Never build a boat, story of the Ho-Hum

[rob.mwpropane]

A couple of customers grabbed some great images from the water a few weekends ago. James and Brando from "The Great Dive Podcast" captured these.

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He sure does take some great pictures. Hope you guys had a blast, they seem like fun.

 

[Marie13]

Can’t wait to dive off the Ho-Hum in September!

 

[Tracy]

How do you like running that setup with twin outboards spaced so wide? I was just thinking about the feasibility of doing that the other day, it's cool to see someone who did it. I imagine it ventilates the props when you take a turn or roll but that might not matter in a dive boat.

I can ventilate the outer prop if I am playing when nobody is on the boat. At any turning speed acceptable with passengers on board, it has never been an issue.
The marina maneuverability is unreal. Even with a keel, I can spin it and put it about anywhere.

 

[Johnoly]

The marina maneuverability is unreal.

That's what I was thinking too. I captain twin outboards and takes me a bit to "spin it on a dime". Your setup could match a kids merry-go-round. Not sure about driving out in rough waves with 1000 lbs of gear that high up and tippy even if strapped. But Newton's law says anything in a straight motion will continue straight. Nice dive boat, congrats on the hard work!!

 

[Tracy]

That's what I was thinking too. I captain twin outboards and takes me a bit to "spin it on a dime". Your setup could match a kids merry-go-round. Not sure about driving out in rough waves with 1000 lbs of gear that high up and tippy even if strapped. But Newton's law says anything in a straight motion will continue straight. Nice dive boat, congrats on the hard work!!

When I removed the engines, I dropped the floor 14 inches. The gear is actually riding lower on the racks than it was before with conventional benches. The boat is considerably more capable than the passengers. It is comfortable in 3-5 waves. I have had it in 7 footers a couple of times coming in and had the entire boat puking.
Our waves are considerably different on the Lakes than the ocean. Our period is super short so you get hammered by the waves instead of riding them.

 

[OTF]

Interesting to hear, thanks for the info. I really like that setup for the dive ladder space, maneuverability you mentioned, and redundancy of twin outboards. I was fantasizing about something like a worldcat as a dive boat but man they're pricey.

I wonder how small you could go with this setup... picturing twin 40's on an 17' skiff with a dive ladder and tiny a-frame a micro dive/survey vessel...

 

[Tracy]

I wonder how small you could go with this setup... picturing twin 40's on an 17' skiff with a dive ladder and tiny a-frame a micro dive/survey vessel...

It is only money, you can make more tomorrow. Give it a shot. I will probably have a few 250s for sale this winter.

 

[Jared0425]

Ken Merryman's Heyboy has an elevator on it that he has used for 20+ years.

My boat we built the elevator in 2018 for its only charter season.

 

[Tracy]

Ken Merryman's Heyboy has an elevator on it that he has used for 20+ years.

My boat we built the elevator in 2018 for its only charter season.

I see the Heyboy fairly often. I haven't ever seen an elevator on it. He has a nice fins on ladder.

 

[Jared0425]

I see the Heyboy fairly often. I haven't ever seen an elevator on it. He has a nice fins on ladder.
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The platform is hydraulic. Spooked me when we used it in Canada in 2017. See the chains on the side?