What bag to bring on a boat?

[Buoyant1]

I use an Akona Mesh Boat Duffel (check the bag below yours on their site) which is a tad bigger...no harm taking that bag on even a small boat...I used it on a 6-pack (along with another bag that had my camera gear my dry bag, and a small cooler for my gatorade) and had no problems....

 

[mark01]

I have a great duffel type bag which was more than adequate for my dive kit. HOWEVER, after lugging that rascal from the hotel to the boat each day, I found that it tended to rub my leg and by the end of the week, I was done with that bag. I got a bag which can be carried as a back pack from Leisure Pro and won't go back to the duffel again.

Mark

 

[sandmanz32]

Hey all, I'm a newbie to diving and so far have only been at local quarry's. I'll be down in West Palm Beach soon and plan on doing some boat dives when I'm there. My question is I've been using this bag to carry around my gear but is it to big for a boat? When I take my gear out the bag can fold up pretty small since it's made of a canvas material and I don't plan on taking all kinds of extra junk on the boat. Would I be the only newbie with a duffel bag? should I get a mesh bag? Thanks.

its always nice to bring the smallest possible bag, regardless of the amount of divers on the boat, or the size of the boat. i always preassemble my bc with all my lil ac before i leave the hotel. i carry a full mesh bag on the boat with my dry box, fins, spare mask, and abag of jolly ranchers. i walk on the boat with my bc on like a back pack, just like in hs with one strap over my shoulder, lol. have my dive watch on 1 wrist and my cpu on the other. if i have the need for a wetsuit i can fold it so tight it fits in the mesh as well. one fully suited up, my bag is wadded up under the seat and takes up about as much room as a small pelian case. nothing is more annoying that the people that bring a friggin suitcase on the boat, just be considerate of your fellow divers.

 

[Damselfish]

It might not be too big for the boat, but it's not great for carrying around heavy wet stuff in any event. And if it's a bag you were hoping to keep sort of nice, well between salty wet heavy gear and stuffing it under boat seats it will get the crap beaten out of it. And there is alot to be said for backpack straps.

 

[crab lover]

It all depends on the boat too... If you are doing a charter, probably no big deal, but I have the opportunity sometimes to dive with local boat owners and they have JUST enough room for 3 people 6 tanks and bare bones equipment, have to leave everything else in my vehicle. This doesn't happen very often, but it does happen. Ask the resort/boat owner/dive shop you are dealing with.

 

[FireDiver443]

I've got a mesh gear bag I picked up from LL Bean a couple years back. It's durable, holds mask, fins, snorkel, boots, 3/2 full wetsuit, 5/3 hooded vest, BP/W, regs & console, 8c cell flashlight, small dry box and small save a dive kit easily. It has two straps that I can use to carry it or wear as a backpack. Not sure but I think the dimensions are 30" x 10".

Once the gear is out of it, it folds up nicely and takes up barely any space at all. Fits well under the benches on Oceanquest's "Sandy"s Sunday", JASA's "Deep O" and "Diversity" out of Boca so far. It's held up quite well.

 

[ItsBruce]

I use a mesh bag on the boat. However, my towel is in a plastic trash bag to keep it dry until needed. And, my clothes go into another plastic trash bag to keep them dry until I'm done diving. If I'm driving to or from the boat, then I also carry a large trash bag to put the mesh bag into to keep the car dry...water drains from the mesh bag on the way in and then the whole mess goes into the plastic trash bag.

 

[bperrybap]

I like the mesh backpacks. I think it is easier to carry all the gear
on your back.
This is my favorite and my wife and I have been using them for a couple of years.
Price is good and it can carry all my tropical gear.
Regs, fins, BC, boots, wetsuit etc... everything, even has a spot
for a towel that won't get wet.
Scuba Toys Mesh Backpack

I've used it at the local quarry, for hauling gear in to ScubaToys for equipment checkout dives, and even in Cozumel for hauling
gear from the hotel out to the docks and on the boats. Works great. It folds/lays/rolls down to nearly nothing when not in
use.

Manytimes when I exit the boat, I'll put the BC on and carry
the bag using the side handles.

--- bill

 

[Colliam7]

My question is I've been using this bag to carry around my gear but is it to big for a boat? When I take my gear out the bag can fold up pretty small since it's made of a canvas material and I don't plan on taking all kinds of extra junk on the boat. Would I be the only newbie with a duffel bag? should I get a mesh bag?

If all your gear fits in that bag, and you already have / own it, by all means use it. It won't be too big - you will probably see some folks who come aboard with TWO bags of the same size (sheesh!). Yes, it will get wet, but it is an Akona and the description suggests it is intended for rough use. You won't necessarily be the only one with a duffel, and you certainly won't look like a newbie because you have a duffel. See if it works for you, before buying another (mesh) bag.

 

[ciera kid]

Dont laugh.....I use a milk crate. Once I get to the dock I put my stuff in the crate (fin straps over the wrist to carry those)--and Im set to go. Now admitedly EVERYTHING will get wet (but it does anyway). It fits under the bench, slides easy, and it drains with no problem.

When Im done with the trip--the BC and fins get dunked in the barrel and then my reg set and other item (which are in the milk crate) just get dunked too.

Pat

Thats the truth........I know , I've seen her do it.........................