Divers Lift on a RIB?

Scottish diver · 20 September 2010, 14:07

Has anyone ever seen/heard or thought of putting a divers lift onto a RIB? I currently have a s/s dive ladder mounted on the aft of our RIB and it works very well however, as I get older and the kit gets heavier the thought of a divers lift sounds interesting?

Starovich · 20 September 2010, 15:25

Zodiac do 2 things that may help in this area, not sure about a crane though.

http://www.zodiacmilpro.com/accessories-optional.php

jyasaki · 20 September 2010, 16:18

I think anyone over the age of about 25 who dives off a RIB has thought about it. Don't know anyone who's actually done it.

One option would be to install something like the crab guys have (pic later) and use it to hoist your rig into the boat. Surface, remove and tether your rig to the boat, egress the water. You, less kit, should be able to reboard using the ladder without difficulty (or so one would think.) Hoist your rig on board at your leisure.

Note: Sorry, I lied. No pic. Here's a link, though:

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=163342F

Lift the rig, swing the arm inside, and the rig's in the boat.

Dunno. Though I'm thinking that if you can't maneuver yourself and your equipment, it may be time to think of another hobby...

jky

Razorbill RIBs · 20 September 2010, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottish diver

Has anyone ever seen/heard or thought of putting a divers lift onto a RIB? I currently have a s/s dive ladder mounted on the aft of our RIB and it works very well however, as I get older and the kit gets heavier the thought of a divers lift sounds interesting?

This is 'Protector' which operates in N Wales....lovely RIB. A few of the guys who dive with us regularly have been on her.....

http://www.questdiving.co.uk/

There is another one down in dorset too....see here: http://www.swanagediver.co.uk/defaul...p=boat_charter

Don't think it would work on a 6.5 though

Dan

Maximus · 20 September 2010, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottish diver

Has anyone ever seen/heard or thought of putting a divers lift onto a RIB? I currently have a s/s dive ladder mounted on the aft of our RIB and it works very well however, as I get older and the kit gets heavier the thought of a divers lift sounds interesting?

Surely you take off what you can while your still in the water,ie tanks and Stab-wings,weight belt ect?? Does make life alot less hassle,and helps save the knees!!

Steve_B · 20 September 2010, 19:36

I have seen what seems to be a large butchers hook.
Basically a stainless steel rod bent to the shape of the tube and with a hook on the wet side. Like an mis-shaped S. This allows you to remove the heavy itms like weight belt/fins .... hang them on the hook, finally remove inflated BCD and hang it too.
Get out of water completely free of any gear and at your leisure, recover kit into boat.
Steve

PS The Swanage Diver boats are very good and very firendly out on the water

willk · 20 September 2010, 19:52

S-D, I see the Swanage lads have done what you'd have to do - extend a gangway to the lift aft of the outdrives. It would put a lot of weight behind your stern and having been on your RIB, I wonder about the wisdom of that.

I've thought long and hard about your dilemma (anticipating it myself) and I don't have a solution. I'm not a teckie like you so I'd favour ditching kit in the water and recovering it with a swinging davit/winch arrangement.

Consider something crazy like a "winched assist" up your ladder

GordyP · 20 September 2010, 21:55

To be honest I find ditching the kit in the water and swimming up over the tubes at the stern pretty easy. We have drop lines which everything gets clipped to when you surface.

Need to be a big old boat to justify a lift.

Scottish diver · 20 September 2010, 22:58

thanks for all the info....Dans advice is what I would like (a divers lift) however I might need to lighten up the rib to make it work (or carry less divers!)...de kitting prior to exiting is the other option however off the east coast of Scotland its safer getting aboard first.

Nasher · 20 September 2010, 23:24

I have known a certain member of this forum to use what we've named the Stannah Diver lift. I won't tell you who as it's not really reccomended.

With the engine turned off swim round to the back of the boat.
Place one foot on each side of the cavitation plate, reach around to the tilt switch on the side of the engine cowling and use the hydraulics to lift you up to a point where you can step onto the transom.

Unfortunately as the engine tilts forward you usually end up looking like you've become Very friendly with your RIB

Nasher.

Ian M · 21 September 2010, 07:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

I have known a certain member of this forum to use what we've named the Stannah Diver lift. I won't tell you who as it's not really reccomended.

With the engine turned off swim round to the back of the boat.
Place one foot on each side of the cavitation plate, reach around to the tilt switch on the side of the engine cowling and use the hydraulics to lift you up to a point where you can step onto the transom.

Unfortunately as the engine tilts forward you usually end up looking like you've become Very friendly with your RIB

Nasher.

Might still be a problem with side tanks.
If it was really rough I'm not sure that I would be too happy on a lift. Might consider kneeling down otherwise I have found myself being thrown all over the place on a lift, even when not too rough.
If diving from a RIB I would prefer to de-kit in the water, just keep your mask on and DV rammed into your eating orifice until the last possible moment

Scottish diver · 27 September 2010, 14:33

Here is the current set up with the dive ladder on the aft platform. When the ladder is extended it comes down at an angle, to give max clearance from stern drives.

Okeanos · 02 November 2010, 21:03

I have a design in my head for one on my RIB. I'll make a S/Steel prototype first the get an Ali one made for lightness and see if it will be strong enough, may have to be SS. It'll be attached to the side of my A frame, which I'll brace to help rigidity although it did support the 179kg engine without bending.

Electric winch mounted low down with a pully at the top, biggest problem is to keep it out of the water while the boat is moving. Folding platform with 'handlebars' for divers to grab.

I can't draw but it is clear in my mind.

Scottish diver · 02 November 2010, 21:42

im also in the process (over the winter) of re engineering a ladder / lift for the RIB. it will be in stainless and be incorporated into the aft ladder set up. Once I get more detail I will post further info.

Pablo · 04 November 2010, 19:13

Discov'Rib do something thats pretty good as a safety boat in France. I can get you a quote if you're interested : http://discovrib.fr/

Simon B · 05 November 2010, 13:44

We've batted this one around at our dive club, a few of us are in engineering in some sort of way. One idea was to incorporate into the tubing of the A frame either cable or chain to a motor in the centre of the top of the a frame. This would drive both sides in/out thus up or down. A platform of some sort could travel up and down this way hey presto a lift.

Not cheap, not easy to prototype - not constructed! (yet)