Hello, my first post here. Great site. Some years ago I bought a 14 foot inflatable. I later modified this boat from a SIB to a RIB (it was a lot of work--trust me). I have used this boat for up to four divers and have been out 20 miles or more on several occasions, Gulf Coast, Florida, Keys, Lakes. Once out of SoCal. It is still a good boat and I have owned it since the mid 80s. In the last few years I have taken up diving off of kayaks, I have a OK Scupper Pro TW, you should see the looks on the faces of divers on cattle boats when I paddle up beside them 5 miles out. This is a total blast, especially solo diving!
OK, I just bought a Boston Whaler Nantucket 190 with 150 horse engine. It is a center console. It is fitted with a bimini sun top and will be fitted with a Mills forward shelter. It will store a small porti potty in the center console since my wife might find that useful. When used it will be positioned to the forward shelter. Since we are warm weather divers and boaters the center console makes the most sense and has the most room. The seaworthiness of the BW boats is legend. I won't run down a fellers Bayliner, whatever they enjoy is great! For me, and I have owned boats before besides the above mentioned ones, an unsinkable BW with self bailing cockpit, and solid foam filled hull and the great resale and sturdiness and quality are worth the extra cost. You might be able to find a used Nantucket in your price range, or an older 18-20 foot BW Outrage. The BW Montauk is also a good choice in my opinion. Yes, bigger boats are great and so are twin engines but the ability to trailer a boat is very important to people who like to dive many different areas--I think sometimes people who recommend such large boats are not trailering very far--why have your own boat if you are limited only to the same dive locations? Therefore a boat in the 19/20 foot range is very nearly ideal combination of trailerability and seaworthiness in my opinion. I am looking forward to rigging my new boat out for diving. Good luck, have fun. N
OK, I just bought a Boston Whaler Nantucket 190 with 150 horse engine. It is a center console. It is fitted with a bimini sun top and will be fitted with a Mills forward shelter. It will store a small porti potty in the center console since my wife might find that useful. When used it will be positioned to the forward shelter. Since we are warm weather divers and boaters the center console makes the most sense and has the most room. The seaworthiness of the BW boats is legend. I won't run down a fellers Bayliner, whatever they enjoy is great! For me, and I have owned boats before besides the above mentioned ones, an unsinkable BW with self bailing cockpit, and solid foam filled hull and the great resale and sturdiness and quality are worth the extra cost. You might be able to find a used Nantucket in your price range, or an older 18-20 foot BW Outrage. The BW Montauk is also a good choice in my opinion. Yes, bigger boats are great and so are twin engines but the ability to trailer a boat is very important to people who like to dive many different areas--I think sometimes people who recommend such large boats are not trailering very far--why have your own boat if you are limited only to the same dive locations? Therefore a boat in the 19/20 foot range is very nearly ideal combination of trailerability and seaworthiness in my opinion. I am looking forward to rigging my new boat out for diving. Good luck, have fun. N
