Rhode Island Live-Aboard Boat

[Rick2]

Dave, sounds like a real treat. Please do post your website here as soon as its up. Would you consider doing a presentation on your offerings to a dive club in Central Ma.? We meet monthly and have an active body of divers who would be quite interested. Rick

 

[pgdive]

This is a great idea. We will definitely be in touch to book some dates.

I do have a question from a previous post, what exactly is a DIR friendly boat?

Paul

 

[Capt. Michael Jensen]

The boat will be friendly to all friendly divers. Techniques are a divers choice, don't be foolish with them and we'll make sure you're safe and have fun. Egos will be left at the dock. Diving is not competition, that's unsafe. We're interested in SAFE SERIOUS FUN (in that order).

Mike, I can tell you a thing or two about scraping and painting SEEKER. Been there, done that. Worked with Dan for many years and rode the old boat offshore more times than I can count (and did so before Dan had her, with Bill Nagel years ago). I remember when SEEKER was an incomplete hull laying in Harkers Island on the slipway. I bought fiberglass as a result of my experience painting the old girl........ ;-)

Photos as soon as we get her ladder done. Interested parties should contact me directly.


Dave Sutton, Master: Trawler EXPLORER

Good for you Dave! I know a little bit about sanding her too!

I've had/worked on glass, wood, and steel boats and will always prefer wood. You don't end up chasing rotten soaked core like you do eventually in ALL glass boats (with a core that's wood-98% of them). With wood, if there's an issue, you have it right in your face and repair/replace as needed. Better/easier in my opinion/experience.

I was commenting on the whole "...RI's first liveaboard..." post. You aren't first. Sorry, but a fact of life.

Maybe Point Judith's first would have been a better choice of words.

I'm not trying to start a pissing contest and won't respond if it turns into one (I have an "old" wooden boat to sand afterall, as you know she's 21 now!)

If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. I've been talking with my crew about installing some moorings around here that are better suited for larger vessels. That would save tying in time by a bunch. Would you guys be interested in working on this as a group effort (installation, maintenance, etc.)? We have most of the gear already.

Capt. Michael Jensen
Undersea Exploration, Inc.
PO Box 3813
Newport, Rhode Island
02840
401-258-2958
www.underseaexploration.com

 

[Spearo Dave]

Hi Mike,

I think I meant to differentiate an industrial dive boat with one shared head & fold down bunks in the salon (in which I have spent *many* comfortable and memorable nights myself, by the way, being VERY proud of having crewed aboard SEEKER in her glory days in NJ, but being more partial to the most forward transverse bunk in the bow, top bunk please...) from what we offer, which is a very private yacht with individual air conditioned cabins for guests, each cabin with a private head & shower (tub in the master) and 3 home cooked meals a day served on china with wine and place settings. It's just a different set of expectations. I don't think (meaning I *know*) that there's no overlap at all between what the two boats do. I'm not running 15 guys offshore and you're not running one week trips to Newfoundland for private parties of four to six with gunkhole stays each night in quiet coves with dingy service to deserted beaches for family vacations. Just a different genre of boat. We used to charter head boasts in NJ and toss sleeping bags on the deck for three day trips, I just never considered them to be "live aboard boats" in the current travel industry use of the word (the differentiation mainly being private cabins for each couple). So, forgive me for overlooking SEEKER as a "live aboard". I love her as a work boat. Luxury she is not. Sure smells good though, nothing like white oak and cedar. I loved the smell of her down below, and I mean that sincerely.

Back to EXPLORER: For what we are planning, there are other reasons for wanting smaller parties aboard as well: The U-Boat saturates with more than about six on her at any given moment, and six in a shark cage is plenty, eh? ;-). At other times a wreck can stand a larger number of divers, and that's where SEEKER shines. So, there's no competition at all. I'd welcome you anytime aboard as a guest Captain, and I know the ropes aboard SEEKER (literally) if you ever need experienced crew.

We're also ging to be doing some types of diving that are unique. I'm a freediver and spearfisherman as well as being a technical diver, and one type of charter we are planning is live-aboard freediving trips where we use EXPLORER as a mother vessel, and run spearos to individual spots by RIB boat and chase them all day, bringing them back to EXPLORER for meals, rest, and overnight travel to the next fishing site. If you want to shoot world record quality striped bass, we can put you in the right spot. Nobody else does anything even remotely similar here.

Moorings: We set and then maintained moorings on U-853, Black Point, and Heroine for many years until a huge 55 foot Harkers Island dive boat from NJ that will remain nameless came to the U-Boat, strung up all three of *our* moorings to stay on the wreck, and didn't let us tie to our own bouy. We sort of got tired of setting them up after that. I'm all for permanent moorings on the wrecks, as they save the wreck from grapnel damage (U-853 is getting tired and thin), is safer for the divers, and saves time. The L-8 would especially be a good place to set a mooring, as she's the devil to hook.

Grand Banks don't use cored glass, BTW. I did look at Wooden GB Trawlers, but when I found EXPLORER I knew I was in love. She's a gorgeous yacht, and we look forward to sharing the ocean with all.


Best to all,

Dave Sutton, Master: Trawler EXPLORER

 

[Capt. Michael Jensen]

Hi Mike,

I think I meant to differentiate an industrial dive boat with one shared head & fold down bunks in the salon (in which I have spent *many* comfortable and memorable nights myself, by the way, being VERY proud of having crewed aboard SEEKER in her glory days in NJ, but being more partial to the most forward transverse bunk in the bow, top bunk please...) from what we offer, which is a very private yacht with individual air conditioned cabins for guests, each cabin with a private head & shower (tub in the master) and 3 home cooked meals a day served on china with wine and place settings. It's just a different set of expectations. I don't think (meaning I *know*) that there's no overlap at all between what the two boats do. I'm not running 15 guys offshore and you're not running one week trips to Newfoundland for private parties of four to six with gunkhole stays each night in quiet coves with dingy service to deserted beaches for family vacations. Just a different genre of boat. We used to charter head boasts in NJ and toss sleeping bags on the deck for three day trips, I just never considered them to be "live aboard boats" in the current travel industry use of the word (the differentiation mainly being private cabins for each couple). So, forgive me for overlooking SEEKER as a "live aboard". I love her as a work boat. Luxury she is not. Sure smells good though, nothing like white oak and cedar. I loved the smell of her down below, and I mean that sincerely.

Back to EXPLORER: For what we are planning, there are other reasons for wanting smaller parties aboard as well: The U-Boat saturates with more than about six on her at any given moment, and six in a shark cage is plenty, eh? ;-). At other times a wreck can stand a larger number of divers, and that's where SEEKER shines. So, there's no competition at all. I'd welcome you anytime aboard as a guest Captain, and I know the ropes aboard SEEKER (literally) if you ever need experienced crew.

We're also ging to be doing some types of diving that are unique. I'm a freediver and spearfisherman as well as being a technical diver, and one type of charter we are planning is live-aboard freediving trips where we use EXPLORER as a mother vessel, and run spearos to individual spots by RIB boat and chase them all day, bringing them back to EXPLORER for meals, rest, and overnight travel to the next fishing site. If you want to shoot world record quality striped bass, we can put you in the right spot. Nobody else does anything even remotely similar here.

Moorings: We set and then maintained moorings on U-853, Black Point, and Heroine for many years until a huge 55 foot Harkers Island dive boat from NJ that will remain nameless came to the U-Boat, strung up all three of *our* moorings to stay on the wreck, and didn't let us tie to our own bouy. We sort of got tired of setting them up after that. I'm all for permanent moorings on the wrecks, as they save the wreck from grapnel damage (U-853 is getting tired and thin), is safer for the divers, and saves time. The L-8 would especially be a good place to set a mooring, as she's the devil to hook.

Grand Banks don't use cored glass, BTW. I did look at Wooden GB Trawlers, but when I found EXPLORER I knew I was in love. She's a gorgeous yacht, and we look forward to sharing the ocean with all.


Best to all,

Dave Sutton, Master: Trawler EXPLORER

Well said. That sounds good to me. It's a huge pond and there is plenty of room for everyone. I look forward to getting together and doing some diving, afterall that's what we're all here for.

We should arrange some time to visit each other at our boats. I'd be happy to have you aboard so we can meet (and have our crew meet as well).

Let's hope for an early Spring!!

Mike

Capt. Michael Jensen
Undersea Exploration, Inc.
PO Box 3813
Newport, Rhode Island
02840
401-258-2958
www.underseaexploration.com

 

[matt_unique]

Mike and Dave, I hate to tell you, but when I get into the game with my 19' Cuddy you'll both be out of business. Try to beat these services:

-best ice money can buy for the one available cooler (closest Pt. Judith gas station)
-great selection of songs on my Ipod (songs that I like mostly)
-free (saltwater) shower and complete gear rinse if I choose to pitch-pole my boat in 6' seas
-can take up to THREE divers (with one crew member or topside support person)

YEAH BABY!

Ha ha ha - seriously - you're customers could have a great time. Warmer water temps (compared to Cape Ann or North), lot's of topside activity at Block Island, great fishing, tons of wrecks at all skill levels, etc., etc. I love the Block Island Sound - this thread has accelerated my cabin fever.

--Matt