Which boat; cutty or pontoon?

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Been looking at getting a boat, the main purpose would be diving but it may have other uses, still I want it to accommodate two maybe three dive pairs and maybe a non diver on the boat. Most of my diving locally is lakes. Was intent on a 24' - 28' pontoon but started running across some sea worthy cuddy cabins for reasonable prices (used). We do visit the coast every chance we get and a boat would be fun (actually a SEV down where we visit but that's a different discussion and they don't make good dive vessels.)

You guys got any good comments or personal experience. The pontoon wold be cheaper but also seems more limited in scope, I just don't know how well it dives from.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

The C-Dory Tomcat is the best boat I've ever owned. It's not cheap, but it has a nice dive ladder and swimstep, tank racks, hot/cold fresh water shower on deck, marine head, full electronics, fridge, stove, queen size berth and being a catamaran, it is a very stable dive platform. At 25 1/2' it is trailerable. It has twin Honda 150 HP outboards, 150 gallon fuel tanks and 30 gallons of fresh water,

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Actually researched the C-dory a bit yesterday, it was mentioned on an older thread; I didn't know what they were. It's a little more $$$ than I have budgeted. I probably should mention this wife of mine that doesn't understand my fascination with water activities. She's being a little obstinate with even the pontoon. Too, I'm limited to 8' clearance if I store it at the house. Starting to realize the cuddy I had picked out may not fit.

 

[flyboy08]

If I was looking for a quasi dive boat, a pontoon would be my choice...I wouldn't want fabric seats for sure and having room to mosey about that one wont find on a cutty... we even have a pontoon here on our lake with an AC cabin...and a slide on the roof...one can get very creative with a pontoon.

Good luck.

 

[broncobowsher]

How far of a ride will your sites be? A couple of miles and a pontoon does great. Pretty much just a barge.
Now if you are going several miles, something with a hull that can get up to speed is nice.

An 8' height restriction really limits things. Pontoon with a folding roof (or no roof) will fit. Something with a cabin to it, probably not. My 16' closed bow (worthless as a dive boat) sits a little over 6' on the trailer. And the windshield is short, top about eye level. The boat is fairly short with my feet just above the bottom of the hull.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Travel distance is for sure a factor. Here Texas the lakes here can be a bit large (although only a few are considered worth the trouble for sport diving. ) Pontoons are not know as speed demons and a lot of the ones I see are under powered. (If (when) I go through with this, it will make me a first time boat owner... other than a 17' canoe and a kayak.)

... and yea, I've run across some pontoons with nice cabins but again the height limitation.

 

[flyboy08]

Someone on my lake has a Hurricane deck boat....I like it, no nothing about it yet, but would serve well as an all around Dive, ski, fun boat imho.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Yea, I've run across those too. Kind of a cool set up; the crossover between pontoon and a hull boat. Not a lot of used ones around here and a little pricey but still have not ruled them out.

 

[flyboy08]

Yea, I've run across those too. Kind of a cool set up; the crossover between pontoon and a hull boat. Not a lot of used ones around here and a little pricey but still have not ruled them out.

I have a Tige competition wake boarding boat which was built in Abelien Texas....not a good Dive Boat, but it’ll certainly get you to the Dive site fast....

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Abilene Texas, now that is a boating mecca...