Besides paying a diver to clean the bottom on a monthly basis, what are others doing to maintain a cleaner hull? I've seen some guys take the main halyard and attach it too a cleat 2 slips over and crank it in so part of the hull is exposed and then clean it with a brush. Then there are hull bottom brushes you can buy but to date I've only seen one type and they're not cheap!
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Try a Dri-diver.
Leighton: Try a Dri-diver. It is an easy to use device with a scrubbie pad attached. It has styrofoam floats to keep pressure against the bottom. We had one for about 8-10 years before the sun took it's toll on the PVC plastics.
Leighton: Try a Dri-diver. It is an easy to use device with a scrubbie pad attached. It has styrofoam floats to keep pressure against the bottom. We had one for about 8-10 years before the sun took it's toll on the PVC plastics.
I skin-dive to clean my hull.
All I need is fins, mask, snorkel, a stiff brush and a plastic scraper. By doing it once a month it usually takes about an hour. While I'm down there I check the zincs, prop, rudder, speed sensor, and all through hull openings. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
All I need is fins, mask, snorkel, a stiff brush and a plastic scraper. By doing it once a month it usually takes about an hour. While I'm down there I check the zincs, prop, rudder, speed sensor, and all through hull openings. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Stick the snorkel in the bottle and ...
hold it the bottle upside down. BTW, don't blow into the bottle. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
hold it the bottle upside down. BTW, don't blow into the bottle. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Ed and Steve...
Now now boys...Thanks for the laughs and advice. I priced out the Dri-Diver and Wet suit...swim fins and goggles. I still think that heeling the boat over in its slip is still cheaper. But for me the Dri-Diver is the way to go (at least in this life time). Any other product like the Dri-Diver that doesn't cost $75?
Now now boys...Thanks for the laughs and advice. I priced out the Dri-Diver and Wet suit...swim fins and goggles. I still think that heeling the boat over in its slip is still cheaper. But for me the Dri-Diver is the way to go (at least in this life time). Any other product like the Dri-Diver that doesn't cost $75?
...like Dri Diver
Yes there is, although it doesn't get down below the surface as far. Take an empty plastic soda bottle with a cap on it, and use plastic electric wire ties to connect it to an inexpensive squeegie purchased from an automotive store used for washing windshields. The type that has a squeegie on one side and an enclosed sponge on the other side. They have screw threads to put onto a broom handle. Either get a broom handle or use your universal boat hook. The rough enclosure for the sponge side wipes the hull, and the bottle floats to keep upward pressure. Cost is very attractive, you can buy ten of these for the cost of a Dri Diver. It won't get down as far as a Dri Diver, and most likely won't get your keel, but it gets the first few feet which is where a lot of the critters start growing. It works great at the bow and stern, not so great, or deep, amidships. We have the bottom done by a diver only every three months.
Yes there is, although it doesn't get down below the surface as far. Take an empty plastic soda bottle with a cap on it, and use plastic electric wire ties to connect it to an inexpensive squeegie purchased from an automotive store used for washing windshields. The type that has a squeegie on one side and an enclosed sponge on the other side. They have screw threads to put onto a broom handle. Either get a broom handle or use your universal boat hook. The rough enclosure for the sponge side wipes the hull, and the bottle floats to keep upward pressure. Cost is very attractive, you can buy ten of these for the cost of a Dri Diver. It won't get down as far as a Dri Diver, and most likely won't get your keel, but it gets the first few feet which is where a lot of the critters start growing. It works great at the bow and stern, not so great, or deep, amidships. We have the bottom done by a diver only every three months.
Bottom scrubbing and paint types..
New boat owner (new to me) but I wasn't thinking of "going down" monthly although I've been surprised at the growth just in the two months since the bottom was done. I had the type of paint that "wears away" (ablative??) is it safe/advisable to scrub yourself without scuba? Bill
New boat owner (new to me) but I wasn't thinking of "going down" monthly although I've been surprised at the growth just in the two months since the bottom was done. I had the type of paint that "wears away" (ablative??) is it safe/advisable to scrub yourself without scuba? Bill
No scuba...
...but plenty of snorkel. Bill Just don't drink the water!!! With a snorkel, (and mask, fins and a Hold Tight,) you shouldn't have any trouble getting to the "bottom of things" without gulping any dirty water. Once you're out of the water, just shower off (sun, hose, inboard) and you're done. You just saved anywhere from $40 to $60.
...but plenty of snorkel. Bill Just don't drink the water!!! With a snorkel, (and mask, fins and a Hold Tight,) you shouldn't have any trouble getting to the "bottom of things" without gulping any dirty water. Once you're out of the water, just shower off (sun, hose, inboard) and you're done. You just saved anywhere from $40 to $60.
What you can do with a mask & fins....
Bill: What you can do with a mask and fins we can do in about 15-20 mins. with the Dri-Diver. This allows you scrub the keel too. You can easily clean your bottom every couple weeks regardless of the water temp. I know that this may not be too much of a problem in FL. But if you are in SF Bay, Bangor, ME or Seattle, WA. it is a different story.
Bill: What you can do with a mask and fins we can do in about 15-20 mins. with the Dri-Diver. This allows you scrub the keel too. You can easily clean your bottom every couple weeks regardless of the water temp. I know that this may not be too much of a problem in FL. But if you are in SF Bay, Bangor, ME or Seattle, WA. it is a different story.
I also can don on SCUBA and....
Replace the zincs, remove/install the prop, scrub the entire hull (including the keel), etc. If the water is too cold, I have an old wet suit that still fits. I don't think you can do all that with the 'Dri-Diver'. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Replace the zincs, remove/install the prop, scrub the entire hull (including the keel), etc. If the water is too cold, I have an old wet suit that still fits. I don't think you can do all that with the 'Dri-Diver'. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
So you don't like...
...heeling the boat in the slip with the halyard trick eh? Ok I got the picture. I'm leaning towards a Dri-diver BUT only because I haven't found anything else like it. I've seen one but I haven't been able to contact the owner of the boat. I have to admit Dri-diver seems to do the trick. Any suggestion on where to find comparable products?
...heeling the boat in the slip with the halyard trick eh? Ok I got the picture. I'm leaning towards a Dri-diver BUT only because I haven't found anything else like it. I've seen one but I haven't been able to contact the owner of the boat. I have to admit Dri-diver seems to do the trick. Any suggestion on where to find comparable products?
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