Hello Allison, I wasn't aware that the Star Dancer was actually owned by Alan. I thought he was running it for someone else.
Alan has owned this boat for a while.
QUOTE: And I said nothing at all about Febrina, which is a much better boat than SD and I'm sure Capt. Alan would tell you the same.
Actually, Alan is thinking of selling FeBrina and concentrating fully on SD.
Please don't assume that if I point out something I don't like about SD that I'm attacking Capt. Alan. He is a very good Capt. and I very much enjoy his company.
I agree TOTALLY!!
QUOTE: There is no hearsay involved, just my observations on the negatives of the SDs design. The SD has a flatter, planning type hull which is built for speed and fuel economy as most oil rig tenders are, and no stabilization, so she has limitations on operating conditions in her new life as a luxury liveaboard.
FeBrina has a pretty "flat" hull too. I've been on the SD and haven't felt it to be too "rolling".
QUOTE: The GD also has a mid point entry/exit for divers so even in big swells, divers will have no trouble getting in and out of the water because the mid point is the fulcrum and is the place on the boat where ther is the least movement.
Well. if the waves are a-beam, you will be under water at one point and hanging many feet above water at another. If there is any wind/current (ever so common in PNG), you don't really know how the waves will hit you.
QUOTE: Getting out of the water on a boat with rear deck entry, even in 3ft seas is very tough as the boat acts like a see saw and can move up and down and bash you about on the hinged ladder.
The SD has a built in platform. It acts to dampen movement at bit when it hits the wave.
QUOTE:I know 2 divers whose dive trips were ended abruptly by broken fingers after trying to get out of the water on one of those rear hinged ladders in 4 ft seas on boats similar to the SD.
Again, the deck is built-in. The FeBrina has a hinged deck, but I can't remember If any of the SD's is hinged. It was never a problem while I was there.
I will say nothing about GD, as the only contact I have had with them is while at anchor in Walindi. They seemed nice.