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Old 07-03-2009
J36ZT J36ZT is offline
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Why not dive it yourself

zz4gta,

I know this time you're at the mercy of someone else to dive the boat for you. But, you should be planning for the future. Do you want to forever be at the mercy of your diver's schedule?

This is what I've learned when cleaning the bottom of my boat...yes I dive it myself:

1) You can reach 1/2 to 3/4 of the wetted surface using a long poled deck brush.
2) Unfortunately, the area you can reach generally is NOT where barnicles like to grow (especially if the bottom of your keel sits in the mud at low tide)
3) I couldn't find the necessary "tools" needed to clean the bottom. I was able to make my own easily enough using a concrete float (wooden tool used to smooth concrete) and glueing cleaning pads onto it).
4) To get the barnicles off the prop, shaft, or really bad areas; I use a plasic putty knife and it seems to work well--although you'll need a new one for each dive.

The cheapest way to dive your boat would be the HOOKAH device. I'd still recommend you take a dive class before using one as you could actually kill yourself (even with a HOOKAH) if you don't know what you're doing.

If you're really desperate and in the SF Bay area, PM me. If I'm free (meaning available), I'll emergency dive your boat. I don't make it a habit of diving other's boats, but will occasionally do a one-timer. No, I don't run any kind of business diving boats...I just know how to dive, am "certified" and have all my own gear.

Skipper, J/36 "Zero Tolerance"

PS If you are going to use a deck brush, use caution as you can damage things like speed sensor and/or brush away the bottom paint. Also, a deck brush won't tell you what your zincs look like.
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