ideas please on a new dive boat

diveingapril · 18 September 2007, 20:58

hi selling our old rib, and are going to buy an inflatable. We do not go miles off shore any more and as my dive budddies all get ill in ruff conditions we will not be pushing limits here.
what good ones are out there for use as a dive boat (all be it gentle dive boating!).
We need about 5.5 and we think a 40hp engine (just in case we do go out a bit). We will be spending aboute £4-5,000

what makes are good ones?
any things to look for?
Ideas!!!!!!

Mr Flibble · 11 December 2007, 23:37

Hi Diveingapril,
I take it thats your boat on e-bay at the moment? Nice boat, would be interested but need to sell my 5m Humber Inflatable before I go buying more dive kit. Send me a PM if you don't get what your looking for on e-bay. I may be interested when I sell mine.

Pete7 · 12 December 2007, 08:55

How many divers are you planning to take and will the inflatable be kept on a trailer, if so I would still consider a rib, all be it with tiller steering etc.

Pete

Trickdog · 12 December 2007, 15:28

Personally, I would go for the Quicksilver 530 XS. Very well put together 5.3m boat, aluminium floor, can handle 50hp four stroke, large hypalon tubes (with 10 year guarantee) and you can have it in red or green! It's a couple of years since I looked at SIB costs, but when I last did so Quicksilver were VERY well priced (well at least at Robin Curnow in Cornwall they were!)

Mr Flibble · 12 December 2007, 21:51

I think they come in at just over 2 grand for the 530.

andreworiordan · 30 December 2007, 23:47

I have a quicksilver 430, loads of room, rated up to 30hp, solid boat with ver good handling, Nice boats, i paid only €1800 for my one, and she was brand new!!! >>> some pics and vids of her

http://www.quiksilver430.blogspot.com/