On Thu, 14 Sep 2000 09:58:38 -0800, Kent Lind wrote:

>Hi Ben:
>
>I've done a lot of diving off RIBs in Southeast Alaska which is not that
>much different from the San Juans exept that it's more wild and remote and
>the seas can be rougher.  I've also done a lot of small boat diving using
>boats that aren't RIBs.
>
>One of my buddies has a 17' Zodiak RIB that I have dove off of frequently.
>My buddy Rob and I also have a 10' Avon Rover that rides on top of the cabin
>of our larger boat and is sometimes used for diving.
>
>Some general comments about RIBs.
>
>They give you a LOT less storage space compared to a rigid hull boat of
>equivalent size.
>The big ones are very expensive


This is true.  You will definitely get a larger boat for your "buck" if
you steer away from RIBs.


>They are very wet and not particularly comfortable on long runs.


This strikes me as odd, considering that I have frequently used RIB's
offshore without getting wet, unless it was raining.  The standard type
of rigid hulled inflatable, with a chined deep V hull, is designed to
be operated in a planing condition regardless of sea conditions.  The
practiced coxswain should have no problem doing this - to keep the
props in the water you need to take the power off for an instant at the
wave crest and then reapply power into the trough and up the face of
the next wave.  One hand on the wheel and one hand on the throttles at
all times - in a heavy sea you will be slamming the throttles up and
down continuously.  This is a tiring job after a while.  I used to
operate a Zodiac Hurricane 733 for the Canadian Coast Guard.  In calm
conditions, these boats are capable of fifty knots, but even offshore
with a sea running we can keep up a respectable 35 - 40.  For diving
application, it is important to keep all of the gear stowed as far aft
as possible, for the RIB to assume a proper trim in the water.  You
only need enough weight forward to make it possible to climb out of the
hole with engines trimmed full down - once on a plane, moving weight
aft will give a smoother (and dryer) ride as you trim up.  Higher speed
will actually give a more comfortable ride.  Like my RHIOT instructor
told me:  "drive it like you stole it".


>They pound a lot and are not very efficient


They are extremely efficient with a competent operator.


>They have horrible resale.  This is true of all boats, but worse with RIBs.
>
>Based on my experiences, if I were looking for a good center console day
>boat in the 20' range to use for diving in Southeast Alaska or Puget Sound I
>would not get a RIB.  Instead I'd take a very close look at some of the
>better fiberglass center console boats such as a 20' Parker.  Boston Whalers
>are good dive platforms too but they pound something terrible in rough
>water.  And, since you are in Puget Sound, I'd take a very close look at
>some of the heavy duty welded aluminum skiffs that are made in Puget Sound.
>These are very popular in SE Alaska as work boats and they are damn near
>indestructable.   The Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game uses 20' WorkSkiffs as
>dive boats and the guys like them.  They make killer dive boats because you
>have a big heavy flat floor and you can lash tanks all along both sides.
>See:
>
>http://www.workskiff.com/
>http://www.pacificskiffs.com/default.htm
>
>for some examples of the type of skiffs that I'm talking about.  WorkSkiff
>is in Bothell so you can go check them out.  There's a handful of other
>similar brands mostly made in Washington and Oregon.  I've done some diving
>off of a 17' WorkSkiff which was big enough to carry 4 divers, 8 tanks, and
>a 5th person to drive the skiff. These type of heavy duty welded aluminum
>skiffs that are made with self-bailing double hull bottoms are extremely
>seaworthy.  They might not be the right boat to take far out on the open
>ocean like the guys do on the Atlantic, but they are almost perfect for
>coastal diving in interior waters such as we have in SE Alaska and Puget
>Sound.  One big advantage to the aluminum skiffs over fiberglass is that you
>can just drive them up on the rocky beaches without fear of damaging the
>gell coat and you can bang the snot out of them.


I certainly agree with the utility of the aluminum skiffs for diving,
when the water is relatively calm.  As Kent mentioned, they are
fantastic for handling dive gear.  If you are going to be routinely
diving in snotty weather, I'd take a serious look at RIBs.  I wouldn't
be caught offshore in anything else.


>Kent Lind
>Juneau, Alaska


-Sean


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