Would you like to have your OWN dive boat or use a charter?

[BlueDolphin]

My family has a boat slip available in Channel Islands (Mandalay Bay). I am thinking about purchasing a boat to use for diving out at my local Channel Islands, and keeping it there.

I would like to hear opinions on whether you would like to have your own boat for diving or have someone else be at the helm while you relax on your trip home.

There are the obvious positives to being able to go when and where you want to.
But after a 4 dive day.... do you really want to then face piloting your boat home. The trip to and from the islands piloting your own boat can be exhausting in itself.
I sailed back and forth as a kid growing up, and I know first hand how the channel can be (it has been said that if you can sail the channel on some of its rougher days, you can sail anywhere in the world).

What about the added safety factor of having a (hopefully) trained staff to handle emergencies, etc.?

I know this may seem like a dumb question, and at first seems like a no brainer....
but just wanted to hear some thoughts.

 

[gerardnealon]

I would love to have my own boat. And with today's navigation computers, the boat can navigate and drive on its own (for the most part ;-) ) I think it is invaluable to be able to pick up and just dive whenever you want.

 

[Knight1989]

In an ideal world, Id just about kill for my own boat. But there are some downsides. The bigggest I see is someone has to stay on board while you are diving, who wants to get stuck with that boring task?

 

[Knight1989]

Oh and the reasoning behind someone staying on the boat isnt so someone dosent steal yourstuff while your underwater, although that is a factor. If you have an emergancy and cant reach the boat, you need someone to be able to bring the boat to you, call for help, etc....

 

[gerardnealon]

Oh and the reasoning behind someone staying on the boat isnt so someone dosent steal yourstuff while your underwater, although that is a factor. If you have an emergancy and cant reach the boat, you need someone to be able to bring the boat to you, call for help, etc....

Ohh come on... a little swim wouldn't hurt you!!! ;-) Or you could get a wistle and blow really hard!!!

 

[Knight1989]

Ohh come on... a little swim wouldn't hurt you!!! ;-) Or you could get a wistle and blow really hard!!!

To bad nobody would be on the boat to hear you :lol2:

 

[BlueDolphin]

There are actually quite a few downsides. Heck... just dropping anchor and getting it back up after each dive location could be a real pain. After a dive you would have to deal with quite a bit to just up and leave and get to a new location if you wanted to. I guess you could just spend more time at a single location, and dive on YOUR time when you feel like it. Would be nice to broil up a nice fishy lunch too, on your own barB.

Then there is the need to gain the experience of handling a boat in all conditions, learning good boating skills. Maintenance (gee... I kinda wanted to use all my money on dive equipment!).

And by the way..... yes we do have pirates.

 

[Knight1989]

And by the way..... yes we do have pirates.

ARGHH!!!!

There are plenty of down side and plenty of upsides too. The freedom to dive when and where you want with who you want. Trust me I'd love to have a boat and deffintly dont want to turn you against the idea, just saying theres a lot to consider. If you've got the resources and the ability, by all means. Hell I'll go out on the boat with you.

 

[BlueDolphin]

Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

 

[Knight1989]

And by the way..... yes we do have pirates.

The real question is do your pirates have parrots. you cant be a good pirate with out a parrot.