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Old 08-20-2019, 02:08 PM   #1
flounder2
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Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

I moved onto the water three miles from the St. Augustine inlet. It is time for me to get my own offshore boat. Looking for suggestions.

Here are the parameters:

-24 to 27 feet

-two engines

-four divers at most

-it also needs to be good for fishing the beach for tarpon and cobia with a mild amount of reef and wreck trolling/bottom fishing.

-I am not a huge fan of going to the ledge - 52 miles - so that is not a big factor

-budget up to $120k, but, of course, the less, the better

There are so many different boats in this category that I am having trouble narrowing it down.

Thank you for any input!

Greg.
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Old 08-20-2019, 02:41 PM   #2
Ted Brodley
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

I really like my Glacier Bay 260, which they renamed a GB2665 in the later years. It's a really big 26' boat.
You can find a hull from early 2000's that has been repowered and be in the 40 to 50K range.
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Old 08-20-2019, 03:03 PM   #3
CatDiver
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

I'm very partial to my 31 Prowler. The 246 Prowler would hit your requirements and I think be close on your budget.
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Old 08-20-2019, 04:29 PM   #4
Spear One
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

Quote:
Originally Posted by flounder2 View Post
I moved onto the water three miles from the St. Augustine inlet. It is time for me to get my own offshore boat. Looking for suggestions. Here are the parameters:-24 to 27 feet-two engines-four divers at most-it also needs to be good for fishing the beach for tarpon and cobia with a mild amount of reef and wreck trolling/bottom fishing.-I am not a huge fan of going to the ledge - 52 miles - so that is not a big factor budget up to $120k, but, of course, the less, the betterThere are so many different boats in this category that I am having trouble narrowing it down. Thank you for any input!Greg.
Sent u a PM about a boat.
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Old 08-24-2019, 02:17 AM   #5
qzone83
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

Well I'm not on the water, but my 25 Whitewater works quite well around here. If you are looking to dive around here you will want a boat that can run 40 out. St. Augustine doesn't have a ton of stuff in close, but does have some really great diving 20-50 miles out.

Unfortunately the thermocline has pushed in right now and vis sucks
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Old 08-25-2019, 09:37 AM   #6
StukNotAnchored
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

Older used WorldCat. They are built like tanks and handle the seas well and go also fish shallow. I will never buy a monohull again unless it is a very large boat (40+).
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Old 08-25-2019, 04:54 PM   #7
MeTo
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

I bought a 24 Seaway Hardtop sport. Good semidisplacement Hull. Runs 20 knot 4500, good on fuel 4-5, light to tow 5500 ish boat motor trailer, nice birth over 7 feet long, I like it a lot with 135 Honda but I’m sure Seaway will put twin engines on it. They make a 27 but a bit pricey for me. I run R.I.,CT,NY. Just got in. 15-20 gust to 25, 1-3 chop, 15-18 knot real comfortable.
Not a fast boat but works for me. Friday 5 free divers and gear 27 knot at 5200.
Boat will bowsteer in the right conditions but good outweighs the bad.
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Old 08-26-2019, 05:40 AM   #8
Red Tide
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Re: Best boat for diving? Please chime in!

The 25 Whitewater, 25 Seavee, 25 Competition, 27 Contender would be great boats in the used market for what you are looking for. There is a new company call Lattitude Tournament Boats that is making a a fine boat similar to the above that would be under budget as well. I hear it is a two year wait to have one built.
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