Dive Boat Conversion

[sunaj]

Looking for fellow scuba diving enthusiasts, I have a newly aquired 17' Larson boat I want to modify for diving, wondering what some other divers have done to their boats to rig it for diving, I expect to add a nice ladder, dive platform, tank rack, and later a pump for the tanks, let me know what yours looks like, pictures would be a plus Janus

 

[jollymon]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

17' Larson for diving.

It might work for you and a buddy, but I think your boat is a tad bit small for everything you want to add! A compressor on a 17' boat think long and hard before your head down the road you are pointing to.

 

[kcinnick]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

It would be cheaper and easier just to bring extra tanks on that boat when you go diving. AL80's are small and light. The only way I would see you needing a compressor are for overnight trips where you can't get the bottles filled at a shop. I don't think you will make any overnight trips in your boat.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

Ditto... anyway, a compressor big enough to fill tanks in a reasonable amount of time would sink your boat outright. You can get a small portable one that will fill one tank in a half hour that you could fit somewhere.

For my boat I'm putting in a custom dive ladder, some of the adjustable tank racks that hold singles or doubles in 7 inch and fat sizes, I've removed seating to make room for divers, and I'm installing a pair of small benches near the tank racks specifically for getting BCs on.

I'm skipping the swim platform, because I need to install a kicker for backup propulsion. My ladder will extend over the transom and allow walking in to my boat.

Other than that, I'm installing power trim tabs to help control list when the boat is loaded.

I'm figuring my boat will hold about four divers comfortably, six in a pinch, with 2 tanks each. I have a 21 footer with a six foot beam.

Erik

 

[thenotsofreeboat]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

Yeah 17 feet isn't much with tanks, dive bags, BC's and wet suits all over the place. I kept mine pretty simple, as it is 16 feet deck boat and with all the gear there is no where for extras. I made a rack for the tanks out of some black drain pipe I had in the garage. Make sure you buy a good latter, I bought mine on the cheap and pay for it every time i get back in the boat. That is going to be replaced this year as it is just a pain. The best thing i put in the boat was some clips on a rope to clip the BC and other gear to it for getting in and out of the water. It makes getting out of the water easy, it was cheap and the best thing so far I have put in the boat as far as diving. My boat is close to the water people just either stride over the side or just slide in so i haven't worried about a platform. A good depth/fish finder makes knowing water depth a known thing as it sucks to dive in 10 feet of water and the fish finder sometimes can pick up a rock formation or just a stump as in many cases it is, although it did help finding a sunk boat that people dive during their open water classes at one of the lakes around here that wasn't marked.

 

[kcinnick]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

I was wondering how far ya'll where taking these 16-17' boats, but I forget most of america heads to lakes and rivers. I guess I am lucky to be so close to the gulf of Mexico. I am looking into getting a 19'-20' boat, probably a bay boat, to fish and cruise with, but will one day probably want to use it as a dive boat (after I am secure with both my diving skills and boating skills to do them on my own, well with a buddy).

 

[sunaj]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

I've decided to make a custom wooden ladder for my boat, have one partly made, hardwood, need to make an attachment. I've been interested in some of the wooden ladders that were popular in early days of diving, they were fairly wide, looked really functional, not to mention cool looking

 

[Xandre]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

I dive off of my 1969 14ft runabout and have been trying to figure out a way to make it more dive compatable. There aren't many options.

I have been going aorund to garage sales look for old above ground pool ladders to sling off the side.

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry.

 

[special_kaye]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

I dive off of my 1969 14ft runabout and have been trying to figure out a way to make it more dive compatable. There aren't many options.

I have been going aorund to garage sales look for old above ground pool ladders to sling off the side.

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry.

I went diving off a charter fishing boat and had to use the trim tab and cavitation plate to get back in the boat. Not real fun during that part but not that bad. Yup, I'd do it again.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Dive Boat Conversion

Make sure you get a ladder with enough rungs under the water. If it is possible, have a handrail above waterline to help getting up. On the dive platform, put lots of handles.