Hookah DIY Lesson

[tweekes]

I just went on line and bought a small oil less compressor that would pump 150psi, went to the hardware store and got 60 feet of nylon reinforced 1/4 inch beverage hose, went to ebay and got a used second stage regulator and finally got the fittings at home depot. Works perfectly at the dock or at anchor when I start the generator. Retrieved a number of outboards with it. Whole thing probably cost 300 bucks.

[Siberian Sea]

Of course you can buy a somewhat low cost oil less compressor, make sure it has at least a 3-5 galleon volume tank and a one way check valve between the volume tank and the compressor in the even of a compressor failure you have a short reserve of air in the volume tank. There are two things to consider... first it’s cfm of the compressor and the max working pressures. Of course the deeper you go the more volume or air you will need. And it gets real hard to do much heavy labor underwater like cleaning hulls without sufficient air. Or course you just talk about only being down perhaps one fathom at best, that is until you need to free your anchor gear or recover a dropped item in 50 feet.
For safety, reliability, versatility, and low maintenance I would get a typical scuba bottle and scuba first stage regulator. The tank will have about 3000 psi when full and the regulator shall deliver air at 150psi to the attached hooka hose. With this simple setup you just place the tank on deck, connect your hose and your good for approx 1.5 hours of hull cleaning. A dive shop will refill your tank (if your certified) for around 8 dollars. Your only limited to about 200 feet depth or hose length. Beyond 200 feet compressed air will kill you so you need tri-mix. But this is not your worries because like you said it’s just for very shallow water working right?.
Often you shall come upon cruising boats like me who have HP compressors onboard and will fill your scuba bottle for free as long as it’s still in hydro. High pressure tanks need to be hydrostatic tested I believe around each 5 years to make sure they are safe to pressurize.
So that’s really all you need, a scuba bottle, scuba regulator( on eBay for cheap), the adaptation fitting to attach your hooka hose and the hose itself.
When you remove the second stage regulator ( this is the mouthpiece part) from the regulator you will need a small stainless plug to put in the hole where you removed the first stage from second. The plug is very common at any dive shop.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

So I guess I'm going to need a Hookah type system to maintain my "premium" Seahawk bottom paint

I've read through a fair number of Hookah DIY threads here, but figured I would ask of those that put one together: What lessons in the equipment selection would you pass on to others?

I only need it it to clean the boat bottom so mostly it's 2.5' deep with some down to 6.5'.

Thanks

In the Caribbean, we and most cruisers use Island 44 hard with TBT. (Not legal in the US) We have not scrubbed, wiped or scraped in three years. This season we were six months in the water with zero attention. In our case, the paint we sail into a harbor with goes out with us. Those with inferior systems scrub off great clouds of toxic paint and growth regularly. I contend we leave less toxins behind this way especially in basins and lagoons.

I clean out the cutlass bearing grooves with a bicycle spoke and wipe down the growth on the prop and shaft before departures.

We have a Brownie Hookah, gas powered. Used for work under the boat and for diving. It’s also useful to help your friends scraping off great wads of growth from their boats. Usually gets me a few beers.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I contend we leave less toxins behind this way especially in basins and lagoons.

Complete speculation of course. But what is not speculation is the toxins you do leave behind are amongst the most damaging poisons ever intentionally introduced to the marine environment. You should be ashamed.

[sailorboy1]

It’s a “what is better (less damaging in this case)”

1 ton of a middle level poison (copper)
1/2 ton of a high poison (tin)

Personally I think it’s a wash and in 20 years after the land owners get finished with the boaters we will be talking of copper just like we currently talk about tin. Face it, if it wasn’t bad for the environment it wouldn’t work.

Of course there’s the 10 tons of Seahawk BioCop that near as I can tell wouldn’t kill anything.

[cj88]

I see it so often and it always saddens me a little when people use speculation, opinion, assumption or hearsay to justify their decisions instead of actual knowledge and then dig in to defend their position because they couldn't possibly be wrong or don't wish to be inconvenienced by the truth. Be open to learning and do some actual research and that doesn't mean finding other opinions to support your beliefs. You never know, you may find out that you are actually right or maybe you are wrong but at least now you actually know and can make an informed decision.

[DeBe]

This is what I use & it works well down to 10Ft. The compressors are diaphragm type & draw 12Amps on 12V. The regulator is a Snorkel with nonreturn valve at the bottom, its basicly a wasted air system. Cost was around $200 Australian. In the picture the grand son is on the bottom in 8Ft of water watched by the wife.

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by tweekes

I just went on line and bought a small oil less compressor that would pump 150psi, went to the hardware store and got 60 feet of nylon reinforced 1/4 inch beverage hose, went to ebay and got a used second stage regulator and finally got the fittings at home depot. Works perfectly at the dock or at anchor when I start the generator. Retrieved a number of outboards with it. Whole thing probably cost 300 bucks.

Yeah, I basically did the same thing, but in Asia. Works fine.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by DeBe

This is what I use & it works well down to 10Ft. The compressors are diaphragm type & draw 12Amps on 12V. The regulator is a Snorkel with nonreturn valve at the bottom, its basicly a wasted air system. Cost was around $200 Australian. In the picture the grand son is on the bottom in 8Ft of water watched by the wife.

Interesting system. Can you tell us more about the compressor you used?

Edit: also I see what looks like some kind of filter?

[DeBe]

The compressor was advertised as a Vaccume pump in America on ebay a couple of years ago. The cylinder is a hollow chamber made out of PVC pipe to act as a small reserve, it also smooths out compressor pulses. Im a bit of an Air hog so added the extra compressor.

[DeBe]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-P...sAAOSwGPNcNugh This is the type of pump I used.

[GILow]

Thank you. That’s an interesting solution. I particularly like the smoothing tank concept.

[FlyingScot]

After quite a bit of research and starting from scratch, I purchased the following items (approximately $600 total):

Brownie's Third Lung Hookah Second Stage Regulator With 40 Inch Hose Hookah Diving $120
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brownie's Third Lung 60-Foot Hose with QRS Fittings $162
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PneumaticPlus SAF2000M-N02B Miniature Compressed Air Particulate Filter 1/4" NPT - Poly Bowl, Manual Drain, Bracket $16
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Boeray 5pcs Brass Hose Barb Fitting -5/16" Barb to 1/4" Male NPT Adapter $12 for 5 pieces
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ketos Soft Weight Bag in HD Cordura Pouch Weights (I purchased 1, 2, 4 & 5 so I could have all the combinations 1-12 lbs). $60
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

XS Scuba Six Pocket Weight Belt $50
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I have a small portable battery powered air compressor on board already and I plan to test this one first. It uses the same batteries as all my cordless tools. It is rated at 1.0 cfm @ 90 psi and 1.4 @ 40 psi. I understand this is on the low side. I'll see if I can control my breathing. I only need it do go to about 6 ft to clean my 4 ft draft catamaran.
18-Volt Cordless Brushless 1 Gal. Portable Air Compressor $200
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1...-300507507-_-N

If I can't make it work, then I will use this:

California Air Tools 2010A Ultra Quiet and Oil-Free 1.0 HP 2.0-Gallon Aluminum Tank Air Compressor $175
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this at home and it is very quiet for an air compressor. It's also rated 2.2 cfm @ 90 psi and 3.4 cfm @ 40 psi. Weighs 35 lbs.

[boom23]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

After quite a bit of research and starting from scratch, I purchased the following items (approximately $600 total):

Brownie's Third Lung Hookah Second Stage Regulator With 40 Inch Hose Hookah Diving $120
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brownie's Third Lung 60-Foot Hose with QRS Fittings $162
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PneumaticPlus SAF2000M-N02B Miniature Compressed Air Particulate Filter 1/4" NPT - Poly Bowl, Manual Drain, Bracket $16
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Boeray 5pcs Brass Hose Barb Fitting -5/16" Barb to 1/4" Male NPT Adapter $12 for 5 pieces
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ketos Soft Weight Bag in HD Cordura Pouch Weights (I purchased 1, 2, 4 & 5 so I could have all the combinations 1-12 lbs). $60
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

XS Scuba Six Pocket Weight Belt $50
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I have a small portable battery powered air compressor on board already and I plan to test this one first. It uses the same batteries as all my cordless tools. It is rated at 1.0 cfm @ 90 psi and 1.4 @ 40 psi. I understand this is on the low side. I'll see if I can control my breathing. I only need it do go to about 6 ft to clean my 4 ft draft catamaran.
18-Volt Cordless Brushless 1 Gal. Portable Air Compressor $200
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1...-300507507-_-N

If I can't make it work, then I will use this:

California Air Tools 2010A Ultra Quiet and Oil-Free 1.0 HP 2.0-Gallon Aluminum Tank Air Compressor $175
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this at home and it is very quiet for an air compressor. It's also rated 2.2 cfm @ 90 psi and 3.4 cfm @ 40 psi. Weighs 35 lbs.

Thank you for doing all the homework and sharing it with us.

[CRM]

Some of the notes above refer to diving on the anchor, but without clarification on the impact that this has, understanding that this varies from person to person. We often anchor in 30-40 ft WD, meaning that the anchor chain is out 150-200 ft. Is it impractical to drag 200 ft of air hose out from the boat? How much larger air flow would be required to unsnarl an anchor at this depth? Or should I just put a SCUBA tank in the dinghy and dive from it?