Dressing table

[MacLir]

Hi all. I am looking at signing up for a charter that uses a dressing table for gearing up in a standing position. Gear is stowed on the deck at floor level. Here in New England, I have always used boats with benches for gear storage and donning. I am wondering how gearing up works with this dressing table format. While I am fine with walking my doubles around on my back and standing from a bench, I would have a tough time lowering a full set of doubles to the deck and then lifting them to a standing table level (and then holding all this steady on a potentially pitching boat). Maybe I am imagining this incorrectly. Can anyone enlighten me on how gearing up is actually done with this type of system?

Thanks!

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I would guess you are going out on the Gauntlet? If so I would not worry about it, the crew will help lift and steady your gear when you are getting in to it. The system actually works very nice.

 

[Tug]

I would guess you are going out on the Gauntlet? If so I would not worry about it, the crew will help lift and steady your gear when you are getting in to it. The system actually works very nice.

+1 to what Andy said. I've been out on the Gauntlet and the dressing table works out well. The way that they run the boat is they'll splash a team in first to tie in and then stagger the remaining teams. That way everyone has plenty of space to sit down on the table while suiting and getting ready. There is always someone there to lend a hand and help you lift up and stabilize your doubles, either a crew member or another diver.


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[MacLir]

Thanks both. I have heard good things about the Guantlet, so now definitely on the list, but was actually considering Canned Air out of Pt. Judith, RI (hoping to do the U-853 again; did it last with the Daybreaker)

 

[Tug]

Thanks both. I have heard good things about the Guantlet, so now definitely on the list, but was actually considering Canned Air out of Pt. Judith, RI (hoping to do the U-853 again; did it last with the Daybreaker)

The Canned Air is similar to the Gauntlet set up, but with less frills (they are actually sister boats). On the Canned Air, you stow the tanks under the gunwale which is a little tight, but after shifting some tanks around, I've never had an issue fitting all my tanks under there. When it comes to suiting up, there is always someone willing to give you a hand lifting your doubles up on the table and then I lean against the table and use that to support the weight of the doubles.

Good luck, the 853 is a great dive!


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[Aqua-Andy]

Oops, the Canned air was my second guess. Yes like as said previously it is a similar system. The 853 is a great dive and just a great experience all together. I have seen many history shows and read many books on WWII but nothing affected me more than sitting on the boat attached to a mooring line over a German u-boat. It's when I looked out and saw the American coast line that all those stories about mandatory blackouts really hit me. I guess I never realized how close the war was until I saw it in my own eyes. This Is a dive I have been wanting to do again just have not had the time:depressed:.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I made a trip on a boat like this once. I almost didn't go back the second day for diving.