Adding a dive door to a 200 Osprey

[shermanvfd]

I searched the forums but I wasn't able to find anything.  Has anyone out there added a side dive door to a 200 Osprey as part of a rebuild/customization?   I'm with a volunteer fire dept and we're looking at a used 2001 hull for fire/ems on an lake in western Connecticut.    One of the modifications I'm considering is adding a dive door in the side.

Has anyone done anything like that?  Any suggestions or is this something that should be avoided?

Thanks,
John

[brianincc]

I remember seeing one on a 222 on here some years ago. It was right in the side of the boat with a hinged door.

[Glock Diver]

Welcome to the board!

I'm sure it can be done, but I've never seen it. Side doors aren't too common on boats less than 22-24 feet.

[RickK]

Here is a link to the "diver" model - http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2056/sort/1/cat/500/page/9

If you're talking about the kind of door that opens the side up - I've not seen anyone modify their boat to that extent.

[shermanvfd]

Thanks for the feedback.  

Hopefully it all checks out and we can move forward with the purchase.  Once it's ready to go in the water I'll post some photos.

john

[Capt. Bob]

I remember seeing one on a 222 on here some years ago. It was right in the side of the boat with a hinged door.

 

I've looked in the Photo gallery but I believe it was pictured in a post. May have been removed. I'm still looking.
Not factory but its been done.

[seabob4]

Intrepid does a helluva job with their dive doors, I've seen them do it, lots of finish work, but the look is fantastic...

[shermanvfd]

Something like what Intrepid does would be great.    Based on what I could find about Intrepid boats it seems like they do a good job across the board.    We could get by with something simpler, all we're really looking for is a water level access point for bringing a backboard into the boat.  
Bottom line is that it sounds like it can be done.  Once we get the boat in house we'll have to take a look at the layout of everything on the hull to see  if it's feasible.   We may decide once we get it in the water that we don't need it.

The mechanical inspection is scheduled for this week, compression test and moisture content of the hull.   If all goes well then we should have it all outfitted and in the water before Memorial Day.

Thanks,
John

[LilRichard]

The problem is, Intrepid uses serious reinforcement in the hull where the dive door goes.  I know because I visited the factory years ago on Belcher.  You could obviously do the same, but that would border on a MAJOR rebuild.  

Only other feasible option would be to retain some support across the top - because you said you just need to pull a board into the boat.  Could you pull it under the cap if it were left to reinforce?

[shermanvfd]

That's an option to consider.    We'll have to see how difficult it is with the current freeboard to get a board out of the water.    If we need to put a door in, then maybe we can keep the gunwale in place.

Thanks,
John

[smitty 1]

That's an option to consider.    We'll have to see how difficult it is with the current freeboard to get a board out of the water.    If we need to put a door in, then maybe we can keep the gunwale in place.

Thanks,
John

If you have a T-top on the boat, build a 1 1/2" s/s swing out arm mounted to the vertical T-Top post with a 12 volt ATV winch with 2 small snatch blocks and use a standard floating wire basket or bolswein's chair. I'm getting ready to build one for my boat to get me and other handicapped passengers in and out of the water when swimming.
That way you can take it on and off and not have a big problem with a door. The things we think of when handicapped....LOL....Just a thought.