cave diving/exploratory boat setup

I'm getting out of the hobby, and will be posting the rest of my gear soon... for now though, I want to post this here first, as the package is purpose-built for cave diving. I use this boat to get to a lot of boat-access-only places in the northern FL area, like Cypress, Bozell, Mill Pond, even the Hayes spring group!

The boat is a 11.5' inflatable boat, with air floor... the only solid thing on the boat is the transom, and it can be put together in less than ten minutes with about 30 cubic foot of air from a SCUBA tank, or about the same amount of time, with more work, from a foot pump.

The motor is a 1996 15HP Johnson outboard, it's 2-stroke, so it's light and you can run the gas out of it and lay it on it's side for transportation. It has a carry handle, and weighs about 75lbs.

I'm asking $1,200 firm for the whole package, ready to go. I will not separate the boat and the motor, unless you want the boat only.

Included are a few pictures... PM me if you are interested.

Heading to Ebro Blue / Potter springs
http://www.shagman.org/qdig-files/co...d_IMG_1190.JPG

At Bozell, easy trip w/ a powered boat.
http://www.shagman.org/qdig-files/co...d_IMG_1054.jpg

Mat saying how awesome it is! Heading to Bozell here.
http://www.shagman.org/qdig-files/co...d_IMG_1047.jpg

Inflating with a OW reg set and AL80 (two fills on each AL80 fill)
http://www.shagman.org/qdig-files/co...d_IMG_1045.jpg

Runs FAST with no gear, and will plane with gear depending on the load.
http://www.shagman.org/qdig-files/co...d_IMG_3983.JPG

Dove off this boat several times, excellent rig to dive off of!

I need to move to Florida....all the cool toys are out there!

Pick your days and this boat makes for a great little runner to get you to inshore sites on the ocean. I've got one similar and have taken it a couple miles out. That sucker is good for just about anything. Cali's got plenty of ocean :)

Will this carry two divers with cave gear, or is it strictly a one-diver operation?

Two with cave gear, we've done it several times. The photos you see with gear in the boat, are actually two sets of steels as well as two of the remainder of cave gear. Leaves you with enough room for your feet and a couple dry bags, but its definately enough for two cavers!

I have also dove out of this boat numerous times...I am 6'3" and Josh is well over six foot, two full sets of cave gear, and my camera rig and we always had plenty of room. I have watched Josh set this boat up in ten minutes and break it down just as quickly.

I hate to see it go...I can say from first hand experience that with two Bubbas in it, the motor and boat gets up and goes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

Will this carry two divers with cave gear, or is it strictly a one-diver operation?

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These two guys are making my sales pitch for me!

As Glen said, it'll fit two fully outfitted 6'++ cave divers, sitting in the back near the motor, across from each other, sitting on the tubes (I have boat seats for it, but they just eat up space/weight)... it might or might not plane up with the load, Mat and I have gotten it to plane up fully loaded on Holmes creek before... doing 15 knots on a small flooded creek is pretty scary tho, so there's no need.

The load rating is something ridiculous like 1200lbs.

It's killing me to sell the setup, but I'm getting out of the hobby.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShagMan

These two guys are making my sales pitch for me!

As Glen said, it'll fit two fully outfitted 6'++ cave divers, sitting in the back near the motor, across from each other, sitting on the tubes (I have boat seats for it, but they just eat up space/weight)... it might or might not plane up with the load, Mat and I have gotten it to plane up fully loaded on Holmes creek before... doing 15 knots on a small flooded creek is pretty scary tho, so there's no need.

The load rating is something ridiculous like 1200lbs.

It's killing me to sell the setup, but I'm getting out of the hobby.

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Man I wish you were selling it in a month or two.

I made this offer to one gentleman on here, and I'll extend it to 1) anyone I've met or 2) anyone that dives in the Marianna area ... I will owner finance the boat, that is, you can make payments over a period of roughly a month, and take ownership when it's paid up.

-Josh

The boat has been sold, thanks to Ernest and Alethia!