Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant maintains a fleet of vessels that are available to support research efforts in coastal Georgia.
R/V Sea Dawg
The research vessel Sea Dawg is based at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. The vessel conducts education, outreach and research operations within Georgia’s inshore waters and offshore out to 20 nautical miles.
The R/V Sea Dawg was built in 1979 by Torres Boatworks in Key West, FL. Originally, the boat was built as a commercial lobster trawler. In 1981, it was acquired by UGA and converted to a marine education and fisheries research vessel.
The R/V Sea Dawg can support 20 passengers plus 2 crew members, for daily inshore trips. Six people can be accommodated for daily offshore operations. Four people can be accommodated for overnight operations. However, the captain may, at his discretion, set a lower capacity based on the nature of the work that is to be done on board.
- Length: 43 feet
- Draft: 5 feet
- Beam: 15 feet
- Cruising Speed: 10 knots
- Operating Range: Inshore Savannah River to Cumberland Sound to 20 nautical miles offshore
- Engine: Detroit Diesel 8V-71
- Generator: Cummins/Onan 8kW
The vessel has an A-frame and a trawl winch that can deploy equipment over the stern. The A-frame is 79 inches wide with a clearance of approximately 76 inches over the transom. Approximate deck space between the transom and winch is 102 inches by 80 inches. A-frame Safe Working Load is approximately 500 pounds. Passenger capacity when operating offshore is limited to 6 or less.
- Refrigerator/Freezer: 4.5 cubic feet (Non-hazardous materials only)
- Generator AC Power supply: 110v AC
- Shore AC Power supply: 50A 110v AC
- Inverter AC power supply: 400 watts
- Seawater deck supply: Unlimited
Trawl winch line capacity: 575 feet of 3/8 inch Maxibraid synthetic line
- Berthing: Up to 4 bunks
- Microwave
- Mini fridge
- Head/Shower
- Freshwater Capacity: 30 gallons (wheelhouse sink and deck supply rinse-downpa
R/V Sea Dawg Research Charter Fees
- Local/In-Port charters are $1,500 per day or portion of a day, up to 10 hours.
- Charters out of the local port of Savannah are $2,000 per day or portion of a day, up to 10 hours.
- An additional charge of $400 per day will be made if other crew (other than Captain) or staff members are required.
- Additional charges may be made if special gear must be used or changed repeatedly
- User is responsible for docking fees and room and board charges for captain and crew if the vessel must be away from home port overnight.
- Additional working hours beyond 10 hours per day may be contracted as available at the rate of $100/hour. However, USCG regulations do not allow one captain to work more than 12 hours in one day.
Scheduling for the R/V Sea Dawg must be done through the Marine Education Center and Aquarium scheduling office and is subject to approval and availability. Contact at mared@uga.edu or call 912.598.2335 for more information.
24-foot Carolina Skiffs
Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant has four 24-foot Carolina Skiffs at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island, each with 140hp Suzuki outboards. Each skiff is outfitted with two 16-foot benches, a bow deck with storage, a center console seat and a bimini for shade. Chartering of the skiffs is limited to a total of six passengers. Multiple skiffs can be chartered depending on captain availability. Skiffs can be trailered to locations outside of coastal Savannah areas.
24-foot Carolina Skiff Charter Fees
- Local/In-Port charters are $600 per day or portion of a day, up to 8 hrs. with one UGA captain
- Out of local port of Savannah (South of Ossabaw Sound/North of Savannah River): $825 per day or portion of a day, up to 8 hours
- An additional charge of $200 per day will be made if additional crew (other than Captain) are required
- Additional charges may be made if special gear must be used and/or changed repeatedly
- User is responsible for docking fees and room/board charges for captain and crew if the vessel must be away from home port overnight
- Additional working hours beyond 8 hours per day may be contracted as available at the rate of $50/hr. However, USCG regulations do not allow one captain to work more than 12 hours in one day.
- Chartering of the 24-foot Carolina Skiffs is limited to a total of six passengers. The captain has the discretion to reduce passenger capacity due to operational limitations or COVID policies.
Scheduling for the Carolina Skiffs must be done through the Marine Education Center and Aquarium scheduling office and is subject to approval and availability. Contact at mared@uga.edu or call 912.598.2335 for more information.
