Hull cleaners- post your gadgets!

[sterlingMarineService]

One of the problems with using a pressure washer is that the water stream only comes out one end so you end up fighting the back push the whole time. If one must use a water jet to clean, build one out of pipe with end caps. You drill one hole in the center of the front end, and three to four holes of smaller size pointing out at angeles on the back. That will compensate for the thrust from teh front hole.

For your air toos, keep a bucket of anti freeze on deck and drop your tools in it after the job and before they start to dry out. The anti freeze for most auto applications has rust inhibitors that will lengthn the life of the tool.

for my air tools I have just flushed em and then oiled them.

I try and get cheap ones from home depot for 15 bucks

 

[DiveLvr]

Hey, I have a dry suit that was only dry twice. The first time was when I took it out of the box and the 2nd time when we got suited up but the dive was called off.

So how does the suit dryer work, blowing air via the flex hose and it works it way out causing the drying effect. Of the flew hoses perforated and that dries the suit? Is the blower drying hot air, warm air, of just air?

 

[fstbttms]

So how does the suit dryer work, blowing air via the flex hose and it works it way out causing the drying effect. Of the flew hoses perforated and that dries the suit? Is the blower drying hot air, warm air, of just air?

The hoses are not perforated. They send air to the bottom of the boots and it then flows throughout the suit looking to escape, evaporating water as it goes. The arm tubes are perforated, they get airflow from the curved PVC piece that fits over the neck tube. I'm just moving unheated ambient air. Works great.

 

[speedyal]

So how much would a 36 foot boat cost for you to hull clean 36 times 3.00 ?

 

[fstbttms]

Correct

$3.00 x 30 = $90.00

 

[fstbttms]

Or $3.00 X 36 = $108 d'oh

 

[laguna230diver]

i use a ss 6 in 1 from purdy, a ss kobalt 12in. blade, 3m scotch brite, and a pool brush only for rough surfaces (painted over but not sanded boats)

 

[Nelson1345]

I charge by the hour. 175.00 per hour. One hour minimum charge. Then I charge by the half hour. I only dive with a drysuit. It's doesn't ever seem to be dry anymore. Well used. It needs a new zipper. I just think I would rather buy a new suit then fix my trashed suit. I like the suit dryer.

I use a lot of stiff hand brushes and 3m green pads. I cleaned a barge last year. I used a 12 inch metal scraper that I bolted a piece of PVC pipe to make a 4 foot handle. On the bottom of the barge I inflated my drysuit legs with air a stood inverted at scraped like I was using a push broom. Worked great for me.

 

[DiveLvr]

In an earlier post someone wrote of the enormous number of boats that need cleaning. What is the competetion like in Southern California for divers doing in water hull cleaning? Do you have to get permission for the marina to work in their water?

DiveLvr

 

[fstbttms]

In an earlier post someone wrote of the enormous number of boats that need cleaning. What is the competetion like in Southern California for divers doing in water hull cleaning? Do you have to get permission for the marina to work in their water?

Competition is extremely fierce in Southern California, keeping prices at rock bottom, literally the lowest in the country. If you want the good will of the harbor staff in marinas where you plan to work, you should contact them and find out what requirements they have for hull cleaners. You will likely (at a minimum) be required to provide ship repairer's liabilty insurance. $500,000-$1,000,000 coverage is typical. Further, if you plan to work in San Diego Bay, new regulations will come into effect there next year. Here's a link to a thread with some discussion of this:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/se...hull-cleaning-information-36.html#post5433524

Also, consider joining the California Professional Divers Association. Their Best Management Practices Certification Course will make you one of the best informed, most professional hull cleaners in the state.

www.prodivers.org