Fitting dive door to 17ft boat

[94patrol]

I'm wanting to fit a dive door to my seafarer Viking to make it a bit easier to get into the boat while when swimming or spearing but not sure if a 17ft boat has enough strength for this I was thinking about making it like the edencraft ones.has anyone done this to a smaller fibreglass boat and did it affect the boats strength or performance

[Fed]

Your floor is below the waterline and open to the centre bilge area.

[94patrol]

Hey fed yea it's open bilge

[Noelm]

The size of the boat doesn't determine if it's strong enough to fit a dive door, but if it's one of the early Vikings, I would be careful cutting the side out, and as mentioned, the floor is well below water level, so make sure before you cut anything.

[Nick H]

Hey mate I've dived out of a old Haines 575, he had a ladder made up that saddled the gunnel it worked really well. Might be a satisfactory alternative.

[BOBOAU]

I'm not sure that your floor is below water level, but even if it was, just make sure the bottom of the door is well above.
What year build is it ? I know some of the old Seafarer's were a solid boat...BBA

[94patrol]

Don't no what year it is but its build 39 out of the mold so I'd say it's a old one.whats wrong with the older ones noelm are they a little weaker or is it just it's below the water line?

[scottar]

Regardless whether it is or not (which in all likelihood it isn't - I know my Victory's isn't by quite a margin), the deck is not self draining. Not something I would do.

[Fed]

Probably sink like a rock.

[scottar]

Maybe not like a stone - they don't usually float upside down for a bit - but if you ever did manage to take enough water that the door edge reached the waterline, no bilge pump on the planet is going to keep up - not even the terrified decky with a bucket.

[oldie]

go the ladder options mate, get a small duck board made up for one side at the rear, don't start cutting up the boat.

[94patrol]

Was thinking about a boarding platform and ladder but it's still a pain getting over the splash well into the boat don't no yet might have to do this

[Chris Tucker]

I'm wanting to fit a dive door to my seafarer Viking to make it a bit easier to get into the boat while when swimming or spearing but not sure if a 17ft boat has enough strength for this I was thinking about making it like the edencraft ones.has anyone done this to a smaller fibreglass boat and did it affect the boats strength or performance

Be aware you're voiding your builder's plate, particularly with regards to capacity. Unless the door is 100% water tight your enclosed volume will now be measured to the bottom of the door instead of the gunwale. Using the back of an envelope a 300mm deep door will reduce the capacity of your boat by about 5-600 kg which I'm guessing is more than your boat is currently rated to carry.

[Chimo]

94Patrol

You have probably concluded by now that cutting a door into the side of a Viking is a really bad idea so you either need;
a boarding ladder and hooks to hang tanks BCs weight belts and other gear on before you climb back in OR
a bigger boat preferably with a self draining deck like a Seafarer Voyager viz. Cockpit Floor and Side Walkways Completely Self Draining with Grate and Sump Box ,Gutters and Stainless Scuppers.

Probably the boarding ladder and hooks will be a little cheaper.

Given the increased frequency of after darks due to their protected status investigation of some of the repellant charge units might well be a better place to spend $s.

Cheers
Chimo

[94patrol]

Ok will do a boarding ladder and platform and mod the splash well.