Mike and Carol Parker, the owners of the FPB 64 Avatar, are avid divers. We asked Mike for some details on how they handle getting three sets of dive gear into the dinghy, and Mike was kind enough to take a few photos and send some comments.

We’ll start with Mike’s description of their filling system:

Note dive tank tops tied to barbecue (handrail) to keep them from falling.  Pressure hose runs from compressor behind generator through hatch to manifold Rod is holding with pressure gauge.  Two hoses run from there so we can fill both tanks at same time if needed.

The next photo shows the storage locker at the aft end of the raised deck over the aft cabins and engine room.

Two tanks & weight belts are already removed from port wet locker on rear deck.  We normally put 3 tanks & weight belts on port side. The wet lockers were a great idea and are just right for storing tanks & weight belts.

The next photo shows one of the keys to their system, how all the gear is loaded in one package into the dinghy, using the port boom and the dinghy launching halyard.

We normally assemble tanks, BCD, regulators, etc. with the dinghy launched, and then hoist everything at once into dinghy.  No problem with 3 sets at a time, probably would do 4 if we had 4 divers. Mask, flippers. & misc go into a big bucket that we hand over side along with weight belts. Process reversed on return, then wash gear on back deck & may shower on swim step.

It’s great to have a big dinghy!

Mike’s last comment may be aimed at those of us who opt for a more compact dink. We could not do this with the dinghy on Wind Horse.

Mike and Carol periodically update their own blog at http://ravenaz.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/dinner-out-cruising-atyle/