Poll - Custom Dive Boat

[John Ploegert]

My son (also John Ploegert) is a custom boat builder in Fernandina Beach, FL; he is also an avid open water diver. He is considering building a trailerable dive boat specifically designed for accessing caves along the Suwannee River that would be offered as an option to cavedivers staying at our rental cottage. The purpose of this poll is to determine the level of interest in having such a boat available and the features the boat should have. (max number of people, creature comforts, speed, tiller or wheel steering, electronics, lockable storage, bottle racks, dive ladder/platform, etc) Any interest? How many days/year might you use it if priced $_____/day?
John Ploegert

[SuPrBuGmAn]

FWIW, Edd Sorenson gets around $75 a day for renting his pontoon boats on the Mill Pond, price includes gas and even a cooler of drinks(water/soda, unfortunately no beer).

That seems to be around the right price point.



Ideally you'll want something that will hold atleast two comfortably with a full set of gear including possibly a stage or two and a pair of scooters. Flat bottom with a shallow draft.

Everything else from there will just depend on how much creature comforts and how much easier you want to make it on everyone.

[Line Squirrel]

You don't need much more than a 16ft Jon boat with a 25hp Merc to access most of the caves on the Suwannee and Santa Fe for two divers. Two SM divers is pretty much enough for most caves along the Suwannee and the Santa Fe.

There are obviously exceptions (Ginnie and Telford for instance) are accessible by boat and can handle more then two divers but I wouldn't want to dive with more than two in places like Suwannee Blue, Hidden, Big Suck, Little Suck, etc., etc.

But to address a couple of your other questions....

1). Lockable storage for a hand held GPS, cameras, cell phones, wallets, car keys and yes even a hand gun for those of us that choose to.
2). Personally I like a tiller, IMO it makes sit easier to see what I'm looking for (siphons or boils).
3). Ladder completely unnecessary. You can gear up in waist deep water near the shoreline.

[Dark Eternal]

FWIW, Edd Sorenson gets around $75 a day for renting his pontoon boats on the Mill Pond, price includes gas and even a cooler of drinks(water/soda, unfortunately no beer).

That seems to be around the right price point.

I'll agree with that. I dont even think twice about renting Edds boats, split 2 or 3 ways its no more expensive than most dive parks in Texas.

[adam0321]

And edd does not even charge you for the workout you get. You know swimming while pulling the boat back from twin cave. Just kidding edd id a great shop owner I am sure we got the one bad one.

Sent from my Eris

[Sludge]

swimming while pulling the boat back from twin cave

He just wanted to see if you were REALLY a Marine!

[Benthic]

Do you really want to hand over a brand new, custom made boat to a bunch of people you don't really know, who may or may not have experience operating boats and then allow them to take said brand new, custom made boat on a river filled with rocks, logs and other submerged hazards?

If it were my boat, I wouldn't.

Brian

[Line Squirrel]

Do you really want to hand over a brand new, custom made boat to a bunch of people you don't really know, who may or may not have experience operating boats and then allow them to take said brand new, custom made boat on a river filled with rocks, logs and other submerged hazards?

If it were my boat, I wouldn't.

Brian

New Poll, or maybe pool...how many lower units will need to be replaced in one year Although I never hurt mine, I didn't call my river/cave boat Stump Thumper for no reason!!

[scububa]

FWIW, Edd Sorenson gets around $75 a day for renting his pontoon boats on the Mill Pond, price includes gas and even a cooler of drinks(water/soda, unfortunately no beer).

That seems to be around the right price point.

Also includes
a place to store your gear overnight on multiday rentals
and
hauling your tanks from the dock to the shop and back...priceless

[Tegg]

just throw a canoe and a trolling motor there, if they want to take it out, so be it. You won't be out to much money when they nail the shoals going downstream.