Scuba Club Dive Boats

[Vtdiver2]

I'm wondering how some of the Dive clubs I've read about on the board, manage to own and operate a dive boat? Is the insurance commercial? How do you deal with the liability? Can anyone operate it or do you have certain members who pilot the boat? Are maintenance costs and gas distributed evenly, or based on the number of times you've been out on the boat?
I have the opportunity to buy a boat very reasonably, and there has been discussion of having our dive club actually own it and operate it for the use of our members, but just that idea has opened a Pandora's Box of questions. Any help you can give me on how your clubs manage to do this would be appreciated.
C-Dawg

 

[ItsBruce]

This is something you are best to take up with both a lawyer and an insurance agent. My reaction is this: If you think he issue has opened a Pandora's Box of questions, just think of the Pandora's Box it will open regarding liability.

The following is not legal advice. I haven't a clue about the law in Vermont. However, if the club owns the boat, you will have to worry about whether it is incorporated or is just an unincorporated association. If it is incorporated but corporate formalities are not followed, it could be treated as an unincorporated assocaition. If an unincorporated association becomes liable for something, such as a dive injury, each member could be liable for the entire judgment. Unincorporated associations may have issues about getting liability insurance.

Tallk to a lawyer in your jurisdiction and to an insurance agent.

 

[Cacia]

You could run it through an operator..maybe. Here, our clubs serve a couple purposes for the operator. It keeps a core group of locals sending visitors to their operation and it keeps people coming to the shop.

One dive club I am in, seems to be a "retention" perk that the owner provides his employees: captains, instructors, and divemasters. it may not be a money maker in the short term, but good in the overall sense.They get to do the dives they want to do and I think it is a good morale booster. If you teamed up with an operator, perhaps it could be a win/win.

 

[Squeekycat]

I work in commercial insurance. Your best bet for insurance is to find an agency that has access to a "program" for dive shops/operations - this will ensure proper coverage, as well as the best possible pricing.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

I know this scuba club in San Diego owns 2 boats, the laws may be somewhat different in the two states, but you may want to contact them directly. Looks to be a sweet little system they have worked out.