Hookah DIY Lesson

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Davy J

Maybe it's been mentioned earlier in the thread, but if not, make sure you also pick up one of these:



Lowes or Home depot carry them in the bath section. Makes hanging on to the boat easier.

DIY. Better, more durable, easier to use.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Got everything I thought needed and sure enough I need a fitting I didn't expect in order to connect the hose to the tank

So that's a car rental next week to go find one.

The barnacles are LOVING my expense Seahawk paint on the side of the boat that normally has the Sun on it.

I take it your not happy with the Seahawk paint
Good to know thanks for posting that

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by newhaul

I take it your not happy with the Seahawk paint
Good to know thanks for posting that

you can say that, you must have missed it

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ks-217207.html

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

you can say that, you must have missed it

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ks-217207.html

yes I missed it thanks for linking .
Dad fell and broke his hip again so I have been helping him get healed up been in the hospital 2 times this month.
He should have stayed on the boat .

[Davy J]

DIY. Better, more durable, easier to use.

Ha, Ha, not sure if you are talking about beer, or toilet plunger suction cups..........

How in the heck do you get the plunger to release........

[sailorboy1]

Well my first hookah cleaning completed.

Lessons
- need a chest harness or something to keep the hose in position, I finally rigged up using a sailing harness
- it gets harder as you get tired
- didn’t know there were that many little shrimp and crabs in the whole bay
- I float real well
- top of the line Seahawk bottom paint SUCKS unless your goal is to grow a garden
- thank God for work gloves!
- scrappers are good for scrapping, but don’t really leave behind a clean hull
- would have been easier without the waves rolling in all the time

[a64pilot]

Youv’e learned a lot.
A belt with a clip to attach the hose works well. A hose swivel is nice too, goes on the regulator.
http://www.caveadventurers.com/store/swivel.html
Your not getting it spotless, and you don’t want to as that takes too much paint off.
I only do half the boat in a day, the other half the next day, and yes waves really make it harder as does current, slack tide helps.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Well my first hookah cleaning completed.

Lessons
- need a chest harness or something to keep the hose in position, I finally rigged up using a sailing harness
- it gets harder as you get tired
- didn’t know there were that many little shrimp and crabs in the whole bay
- I float real well
- top of the line Seahawk bottom paint SUCKS unless your goal is to grow a garden
- thank God for work gloves!
- scrappers are good for scrapping, but don’t really leave behind a clean hull
- would have been easier without the waves rolling in all the time

sounds like a successful cleaning as to putty knives myself I like using Thor cheap ice scrapers . Barring that a 12 inch taping knife works well
I like the ice scrapers because I usually can get them for a buck or so this time of year.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

- need a chest harness or something to keep the hose in position

Most hull cleaners use a weight belt and attach the air hose to it. You can even just run it under the belt to keep it snug.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Your not getting it spotless, and you don’t want to as that takes too much paint off.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As sailorboy1 discovered (and many professional hull cleaners will not admit), a scraper does not truly clean the hull. And the problem with not removing all the fouling growth is that whatever is left behind creates a more friendly environment for further growth to occur. In other words, a dirty bottom fouls more quickly than a clean one. Further, proper cleaning media selection and use does not remove too much paint. If it does, you're doing it wrong.

[sailorboy1]

Scrapping the bottom paint off would result in what? The critters love my expensive Seahawk paint.

An ice scrapper would probably be good. BUT just where would I buy one in central Florida? Plus they aren’t very wide. I rounded the corners on the 10” metal scrapper I used and except for my leg it didn’t leave any gouges

[Kenomac]

Sailorboy,

You can use the buoyancy to your advantage, I prefer to be somewhat buoyant rather than neutral when doing the underside to give me some leverage against the hull.

I use a heavy 4 inch paint scraper, the white 3m pads and 6-8 inch drywall knife. A wetsuit with hood is a must with gloves to prevent injuries more than for thermal protection.

[Steve_C]

The most effective thing I have found BY FAR are my 3 sons and my nephew, all in their late 20's and competing to see who can do the best job quickest.

We were offshore about 50 miles last summer and even had a few dolphins stop by to watch for a minute.

Not very practical to carry long term, but great when available. Although I could probably hire fstbttms cheaper than the food bill cost that night!

[Davy J]

As far as the scraper, go to Home Depot and pick up this:



Then pick up a can of Rustoleum flat black paint. Spray paint the entire scraper black. There is a reason for this.......

Use a weight belt with a clasp to hold your hose and another clasp to clip the scraper and a brush/other tools too. After losing a couple of scrapers, they all get clipped on now.

Now, the reason for the black paint........

Barracudas love anything shiney that looks like baitfish.......... Including your fingers holding the scraper. Don't risk it.

After a bottom cleaning, much of the paint on the scraper will be stripped off. Take it to shore and hit again with the spray paint, ready for the next cleaning.

Also, find the smallest cove to do the bottom cleaning, less wave action/wakes. Since you said in another thread you are in Sarasota, I'll tell you where I go. Bimini Bay on Anna Maria Island. Very little wakes, no wave action.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

SNIP

- didn’t know there were that many little shrimp and crabs in the whole bay

SNIP

You would not believe where they windup. Check your arm pits, ear canals, and all the places your underware cover (tried to be delicate with the phrasing).