Very First Picture of out Boat

I guess the insurance company wanted to make sure my "new boat" was afloat.

-  1984 Chris Craft

-  25 ft

-  9 ft  9 in beam

-  5.7 liter (350 cu. in.) Mercruiser inboard.

Making a Dive Boat

I added tank racks (8 tanks in the stern and 12 or more in the cabin), two short seats, and moved the "Fishing Seat" to the copilot's position.  50$ for both seats (what a deal!).

Unseen but cool:  I installed a porcelain head and holding tank, a freshwater pump, shower hose in the transom, faucet in the galley sink, and a dry storage area where there use to be "booth" seats and a table.

Before and After

The teak steps were too far gone, so I made new ones.

More Dive Boat Transformation

I removed the rail on the stern, and added teak strips to the transom.  It is much easier to sling tanks around now.  I also moved the ladder and reinforced the platform to support divers in full gear. 

This "Tank Rest" lets a diver sit on the transom (feet on dive platform) and put on BC.

Tank Rest in down position

Finally Put a Name on the Boat

(12 Jun 03)

I'll have to put an "Alpha" flag on the right side of the name for balance . . . 

. . . (but doesn't the teak look good!)

New Home

From March 2002 to March 2006 my boat lived in dry storage at a marina.  The marina closed, and the cost of the other local marinas is astronomical.  Now I pay a local home owner to park my boat.

$ GAS $

Marina gas is also way over-priced.  It is worth the time and effort to haul my own.

View of Rear Hatch Facing Port

  The "new" gas tank extends about 18 inches into the compartment.  The wooden platform in the center of the picture is where my waste holding tank sits.

View of Rear Hatch Facing Starboard

This small platform supports my main bilge pump and the fresh water pump/accumulator assembly.  You can also see one of two batteries which sit side-by-side.

I have two bilge pumps in the engine compartment, and one pump in the forward compartment.

Forward View Through the Cabin Hatch

  On a "dive day" the entire "V-Berth" area is filled with scuba tanks.  The ceiling carpet is pretty deteriorated, but I have higher priorities.

Closer Forward View

Candy made the curtains.  They fit on the original aluminum runners.

View of Dry-Storage Area

I installed this storage area where the normal Catalina "Dinette" table and seats used to be.  In the lower right-hand side of the picture, you can see a hatch which gives me access to the rear of the forward bilge area and extra storage.

Another View of the Dry-Storage Area

More custom curtains.  Large cooler for large fish.

View of Galley Area

This CC 251 had an "ice box" where you see the right-hand cabinet door.  I cannibalized the "dinette table" to fabricate the door.  This doubled the under-counter space.  Modern "igloo" coolers are more efficient (and portable).

Spare Spearguns, shafts, and Pokey Poles

1/4 inch Aluminum Bar-stock Used to Reinforce Dive Platform