Scraping Barnacles with Hull in the Water

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by tager

Weights are really not that dangerous, if you are wearing a wetsuit, they are necessary.

25 pounds? Thats what the Mafia use.


Mark

[zeehag]

use a line from bow to stern attached well to boat--is called a deadman line. will save life in current as the job of hull work is difficult in currents.

[Vasco]

or you could just sail in the Bahamas.......no barnacles!

[offline]

Amen to the deadman line... and if there is ANY current whatsoever put out 30-50 feet of line off the stern with a buoy or fender tied off... It could save your butt if you drift off..

I will normally do my boat anchored off Peanut Island during the incoming slack tide when the water is clear but sometimes the current will sneak up on you...

[SaucySailoress]

Doh. So why do you all struggle with buoyancy, and double your work time due to having to surface for breathing, when a simple set of open circuit scuba will sort all these problems out??

If regular scuba is too much for you, then the mini-b was designed especially for this sort of stuff:

Mini B | Scuba Diving Equipment for Scuba Divers and Boat owners Check out the Tomorrow's World video!

[HopCar]

It is a lot easier with an air supply. I made a hooka rig for bottom cleaning from an old scuba regulator and a Sears oiless air compressor. It hasn't killed me yet! I like to be slightly negative bouyant so I don't keep floating up into the bottom. Fat guys like me need more lead than skinny young girls like Saucy Sailoress! Fat floats.
These guys make some great tools for bottom cleaning including a helmet!
- Top Shelf Marine Products
We sell the Ultimate Scraper for $33.95.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Don't use earplugs. Instead put a few drops in your ears, alcohol and vinegar mixture.

Originally Posted by tager

Weights are really not that dangerous, if you are wearing a wetsuit, they are necessary.

Sage advice on both of these. Five minutes on each ear, no shortcuts. And if you're weighing rubber a weightbelt with quickrelease can make the difference between a frustrating as hell experience and one that is relatively simple.

I dive my boat with a full 80 tank scuba style, and have a piece of hard wood sharpened to act as a chisel. It's enough to knock the crap off but not enough to damage the hull/prop.

[zeehag]

my most ultimate scraper is a home depot p[lastic drywall tool. works great. doesnt hurt boat. costs less than 2 dollars...

[capttman]

Don't know where you are located but if you are in a marina, get a diver pay the$150 and be done with it if not snorkle fins plastic drywall knife and be careful..

[sck5]

seems like people worry about equipment a lot more than I ever do - or maybe when I am in the Caribbean it is so pleasant to be in the water it doesnt seem like such a chore. I just put my mask and fins on, add a pair of cheap gloves and go at it with an old credit card. Anything metal takes off too much ablative paint. Plastic spatulas or drywall tool like zeehag uses are good if I can find them. But old credit cards work - I go through about a card and a half each time I do the hull.

[zeehag]

is only 40 dollars here in mazatlan......

[capttman]

I'll be right there Zee ;-)

[zeehag]

hurry here, capttman!!!! will save ye dock space.....

[ssanzone]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

how about a rope tied to the boat to aid in pulling yourself back up from under the water?
I have some large lead weights. i read need to start with about 5 lbs and might need up to 25 lbs of weight to offset buoyancy.
perhaps wear double layers of clothes, definitely dont want to get scratched.

with 25 lbs, you wont need to worry about the bottom of your boat but the bottom of your slip because you will sink directly there and never come back up!

[offline]

Originally Posted by sdowney717

how about a rope tied to the boat to aid in pulling yourself back up from under the water?
I have some large lead weights. i read need to start with about 5 lbs and might need up to 25 lbs of weight to offset buoyancy.
perhaps wear double layers of clothes, definitely dont want to get scratched.

For gods sake please make sure that you can quickly and easily ditch the weight in an emergency...

Also....may I recommend that you want to be neutrally buoyant, play with the weight until you are able to hover in the water....