offshore boat for fishing/diving???

[sr_ryan1]

im looking to buy a boat for fishing and diving offshore, around 20-25' can anyone suggest a pre-owned 1995-2004 brand make, and mdole? thanks

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

I really cant recommend a particular boat but I can tell you to stay away from baots with small swim platforms. You will need something with a lot of room when trying to climb back in the boat. Some outboard setups with twin engines take up a lot of room on the back of the boat making for tight quarters causing difficultly while trying to board the boat. Also buy a Divers ladder. The typical swimplatform ladder is a PITA.

 

[JB]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

For that multiple use offshore I don't think there is a better boat than an 80s Boston Whaler Outrage in 20', 22' or 24'.<br /><br />They are not cheap, but a 20 year old Outrage is a better boat for less bux than a 10 year old anything else.<br /><br />Here are a couple that are on ebay:<br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/22-BOSTON-WHALE...ryZ31271QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem <br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Boston-Whale...ryZ31271QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem <br /><br />There are also a bunch of newer models (not as good in my view) here on iboats classifieds.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

what about a mid 80's mako, back when they were still made by mako, and ONLY mako<br /><br /> http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/8/80444388.htm <br /><br /> http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/2/8/83203628.htm <br /><br /> http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/5/9/82032359.htm <br /><br />ungodly pristine ride quality, handles waves without even a glance of fear!<br /><br />i have a 20 footer mako myself, and honestly, wouldnt trade it for anything in the world.<br /><br />classicmako.com

 

[18rabbit]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

You may want to consider an inflatable. Can’t beat them for use as a dive platform, they are extremely stable in the water. If you find a used Avon RIB in the size you want, I suggest giving it serious consideration. The Avon RIB is by far the most stable vessel I have been on. For towing, inflatable’s weight less, too. If you have an inflatable over 8-ft wide, you can deflate the tubes, reducing the width to avoid any wide-load towing restrictions. You can fish off of anything.<br /><br />What I do for diving is hang a few lines over the side of the boat. The lines are 1/2 or 5/8 inch braided dock lines that I spliced a brass clip onto, and an eye (loop) on the other end. I attach the eye to the cleats on the boat and the brass clip hangs a couple feet under water. When I come up from a dive, I hook my weight belt to one of the brass hooks and pull the belt’s clasp, letting the weight belt go. Then I clip my b/c and tank to another of the brass clips and roll out of it. Makes getting back onto the boat a lot easier. Once on the boat I can pull up the weight belt and tank. I take my lines with me when diving from friend’s boats with dinky swim platforms. Don’t need much of a platform if you don’t have all the equipment hanging of your body.

 

[cuzner]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

Personal preference of mine for diving would be a I/O engine.Anything with a big deck, and itergrated swim platform. Stripper and Polar both have good layouts.I own a searay sundancer (23 ft) does a decent job for fishing and diving,as long as you have no more than 2 fishing, and 4 diving.We suit up walk throuhg the mini door to swim platform, and have someone lift our bc+ tanks on while we sit on the back rail.With a little practice you can learn to suit up almost boat.make sure you have a rigid ladder to get back in with,the extra weight of wet suit makes it awful tough to get back in on a rope, or a short ladder.<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[gatorred]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

http://photobucket.com/albums/f325/gatorer/boats/?action=view&current=church014.jpg how about this 20 foot cabin boat it got 120 inboard 4cyl chev on trailer in gillett pa it ran two year's ago about 4000.00 should take it

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

I have a used 20' Pro-Line Cuddy/Walk. Its got a 19 deg deadrise which cuts through the swells very nice, very stable dive platform. Got a 150hp outboard, plenty of power to make plane for three fishing or four divers ...provided they aren't diving hp120 doubles...last time it got a little heavy with guys diving doubles. Nice thing is the cuddy for storage, and warming up if the wind is blowing. Here in San Diego the water nevers gets above 67 F at any real depth... getting out of the wind is always a plus. Seems you can get a Pro-Line 97-2000, 20' with trailer and bimini for ~ $12,000.00. They are solid boats for blue water fishing / diving. Buying a few feet more doesn't seem to pay off unless you are going to move up to a 29'. You need a 29' for a comfortable six pack so I stay with a 20' with max 4 divers.<br /><br />Definitly hang a couple 1/2" knotted ropes off of the stern cleats for staging your exit...weights, weightbelts, BC's and tanks. Highly recommend installing a quality steel ladder off the transom... no substituting here since in case of an emergency you need to get yourself and anyone else onto your boat quickly. <br /><br />RIBs are nice but there is no mercy from the elements after a day of diving offshore, inshore diving is where they really shine. I've moored off of a few dive sites with RIBs, the divers struggled to exit onto the RIB after a 100' dive and light swells w/ medium wind chop. <br /><br />Gotta tell you for the money buy a used Cuddy with an outboard and a local tilt switch to use as a hydraulic lift... used mine several times when the seas were getting rough. I've rode the outboard high enough to climb on board, specially when the boat is yawing too much for the safe use of the ladder. The ocean can change quite a lot in 50 minutes of bottom time.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

Originally posted by PSulli5494:<br /> I've moored off of a few dive sites with RIBs, the divers struggled to exit onto the RIB after a 100' dive and light swells w/ medium wind chop.

Welcome to the iboats forums, PSulli5494.<br /> <br /><br />Those divers are doing something wrong, probably trying to crawl out of the ocean with 60lbs of dive gear still strapped to the bodies?!? Use the staging lines and with one scissor-kick a diver will fly into an inflatable boat like penguins flying onto the ice.<br /><br />You are correct that many inflatables don’t protect you from the elements, but some do, depending on how much money you have to spend. The cc inflatables even have a head down below. Pretty much anything you want in any other boat can/is done with an inflatable, usually for less $$$.<br /><br />The down side of an inflatable is the loss of deck space. With 18-in sponsons on each side, you’re out 3-ft of deck space. On the up side, you also pick up the biggest love seat configuration floating on water.<br />

 

[Paul Sullivan]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

Gotta tell you I have been eye balling an 18'RIB w/40hp outboard just for ease of launching and for just one or two man lobster dives. Driving/launching the Cuddy is a chore sometimes. Plus I would hate to ground it on the rocks here Point Loma...RIB would be nice. But like I said when the wind kicks up in the afternoon it can get a little chilly.<br /><br />Just gotta convince my wife we need a second boat for my diving addiction...errr I mean to be more ecologically conscious concerning fuel consumtion and all that !!!

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: offshore boat for fishing/diving???

sr_ryan1<br /><br />I don't what brands are available in your part of the world. (GA is Georgia I assume) But I have a welded aluminum boat and for diving & fishing. It is the best choice in my opinion. <br /><br />Aluminum really stands up well to the bashing it receives from diving and fishing gear and it is very low maintenance. I just rinse the boat down, scrub the blood stains and forget it, my boat isn't even painted. (OK it's not pretty just very practical)<br /><br />I'm not familiar with ocean fishing where you live but one species I like to fish is halibut and use a gaff or harpoon to land them. This is one reason I wouldn't consider a inflatable boat. <br /><br />I have worked many years in the sport fishing and diving industries and I believe welded aluminum is well worth the extra intial cost if you plan to use the boat regularily.<br /><br />Hope this helps!