Cleaning Hull in the water - Page 3

Stu Jackson · #21 11-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallboatlover

a easy way for diving scrubing is getting one of those suction cup dent pullers works great for holding or self in place.

These are called "Hold Tites"

Minnewaska · #22 11-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fstbttms

Air Line Diving System | The Air Line by J. Sink
Brownie's Third Lung
Sea Breathe, The Electric Snorkel

Thanks. Those the usual suspects I've seen. It seems it would take $1500 with tax and/or shipping to get into a basic unit.

That's several years of paying someone else to do it. Its only incremental value is checking on zincs or the possible untangling of a prop. My marina does not permit divers, which I could otherwise have come during the week. Its a bit of a drag having to schedule the cleaning out in the bay and wait for it, when I have sailing to do. Although, it would be even longer to do myself, just more flexible.

Fstbttms · #23 11-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Thanks. Those the usual suspects I've seen. It seems it would take $1500 with tax and/or shipping to get into a basic unit.

You can put a hookah together yourself. It ain't rocket surgery and will shave hundreds off the cost. Most hull cleaners do this.

Minnewaska · #24 11-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fstbttms

You can put a hookah together yourself. It ain't rocket surgery and will shave hundreds off the cost. Most hull cleaners do this.

Do tell. Since I only need supplemental pressure to maybe 7 feet below the surface, perhaps I could cheapen up the compressor and save more.

MarkofSeaLife · #25 11-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Do tell. Since I only need supplemental pressure to maybe 7 feet below the surface, perhaps I could cheapen up the compressor and save more.

I know little about this...

I think there's a trick to getting the right compressor.
A diving compressor allows no oil into the air.
A land compressor, for cars etc, has oil in the air, usually.

You die if you suck in oil.

So to make an economical one you need to buy a land type compressor that will not introduce oil. I think electric ones qualify.

I believe there's achievable solutions ya just gotta find the Knowledge first

Minnewaska · #26 11-12-2012

Yup, it get the contaminated air issues. I was a dive instructor many years ago, from air to mixed gas to re-breathers.

I would love to know from FastB where one finds the parts. I'm sure I could source the hoses and regulators, but the compressor is the key. For very shallow depth, it would not need to be very powerful. You can suck through a plain hose for a few feet below the surface.

I'm starting to envision building one in a large plastic tool box that I would secure to the side deck and just drop a hose over the side.

Fstbttms · #27 11-12-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Do tell. Since I only need supplemental pressure to maybe 7 feet below the surface, perhaps I could cheapen up the compressor and save more.

I don't ever recommend going cheap on the compressor, but plenty of guys do it. You can get away with the cheapest Chinese-made crap if you want to.

You major concern is using an oil-less compressor. I wouldn't go with one that generated less than 3/4 horsepower, whether it be gas or electric powered. You also want Grade-E breathing hose. While you may be OK buying the Home Depot $99 special for your compressor, you DO NOT want to use pneumatic tool hose to breathe from. Your best best is probably to buy your air hose and 2nd stage regulator from an online hookah retailer. That way you know the hose is suitable and the regulator is designed to be used with a hookah rig. Not all off-the-shelf 2nd stages will work well when subjected to the lower air pressures generated by a hookah (as opposed to being used with a tank.) Plus, the air hose you buy from a hookah retailer will have an in-line filter, something that might problematic to try to do yourself.

But most importantly- you should be SCUBA certified before ever breathing compressed air underwater.