The Story of "Sealife"
"Sealife" began as a ships lifeboat on one of P&Os' boats.
In February 2007, after 5 years sitting on a trailer and weathering storm force winds, I took a saw to the bottom and cut two 4 foot x 2 foot holes in the bottom.
The holes were covered with sheets of toughened glass which is over an inch thick.
Built over the glass is a box which has glass viewing panels fitted.
These individual viewing panels are for you to look down through the glass bottom
These glass panels are small enough for you to cup your hands around them and look down. This stops light creating a reflection on the glass and obscuring the sea bed.
There is a roof on Sealife. This helps protect you when it is raining and also stops you getting sun burnt!
For improved manouvreing a bow thruster (extra propellor) was fitted
Part of the testing for certification requires all the passengers to go to one side of the boat and the angle of heel is measured
"Sealife" is fully certified by the Marine Coastguard Agency to take 11 passengers. As a requirement of certification she is fully equipped with all necessary safety equipment.
Sealife is unique to Gairloch and the UK. This unique conversion means there is no other boat in the country quite like her. The way she is designed, allows passengers the choice of looking down through the glass at the sea bed or above the water without having to move position
"Sealife" finished, after 5 months work, and on the mooring
© Richard Holmes
26 January, 2008