What makes a great dive boat?

[MVReliant]

Hi there. I am vessel owner in British Columbia Canada. I am interested in making my vessel friendly for dive charters. I would love to hear what is important to you so I can make my vessel safe and enjoyable for the diving community.


Thank you for looking at my post and I look forward to your posts.

Best regards

David

 

[TheWetRookie]

Hi VMReliant, welcome to the board. This section is the meet and greet and not the best section for your question. You might want to select another section for it.

On another note, you should come and join us local boys and gals in our Western Canada section Western Canada - ScubaBoard We do have a active group of divers on here locally.

 

[MVReliant]

My mistake.Sorry for the post in the wrong spot.

Thanks for the direction to the direction and suggestion.

As far as the meet and greet goes,.,...HELLO everybody!

As I mentioned I am a friendly boat owner who is soon to be retiring and I have just finished restoring a fantastic old wooden tug. I would love to spend my days showing people the local waters and enjoying my boat with new people. I am not a diver myself but have many friends that love to dive. I am more than happy to keep the coffee warm and the galley toasty for you though!!

 

[al248005]

a not overly-crowded dive boat

 

[Lee Taylor]

I have dove off of boats from 20ft to 130ft in length. The things that get my attention:

- Condition of the boat. Does it appear reliable? Boats break and some sink.

- Is it way underpowered or way overpowered? Either can cause problems

- Size and speed of the boat.

- Divers opinions of the boat from past experiences.

- The competition. Would you be better off on a competitors boat?

- The physical arrangement for getting off and on the boat when suited up.

- Seating

- Protection from the elements. (sun, rain, excessive water spray)

- Personalities of the Captain and Crew.

- Helpfulness of the crew (VERY important. some crews are completely worthless)

- General attitude of the Captain and Crew

- Proper arrangement of the lines (it is possible to totally screw this up. I have seen it)

 

[TSandM]

Welcome, MVReliant! Where on Vancouver Island are you? (We need a good charter in Nanaimo, having lost a fabulous one to fire last year.)

I agree that a reliable and safe boat, with appropriate safety equipment, is the first imperative. But after that, I like the ability to get shelter from the elements (preferably an area with heat). A bench for tanks and gearing up that's at an appropriate height is a safety matter. And I'm a ladder fanatic -- one of the reasons I LOVED the Diver's Choice boat was because it had a fabulous ladder. The rungs weren't too far apart, and there were very good handholds all the way up.

Once you have given me a convenient place to put my gear and get into it, and a good way to get in and out of the water, and someplace to get warm, the final thing I want is a captain who knows the dive sites and when conditions are right to dive them. Being put in the right place at the right time is the recipe for a good dive!

Helpful dive crew is awfully nice as well -- just somebody to help with the little things, like uncooperative fins or twisted straps. The ability to have a hot drink after a dive is welcome, too.

 

[Rhone Man]

I think everyone takes safety for granted, and assumes that the boat will be reliable, so I will too. Working from there (things that 'make a difference'), I look for:

• dedicated camera rinse buckets
• availability of appropriate refreshments (ie. to keep me warm or cool as climate dictates)
• ease of ingress and egress (ie. getting in and out of the boat, laden with gear)
• amount of deck room per diver

I also tend to assume professional operators will have friendly and helpful crew, but if you have any concerns about that, make sure that one gets squared away.

 

[MVReliant]

WOW!

I am listening!! Thanks for the terrific responses.
I have a web site where you can view the boat VRBO.com put #274896 into the search
Let me address the suggestions point form.
Location: Gibsons Landing BC 2 hrs from Vancouver Island
Reliable: All new rebuilt engine, transmission, steering, navigation.
Size/speed 65 ft 9 knots
Competition: There are a few fantastic boats close by but not out of Gibsons I dont think anyone has the room my boat does. They have more experience in the diving field. I am just starting out.
Aft deck is huge and low to the water.I can make a ladder or ladders easy. I can make a surface level platform that be raised or lowered if I wanted.
Safety Equipment: Life boats,fire extinguishers,life vests. All to transport Canada Standards.
GET WARM! This I think is the best part of the boat.I INSTALLED A HOT SHOWER ON THE AFT DECK. As well the galley is large and the two cabins on the the main deck are heated. Have a nap if you like bunks have big blankets and hot cold running water.

 

[MVReliant]

Cont
Lots of room on this boat for 8 divers for day trip.6 for overnight.
Full galley with a good size table and a BIG fridge and freezer. Coffee, muffins, full catering if you like. Gibsons has great resturaunts who will cater.Rinse buckets no problem plastic 45 gal drum cut in half with a running hose?. I also can put a charging station in for your equipment. Big 110/115 v generator on board. Shave and shower if you like. There is a shower in the head as well.
Experienced crew:Yes.Friendly for sure.
I am very proud of my boat and love to share her with people.
I can bring a smaller boat along to dive from.
I could put a fill compressor in one day if I had the return customers and demand.
Decks and aft ballwarks are low and easy to throw gear over.
We could go to Vancouver Island but I don,t want to interfere with another operator. If I add to the market then no problem. I would like to work WITH or FOR an existing operator actually. I would take care of the boat and crew and they would run the dive side of the tour.

 

[pedo]

A captain who knows how to drive a boat and park on a wreck and a mate who knows what to do and when to do it and both as nice as pie. Like on the Venture III