Boat Dive Benches and Tank Racks

I am a volunteer with the Monterey Bay Veterans working on their Lift to Freedom Project. The Freedom is a 60' Pacifica Sports Fisherman being converted to support their program for disabled divers. Only six divers will be supported at a time.

The problem is we are reevaluating the tank racks and benches on the dive deck and all the options fall short. There will be a full air and Nitrox system onboard so one diver can use the same rig on every dive. The problem is we want to accommodate any cylinder configuration a diver prefers or requires. That can be everything from a front-mounted single for a multiple amputee to any combo of rebreathers and cylinders a tech diver might choose.

We have the Roll Control System now which has some adjustment but isn't especially friendly to singles rigged with two cam bands, back-mounted bailouts/ponies, doubles, or rebreathers. They work fine for side mount singles and stage bottles because they are removed while standing or seated on the platform and brought aboard by the crew. One constraint of the vessel is the narrow transom man-way.

We want to accommodate back-mounted single and multiple manifolded cylinders from 5½ to 8" diameter plus rebreathers. Has anyone seen or have ideas for a more versatile rack aside from a shallow trough, rear rails, and bungees at the top?

Maybe something like this for the odd sizes/doubles.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...s/267744-tank-rack-small-rib.html#post5400284

Express Watersports in Murrell's Inlet SC has this on their boat. http://www.expresswatersports.com/media/diveboat/Myrtle beach scubage.jpg I'm pretty sure there's no bungie cords needed. Here's another shot showing the rail above it. http://www.expresswatersports.com/media/diveboat/myrtle beach scubagr4.jpg

I've been on another boat either in the Carribbean or Maui with a similar idea - they just vertically mounted thick PVC pipe behind the dive bench and cut away part of one side. The tanks never moved and we were in some rougher water once.

Not sure if this is any better for your needs but maybe it could be modified somehow. Dive Mate, LLC - Home

google scuba tank boat rack and click images - there's lots of ideas.

Thanks diversteve

The Scuba Express is a 46' Newton dive boat with standard racks. They work OK for singles with non-standard 7¼" (no hex) round boots, but are a problem for everything else. The gap between the PVC tube racks is basically a trough with rear rails and bungee described above. That style works OK for doubles but is much less stable for singles, especially with a back-mounted bailout/pony.

Monterey can get some good size swells so stability is a concern.