What works as a small great lakes dive boat?

[84CJ7]

I am, probably rather foolishly, looking at options for a simple cheap boat that would work as a dive boat capable of handling the great lakes, not to be confused with crossing one of the great lakes or handling Superior when its cranky.

What would be the realistic least that you would feel safe with for a short day trip boat. I don't need specific equipment, I know that part, I need specific hull designs and minimum sizes that work well from experience.

I can get away with a cheap boat btw since I happen to be a fairly competent marine mechanic and can get any old boat I find safe and reliable before running out anywhere.

I have found I have a liking for some of the old early 70's I/O boats with the doghouses over the engines (for accessability over putting them back under 50 panels) and the huge open rear area with enclosed front. They are simple, have tons of room to move around, and with that enclosed bow I could take a wave over the front and not get swamped. They also tend to have large open flat rears perfect for custom dive platforms to be mounted on.

At present iam looking at a '72 or '73 (or so) slickcraft ss 204 which is of the afore mentioned configuration and is about 20' by 8' with high sides, its a little heavy weighing in at I believe 2700 lbs from one source, but has a ford 302 to push it around easily. This particular one has a blown motor so I could get it cheap, and ive done motor swaps in boats before and happen to have a modern 5.0 from a mustang I believe I could adapt to that purpose.

Or perhaps I should just tag along with people that already have boats or do charters and not waste my time getting one. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[alpenadiver]

I would say your headed in the right direction, I would look for fiberglass more so than aluminum, fiberglass feels more stable in the water when the winds pick up. I also would choose I/O you can mount a nice size platform on the transom, as opposed to trying to get around a outboard motor with dive gear on.

just my .02¢

Mike

 

[SwimJim]

What your looking at sounds like plenty of boat for the use intended. I own a 1964 Searay (18ft) that has a 70hp out board for main power and an 8hp kicker. The kicker is mostly used when I fish with the boat, but has also been used to get me home from twelve miles away when the 70's powerpack took an unexpexted dive.
Make sure you have all the necessay gear on board. Marine radio, berry pistol(not hand held flares) PFD's. I have two compasses aboard and a GPS. For diving as I'm cramped for space I use a ladder over the side. I welded up a wreck hook for when theres no mooring. Pretty handy to have.
I would suggest you go out on your buddies boats to see how they are set up and what procedures they use to locate wrecks and get on them. Things like donning gear tend to change from boat to boat depending on space available, etc.
Good luck with it and dive safe>

Jim

 

[Oldpirate]

A buddy of mine had about a 21 foot aluminum Starcraft for years. We dove hundreds of dives on it out on Lakes Michigan and Huron at depths of up to 150 feet, through storms and high seas and it always got us back in one piece. It's not a very expensive boat, light as a feather for trailering and had quite a bit of room for two divers. I've seen a few listed for sale on the used boat web siter, etc.

That being said, I also spent wuite a bit of tim on a 28 foot fiberglass SeaRay -- one of the sturdiest boats ever made. She's cut through high seas like butter and was a wonderful platform for diving. Plan to spend $10,000 plus even for one that 20 years old if it's in good shape.

I'd stay away from outboards. A nice i/o engine cover is the best platform for gearing up. Also, look for a full transom platform WITH a good dive ladder -- or build one yourself. Old alumimum bleachers seats make good materials for an excellent, lightweight platform.

It's also great to have a small cabin to get out of the rain.

When all is said and done, I still prefer OPB..... (other people's boats)!

 

[moneysavr]

I have a 17' open bow with I/O and swim platform that I hung a Xmas tree dive ladder off for walk out dives and its Sweet!good for 2-3 divers max.

Not going out today! 12'-16'FOOTERS ON THE DAY THE FITZ SANK! back in 1975
Dive safe,
Brad

 

[Dive1Dennis]

Or perhaps I should just tag along with people that already have boats or do charters and not waste my time getting one. Any advice would be appreciated.

I have some boat owning friends who like to say 'The happiest days of owning a boat are the day you buy it, and the day you sell it' :05: I still want to get my own dive boat anyway, but for now I too dive OPB.

 

[SwimJim]

I have some boat owning friends who like to say 'The happiest days of owning a boat are the day you buy it, and the day you sell it' :05: I still want to get my own dive boat anyway, but for now I too dive OPB.

The above quote is true if you don't do your home work. I bought my old Searay back in '98 and it has served very well. I would imagine that it will continue to serve me well for many years to come. I have many years experience with boats. I knew what I needed before I bought and did a THOROGH inspection before I laid out my hard earned cash for it. I had to do upgrades and that did cost a few bucks. But I knew that going in and it was part of the plan. Sure I would like a bigger boat with more power. Who doesen't. My present boat works just fine though. Just, to the best of your abilities, know what your getting into and chances are you'll be all right. Although I do go out on other peoples boats, I could never imagine not having my own. Its kind of like another piece of dive gear.

Jim

 

[moneysavr]

. My present boat works just fine though. . Its kind of like another piece of dive gear.


Hey living on the lake,
2-miles from a / some great dive sites!,
and a sweeeeet boat launch in your yard,heated scuba shop gear up area,
hell all you need is the air fill unit!
Hey the Fire dept has a new one?
Thats all dive gear too?

Hey Jim ,were you on the site in Re. to the PM 18 last night?
Dive safe=Brad

P.S. Dennis We refound the Rudder the last dive she lays north not south of the main site!

 

[jsv62707]

ive got a 22 ft four winns sundowner cuddy (350 hp i/o, 3700lbs) and have always want to go up and hit a few wrecks in southern lake michigan in the summer. my diving and boating buddys here in downstate illinois think im crazy.

 

[SwimJim]

ive got a 22 ft four winns sundowner cuddy (350 hp i/o, 3700lbs) and have always want to go up and hit a few wrecks in southern lake michigan in the summer. my diving and boating buddys here in downstate illinois think im crazy.

Not at all. Just take a good look at the weather before you head up. Look at the marine forcasts for the target area, but also take into consideration the general forcasts to make you decsion. They don't always jibe. The big thing is winds. If your diving the west shore of Lake Michigan and the marine forcast says Northeast winds 10-15 waves 1 to 3 feet and the general forcast says east winds 10 - 20, the waves will be more like 4 - 6 feet. Can your boat handle that? Springfield is a hell of a comute to lake Michigan so all the info you can get is gold. I live on Lake Michigan just north of Port Washington. PM me the night before or early in the morning. If I'm around, and I usually am, I'll be happy to give you a first hand account of what the lake is doing off my house.

Jim