Bottom job

Thinking of using a diver to clean the bottom, always hauled boat out for bottom job, never used a diver. Is having a diver do the job a waist on money or what ????

I have a diver clean my bill every 3 months.

In my cool water it is enough to keep the bottom clean and is much cheaper than hauling the boat.

When we had our boat in San Diego, we had a diver clean it every month. Warmer water locations need cleaning more often.

I have a diver clean the bottom every 6 weeks in winter and every 4 weeks in the summer.

I use the boat just about every week but if it sits fir a couple of weeks growth will start (brackish water) so I call a diver to clean the growth. It gets hauled once a year or 1.5 years to have the bottom painted.

This is why I keep doing business with the same yard, trust. Just put the boat back in the water after 2 weeks on the hard. Had the Awlgrip waxed, lightly sanded the waterline to the chine and another coat of ablative applied. Labor bill was $1,375. Probably have $800 to $1k in haulout, wax and other supplies not counting the bottom paint (already had it). Boat looks great and I know everything was done right. Had the prop pulled and took it to the prop shop to be checked. One blade was out. Readjusting the one blade and cleaning the prop, $175. Doesn't pay to go anywhere else.

Ted

Ted

Your boat always looks great like it just left the showroom.
The yard you use is on the Florida west coast?

Bigsfish said:

Ted

Your boat always looks great like it just left the showroom.
The yard you use is on the Florida west coast?

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Chance, Maryland on Chesapeake Bay. Scott's cove marina. It's not the end of of the world, but you can clearly see it from there. No phone, no web page, and no place like it.

Ted

Hi Ted

Are you sure it's not an illusion? ��

Bigsfish said:

Hi Ted

Are you sure it's not an illusion? ��

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They (Sean) painted my boat. No illusion there.

Ted

And it is always the best looking boat in the marina.

Do you guys just hire anyone who shows up with a regulator, or do you know the person is experienced and only uses soft towels and does your zincs too? Just word of mouth to find a good one?

kartracer said:

Thinking of using a diver to clean the bottom, always hauled boat out for bottom job, never used a diver. Is having a diver do the job a waist on money or what ????

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If a clean bottom (and therefore improved boat handling and reduced fuel consumption) and the knowledge that your anodes and running gear are in good shape are important to you, then hiring a diver is not a waste of money.

fstbttms said:

If a clean bottom (and therefore improved boat handling and reduced fuel consumption) and the knowledge that your anodes and running gear are in good shape are important to you, then hiring a diver is not a waste of money.

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fstbttms is right. He's a professional diver with experience working on boats, and if you're going to hire a diver make sure you find one like that. I'm not a diver, but can only imagine how challenging it must be to replace anodes underwater - especially up here in the PNW with water so cold you have to wear gloves. I've had a couple friends say they'd do our zincs but they're not boaters and they've never done one before, even on land. I'm much more confident hiring one of our local licensed pro divers!

I clean my own bottom (ok, we all do!!). J/K. I dive mine except when the water is cold. I have this strong aversion to diving in the cold and I hate wetsuits. So once twice in the winter I have a local diver take care of it.

I can tell right away if he (or I) did a good job. With clean bottom at 2000rpm, engine is running 11psi boost and speed is right at 20kts. If dirty, same rpm will be like 13psi and speed lower. After his work, speed and boost are right back there to the "clean" numbers.

I have since hauled the boat and added some pitch to the prop. Now 2000rpm is about 22kts and boost is STILL 11psi. I am sooooo happy!!

If you know your clean bottom rpm/speed correlation, you will be able to judge how dirty the bottom is.

Be careful with divers doing monthly cleanings. Many stories of divers getting a little slack and not doing much of a job, especially on boats that sit. But they still bill for it. Hauled one boat that was on a monthly program and there were huge barnacles and sea squirts on running gear. Diver got a call while it was in the slings. He showed up and was embarrassed as all hell. A cash refund was made on the spot!!

I take my ride to a slip where the diver works and generally am on the boat as he works. No opportunity for slackness there. And this diver has a good rep too.

Diver came over today to do the bottom, he said it was pass time and replaced all anodes. Also said we need to use the boat more, and I told him I agree.

kartracer said:

Diver came over today to do the bottom, he said it was pass time and replaced all anodes.

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Who is your diver?

American Diving Service Mandeville, La.

Depending on your area you can remove lots of growth by simply moving from sea water to fresh water for a week or so.

Then a scrub from the dink with a stiff brush with a small fender lashed on (to make the brush float up against the hull) is easy work.

Much growth is in the sunshine , near the waterline.

If the boat is moved enough a modern ablating paint with multiple coats should not need brushing till near paint end life , 2-3 years or so.

WE have used Red on the first coat , and then rolled 3-4-5 coats of white on top, and know its time for a yard or beaching when we see the white.

FF
Like the idea of different colors !!!! Thanks