84CJ7
Contributor
Kind of a long rambling multi part question.
Sounds like an obvious yes to most divers, but when I stop and think about it, I don't think id feel comfortable leaving the boat alone on the surface alone, which would mean someone would likely have to stay topside, and being located on the border of MN and WI just across from St. Paul I really don't have anywhere to dive thats boatable except the great lakes and theyre all the way across the state.
The only pro's I could see would be the freedom of movement without schedules and being able to avoid the walking disasters often found on charters. I figure the lack of charter fee's is cancelled out by the fuel cost of towing it, though its also a ghetto camper so id probably not hafta pay for a room either.
I have a boat already actually for other reasons, mainly crusing up and down the St. Croix river which connects to the mississippi (both of which are a constant zero viz btw)
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,160,00.html
I bought it without a motor and fixed it up and I really love it to death, I got a humminbird 987c SI sonar imager for it for less than half of retail with the gps and weather sense so I could tool around mowing the lawn for targets and dive on whatevers interesting.
Problem is I can't seem to figure out how to get in and out of it with ease. I could make it in myself with a tank I think but I am doubting many others could, so I need to come up with some way to get people in and out. I thought maybe a dive ladder over the side or a platform on the back with something built over the splash well to step on, but I dunno. People might just have to remove their weights and tanks and thats always a pain in the ***.
I'm not even sure its capable of taking on the great lakes, its got 2 18 gallon fuel tanks for a damn 90 hp so its capable of going for a good long while, and the sides are high enough to keep the water out.
It does have an interesting tendency to "frolick" in decent waves though, I don't think id appreciate anything larger than 4 feet.
Maybe I need to water test it up there some time, ive never even boated on the great lakes cept for a big ferry once.
BTW this isnt a "is a boat useful" question, we're already past that waypoint, I just wonder if adding the parts to make it a dive boat would be worth it or if it would never get used. I am a marine mechanic too so reliability isnt an issue, I actually carry ignition spares and a fuel pump rebuild kit on board with my whole tool box coming along.
Any thoughts?
Sounds like an obvious yes to most divers, but when I stop and think about it, I don't think id feel comfortable leaving the boat alone on the surface alone, which would mean someone would likely have to stay topside, and being located on the border of MN and WI just across from St. Paul I really don't have anywhere to dive thats boatable except the great lakes and theyre all the way across the state.
The only pro's I could see would be the freedom of movement without schedules and being able to avoid the walking disasters often found on charters. I figure the lack of charter fee's is cancelled out by the fuel cost of towing it, though its also a ghetto camper so id probably not hafta pay for a room either.
I have a boat already actually for other reasons, mainly crusing up and down the St. Croix river which connects to the mississippi (both of which are a constant zero viz btw)
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,160,00.html
I bought it without a motor and fixed it up and I really love it to death, I got a humminbird 987c SI sonar imager for it for less than half of retail with the gps and weather sense so I could tool around mowing the lawn for targets and dive on whatevers interesting.
Problem is I can't seem to figure out how to get in and out of it with ease. I could make it in myself with a tank I think but I am doubting many others could, so I need to come up with some way to get people in and out. I thought maybe a dive ladder over the side or a platform on the back with something built over the splash well to step on, but I dunno. People might just have to remove their weights and tanks and thats always a pain in the ***.
I'm not even sure its capable of taking on the great lakes, its got 2 18 gallon fuel tanks for a damn 90 hp so its capable of going for a good long while, and the sides are high enough to keep the water out.
It does have an interesting tendency to "frolick" in decent waves though, I don't think id appreciate anything larger than 4 feet.
Maybe I need to water test it up there some time, ive never even boated on the great lakes cept for a big ferry once.
BTW this isnt a "is a boat useful" question, we're already past that waypoint, I just wonder if adding the parts to make it a dive boat would be worth it or if it would never get used. I am a marine mechanic too so reliability isnt an issue, I actually carry ignition spares and a fuel pump rebuild kit on board with my whole tool box coming along.
Any thoughts?
