huge tag line out the back of the boat.

Multiple exit points, the side exit as well as the back exit.

 

[mrfixitchapman]

Okay. I'll bite. I've been on dive boats and private boats up and down both coasts. Things that I liked;

'Christmas tree' ladder makes it easy to get up on to the deck with fins still on the feet.

Warm water hose to fill up the wet suit after dive. A boat on Monterey Bay called this the TRD. Thermal Recovery Device


A very nice boat out of Panama City Beach has a coffee maker that makes single cups. Your choice of flavors. Nice touch.

Build a bench that will hold any reasonable diameter tank. Hate having an 8" tank on a dive boat that only accomodates 7 1/2" diameter. Keep your doubles divers in mind, too.

I once dived a boat that kept a large empty cooler in the middle of the deck. Good for seating and excellent for keeping dry stuff dry.

Maps and diagrams of dive sites. Perfect for training and excellent for orientation and planning.

More later after I think about it and look over a dive log or two.

DC