Since you asked about this in the "FOD" thread (Fat Old Diver) I can tell you this...
I dive primarily out of my own RHIB (except when I'm on vacay). It's a 21' Zodiac Hurricane and ideal for a couple or three divers with doubles, stage/deco bottles etc.
I think you raised this question after my comments about my larger buddy and my smaller tender and how would she get him out of the water into the boat if he was incapacitated, and you also asked if we had a plan.
The short answers are (1) she probably couldn't and (2) Jump up and down and call someone on the radio.
I could certainly haul him out and since it's unlikely I would be too far away, presumably that's our "plan". I've looked into MOB mattes and the like, but the reality is that in a small boat, there just isn't room to carry all of the stuff you need for a highly effective emergency response. As it is, I carry a good first aid kit, a DAN O2 kit, a spare O2 bottle for the resuscitator (as well as whatever oxygen we have for deco). I'd love to have an AED. I'd love to have a spine board or litter. I'd love to had a hyperbaric chamber too, but there's only so much space.
It's part of the risk we assume in exchange for our independence. It's worked well for 30+ years and four boats.
Stoo, I was just askin 'cause you were seriously pondering that in that thread. And because it is something that cpuld be done in addition to "lightening the dive buddy"...and even so it probably is hard, likely easier so...
Don't get me etong, I am not thinking you are doing something wrong. My wife is rather short and light also, in genetal and more so compared to me. I can certainly see and agree that there are limits to what can be done. And even minimal means like a 3' wide, rolled up cargo net contraption, line, biners, blocks and tackle for extra purchase add up to stuff that needs to be securly stowed when underway and not be in the way of feet fins or other gear. And that's not even considering the whole aspect of the big ask of "honey, how about some more rescue and recovery practice with more technical gear, loaded lines and..."
I have no real boat (well, a bunch of kayaks, one I may dive out off some day, but that's different), but I sure have been on a few ... and for a short period of time I had a little 21' open cockpit trimaran... great fun, but...
Anyway, one of the universal boat truths seems to be that they always should be another 2 feet bigger .... until one gets practical that is and focuses on the needs over the wants then there is a right size. You seem to have found yours and you seem to be at piece with the compromises you need to make. It works for you and that may make you a rather rare boat owner... That is a good thing. I would never want to try to talk anyone out of that...
Unless you feel like affording something like a rescue rib with motorized ramp in the bow (link to a not so great but sufficiently explaining video here :
)
then your wife can just lower the ramp down and scoop up anyone she wants to...
Sure seems to me they missed marketing that feature to divers (costly stuff so)
....
Now how would that AED help your wife to get your buddy on board? Connect at the right nerve endings & shock to jump in? sorry, not serious of course...
