Divers Lift on a RIB?

[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?

[Starovich]

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






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

[jyasaki]

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]

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]

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!!

[250kts]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.