Diving from your own boat vs. a charter

[Wookie]

What about leasing a boat like one does a car? Do people do it, and if so, wouldn't that be a reasonable option?

Oh, yes. There is a name for it, like leasing a plane. Like a plane, the leasing company gets it ready, makes sure the oil is changed, batteries are charged, and will do your shopping for you. That all costs money. But less then buying some older boat and hoping it’s within your capability and budget to repair. You will have to prove you are a competent boat handler, but once you do your in like Flynn.

Here is a facility in Florida with Sea Rays. Our Fleet - Pennant Yachts

 

[aquacat8]

Do you have any boating background? I grew up around boats, and my best memories of my family have a lot to do with that. If you have the wherewithal and the willingness and the energy to do that for your family I think it’s awesome. Sure, it will be expensive, and it will be hard work, but you are right that it creates a very special thing for the family.

 

[aquacat8]

Where are you located? What would be your local diving?

 

[Jeff Dykes]

Do you have any boating background? I grew up around boats, and my best memories of my family have a lot to do with that. If you have the wherewithal and the willingness and the energy to do that for your family I think it’s awesome. Sure, it will be expensive, and it will be hard work, but you are right that it creates a very special thing for the family.

Yes, my Dad had both a ski boat and fishing boat, and I learned how to do both. The skiing helped me more than anything, I think. I never pursued diving and not sure why.

I'm in Panama City, Florida, so I'll be near both fresh and saltwater. Having those skiing and fishing memories as a child are awesome memories and tons of fun. I don't want to deprive my children of the same just so I can hoard money for myself if it's within my financial ability to get a decent boat. Of course I don't want to bankrupt myself, either, but I don't think it's an either/or option.

 

[aquacat8]

That’s great you have lots of transferable knowledge, and you know enough about boats to know you’re getting into some work. One financial consideration others have not pointed out is that if you had to pay for three children and yourself and your wife to ride a charter boat all of a sudden it starts looking really expensive. On your own boat those extra bodies don’t cost you extra money!

 

[aquacat8]

There is a local redneck boy up here in Savannah Georgia who is one of the best shark tooth divers around. I see him putting his funky old boat into the water at the local boat ramp with his beautiful young wife along to be bubble water. Now she’s pregnant. I’m sure they don’t spend much on that boat, but they get in the water and they have fun!

 

[aquacat8]

Bubble watcher, not bubble water! Typo.

 

[aquacat8]

You also see so many pudgy useless kids these days who can’t handle tools, or tie a bowline, or do much of anything except stare at their computers… It is really sad. Having functional offspring: priceless. My nieces go to sailing camp thank God!

 

[lionfish-eater]

Boats do not need to be expensive if you buy them right and can do all maintanance yourself.
This is a link to todays ebay listings sorted by price. Ignore the first few high priced listings and you will see many boats under $2500.00, many starting under $100 with no minimum or reserve. Do your research, know what your skills are and buy accordingly.

Boats | eBay

Here is a good one:

Sportcraft 300 Sportfisherman, Great Lakes Salmon Fishing | eBay

Most inboard boat motors from the major manufactureres like Mercruiser,Volvo/Penta, PCM, pleasurecraft, etc are Chevy blocks. They are simple V8's. For example, all 5.7 350 boat motors from 1987 to 1995 are the exact same motor as in the chevy pickup trucks and cars of that vintage.

A new set of head gaskets, new head bolts, resurfacing heads, and valve grinding, etc was less than $500.00. Add beer and it was still under $1,000 for the repair.

 

[Ana]

Backyard boat

• Ana
• Feb 3, 2015

Yes, my Dad had both a ski boat and fishing boat, and I learned how to do both. The skiing helped me more than anything, I think. I never pursued diving and not sure why.

I'm in Panama City, Florida, so I'll be near both fresh and saltwater. Having those skiing and fishing memories as a child are awesome memories and tons of fun. I don't want to deprive my children of the same just so I can hoard money for myself if it's within my financial ability to get a decent boat. Of course I don't want to bankrupt myself, either, but I don't think it's an either/or option.

Get a decent boat and you won't regret it, specially in PC where the dive charters only cater to tourists, they'll get under your skin pretty quick. I wouldn't get a center console because it gets stupid cold up there, but other than that you have a nice portion of the gulf in your backyard. If you have a connection with the armed forces, the Navy base has a marina with fuel at lower prices than any place around in the water.

Make sure to have a radio of course, this sounds like a no brainer but I'm surprise how many small boat owners skip this. Many don't know that modern units have this handy red bottom that broadcasts and emergency signal with your location (assuming you have a GPS obviously). So even if the person operating the boat while you're diving is not the brightest or gets nervous on an emergency, this handy feature cuts off a lot of stuttering and misunderstandings.

Among many other things you can take the kids to shell island, watch fireworks from the boat on 4th of July <--- truly priceless, just going to the beach from the water instead of driving is worth the effort.
Going out to dive, because of the locations of the dive sites, your operator doesn't have to worry too much about boat traffic, that's half of the battle, the main half is that up there the weather turns in an instant. Not saying you can just have a warm body behind the helm, but you don't need a professional 100 ton captain to manage the boat safely during an hour or so.
Can't imagine regretting it. What are you waiting for? post pictures