The perfect size small dive boat set up.

[Still Kicking]

I'm not sure how your oversize laws run in Texas, but I tow this one all over the state of Michigan every day during the season. Michigan allows up to 10' beam with an annual oversize permit. I own it, but it isn't a personal dive boat, I run it as a charter boat up here.
It is pretty much the largest thing I can easily tow everywhere and still quickly launch and retrieve from any ramp needed.
Overall it is 34'x10'x13'6" high on the trailer. Weighs 10k including the trailer.

View attachment 882902

That's a nice rig Tracy!

With the level of insanity I see on the roads now (racing, cutting in, many, many accidents etc.) towing is by far the most stressful part of my dive day. Having a slipped walk-on boat is a much more relaxed option.

However, I can't give up my smaller trailered boat for hit-and-run missions (it's super economical but really only practical for one or two divers).

Can't have too many boats!

 

[Pressurehead]

This was a great boat, but to put and keep it in survey here cost a fortune.

Charter — Noosa Cat Australia

noosacat.com.au

Too expensive as a play thing, nice if you have the money.
My fishing come diving boat is too small for 4 divers, 2 divers and a spotter only at 4.5m, aluminium.
I did have an Avon 6.5m rigid hull inflatable , which was a great dive boat.
Like this one, but an orange hull.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Nice rigs. I probably should have mentioned "and on a budget" in my post. What is the smallest boat that can comfortably accomodate 4 divers and a couple of boat keepers?

Width law in Texas I belive is 9' beam w/o a permit.

I'm still envious of these set ups you guys have...

 

[Tracy]

Nice rigs. I probably should have mentioned "and on a budget" in my post. What is the smallest boat that can comfortably accomodate 4 divers and a couple of boat keepers?

Width law in Texas I belive is 9' beam w/o a permit.

I'm still envious of these set ups you guys have...

What is your budget? In the boating world, that doesn't mean anything if you don't state a number.

 

[ps444mike]

BOAT "bring out another thousand".

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

Yea, the litmus test for how much boat you can afford is to take the money you want to spend on the boat, put it in a wooden box, set afloat, and set it on fire. If the complete loss/waste of the money does not bother you, then spend that much on your boat.

Boat: hole in the water to throw money into.

My graddad said the two happiest days in a mans life were: buying his first boat, selling his last boat. He liked to fish and had fishing boats all over the place where he would go up the country fishing. After he passed away, my dad never was sure he found them all...

To pull a number out of my... mask, I'd say about $50-60k. It's one of those things that I'd like to go cheaper but there's wiggle room for that perfect boat. I saw a 28' trimaran I fell in love with a while back and if we were already retired on the coast I may would have given it a shot even though it was a little more than I budgeted.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2000-powercat-power-cat-9479931/

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1990-delta-boat-company-28-dive-boat-9044516/

 

[Still Kicking]

the two happiest days in a mans life were: buying his first boat, selling his last boat.

Whoever said that never used their boat properly. I have had so many incredible, unfortgettable days on my boats. I don't regret buying any of them for a minute.

Having said that, owning a boat doesn't make any sense from a financial perspective and if you are at all squeamish about spending money, it's a terrible idea.

 

[Tracy]

Whoever said that never used their boat properly. I have had so many incredible, unfortgettable days on my boats. I don't regret buying any of them for a minute.

Having said that, owning a boat doesn't make any sense from a financial perspective and if you are at all squeamish about spending money, it's a terrible idea.

Couldn't have said it better. Even if you don't have a lot of money, small boats are awesome. I have thoroughly enjoyed every boat I have ever owned. There is just something awesome about being out on the water.

 

[TheQuintessentialMan]

One of the things I was hoping would be addressed here; how many divers can be comfortably accomodate on a 26' console outboard? This without adversely affecting the boats performance? One of the reasons I'm interested in cats is they have a little more useful deck area for a given length and beam.