Nekton boats may come back!!

[donhealy]

I would definitely ride the Rorqual again! Refitted and a new color scheme with a new attitude! I love the swath design and the different places it can go that others can't do comfortably. I don't care if it takes 20+ passengers although fewer would be better. I'd pay a higher price point for fewer passengers and better accommodations. A well outfitted boat would rival the Aqua Cat for comfort and ambiance!

Count me in!

Don

 

[donhealy]

Some further thoughts. I live in San Diego and have no problem flying back East. Nassau works as well as FLL. No one else goes to the non traditional Southern Bahamas locales like Cay Sal or Medio. I have always wanted to go to Medio and had booked the cruise on May 15 for that very reason.

I agree that differentiation will be an important aspect to success. Rorqual (or new name) can't be viewed as the motel 6 of the live aboards.

Good luck. If I had a couple of mil sitting around, I'd seriously be thinking the same thing.

Don

 

[mike_s]

I absolutely agree that the boat would need to be foreign flagged. I am looking into that as well.

As far as the foreign flag goes, this is not done to escape the USCG. It is done to escape the huge registration and insurance requirements. Flagging a vessel in the states is horribly expensive and also played a part in Nekton's downfall.

Most countries Are part of IMO which requires all of the same safety equipment and manning as the states. This means that your safety is not being compromised by the vessel flying a foreign flag.

So if you operate it foreign flagged, you can still operate it out of a US port as long as it's foreign destinations correct. This still requires USCG inspections I think.

As the others said, I'd like to see Cay Sal. I don't know of another operator that goes there now, so it's a currently untapped location.


But could you do "keys only" type trips if foreign flagged? (not sure per the Jones Act if it's allowed at all or on ocassion.)

I think there's a market for keys liveaboard trips. Maybe not for 100% of the trips, but I'm betting that you could do 1 week per month as there are people who would like to do liveboard and do the wrecks and reefs of the keys, but without the hassle of foreign travel, passport requirements, and staying in US Cell phone range, etc. Yes I know you can dive all these sites from shore based operators, but not having to haul out gear every day, get tank fills, set stuff up, etc sure was nice when we did it. We were able to get in 5 dives a day on the Keys reefs and wrecks.

How about having the Hooters waitresses be stewards and divemasters????

I know Hockeynut would sign up just based on that.

 

[cappyjon431]

Captain John?

My family and I dove the Pilot a few times and really enjoyed it. We left Nekton (back before the downhill slide) because we left the Caribbean. Since we live in SoCal, it's just as expensive to go the the South Pacific. I don't think we'd go back to the Nekton in those waters. Sorry.

Nope, it is not me (not this Capt. Jon anyway), but I do wish this person best of luck in his endeavor. I spent a good chunk of my working life (8 years on boat, 2 in office) working for Nekton and I believe strongly in the product.

My biggest concern is that while the Bahamas itineraries are very attractive to divers (it is very easy to fly in to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), the costs associated with running out of the States (due to insurance, increased port charges and security fees, etc.) appear to make it cost prohibitive. If the Bahamas itineraries are going to be considered, it is more financially viable to run out of Nassau, Freeport, or Exuma. Unfortunately this will add to the cost for divers to get to these locations.

 

[The Chairman]

Good luck with the project. Anything is doable if you have the passion for it.

 

[grouda]

My wife and I have been on trips with Nekton for the last ten years and with her penchant for sea sickness they were the only way she could really have a good time at sea. We tried Explorer Ventures and she was miserable the entire week notwithstanding other issues encountered on the trip. If you are able to get her back on the water in 100% shape and made available the itineraries mentioned we would definitely book again and again. It is by far our preferred method of diving and in particular the boat design. Good luck and God's speed and we sincerely hope you are successful.

 

[DiveMaven]

I certainly would never have blinked an eye at paying more for my Nekton cruises IF the boats had been in better condition. We felt strongly that given the condition of the boats that we were spending the right amount of money for our trips (lesser product = lesser cost). However, we also have said many times that had the boats been refurbished and the boat been a bit more of a "luxury" product, we wouldn't have had any problem paying more.

 

[Damselfish]

While a cheap flight to FL and leaving from there is nice and easy, I'm just as happy to fly elsewhere. But - I think there is a big plus to leaving from a port accessible by a major airport and jets, rather than one where you need yet another jump on a small plane, with the associated luggage and scheduling issues. When you're going to be land-based someplace remote there's no choice about the island hoppers, but if I'm getting on a boat I'd just as soon the boat made the passage if possible.

At some point it would be nice to do some 10 night or even 2 week special itineraries. There's few (none?) in the Caribbean and not many elsewhere. Doesn't work for some people, but might attract others.

 

[deepdiver4u]

What a great idea!!

I don't think I would be able to pay them enough though.

 

[deepdiver4u]

Loved the Nekton boats, been on both - Pilot in Belize twice and Rorqual in Cayman.

Have been a fan of the design of the boat, the dive platform and the room on board to spread out on the upper deck. Never had a crowded dive other than day 1 of the first trip. I learned to wait 15 minutes and you could gear up and dive on your own.

However I am not sure if I would go back either.

Belize was an easy trip to make from the west coast, now it requires an overnight stop somewhere. Cayman also requires an overnight stay somewhere but is at least somewhat direct, any other destination in the Caribbean is just too difficult/expensive to get to from here, and the diving while nice just isn't as good as the South Pacific.

If I am going to overnight somewhere it may as well be Hong Kong or Singapore and I can get to some spectacular diving for about the same or a small amount more in overall cost in terms of time and money.

I am not sure you could compete with that, but then the Pacific West Coast is probably not your target market.

Outside of that the boat is a good dive platform and you may be able to make a go of it. In my view you don't need to attempt to attract divers with price and trying to do it was a significant mistake made by the previous owner. You need to attract them with value and something unique. I am already giving up a week's earnings, paying for a flight to get there, a hotel at each end (possibly) saving a few hundred dollars is not what I am focusing on - it is the quality of the diving and the overall experience that interests me. What can you offer that is unique or special that will make me choose this boat over all of the others out there. The fact that it doesn't get me seasick isn't going to be enough. You need something else, something that ignites my imagination - fullfills some fantasy - revisits my youth - whatever. Providing a bus to go diving isn't going to be a successful business model - look at Aggressor, they provide a "yacht" to go diving, Nekton was providing a bus.

For me to come back there would have to be something different that I can't get somewhere else. I am not sure exactly what that is but if you figure it out I would take another Nekton trip - or more than one. If you can't and you are offering just another Caribbean dive trip I probably won't be back. There are too many other places in the world to visit.

A bit disorganised, but my opinion.

I am still working on prospective itineraries. I am also trying to find some type of centrel location for the boat to be berthed. I am not to concerned with airfares right now, just getting the boat where people want to dive.

Please remember that this boat only cruises at 7 knots which makes high mile itineraries difficult due to leaa diving oppurtunities and higher fuel costs. It took 11 days to travel from Turks and Caicos to Port St Joe while driving 23 hours per day!

As some of the old hands would say "She may be slow, but she sure is ugly."