stranded
Well-known member
Suspect the answer is going to be way shorter than the question, but would a manual or electric bilge pump push enough air to be of any use whatsoever to someone (me) scrubbing the hull at say 1m?
Air from bilge pump
- Thread starter stranded
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billskip
Well-known member
You will probably drown yourself, but if you lucky may be gasping and hiccups.
Rule of thumb
for every foot of water you need ½psi pressure better you use a snorkel and practice holding your breath.
Refueler
Well-known member
You can buy SWBA .... Shallow Water Breathing Apparatus ....
But personally - I would be wary of diving under to scrub ..
But personally - I would be wary of diving under to scrub ..
stranded
Well-known member
Alright, alright!
stranded
Well-known member
I am, but each year when I get a quote for a lift and scrub I clutch at straws… which sound like they’d be no less use than my latest brainwave. Next instalment, January ‘25….
BobnLesley
Well-known member
You can breathe through a snorkel with a hose/float attached, though you need to use a one way breathing technique: In via the snorkel, then block that with your tongue while you breathe out past it; you can get the air in via the snorkel okay but you can't get the CO2 back up to the surface through it.
snowbird30ds
Well-known member
A bilge pump will only push air if a diaphragm type.
I'd look for a lift and pressure wash.
I'd look for a lift and pressure wash.
johnalison
Well-known member
I’m not sure that it is possible to inhale air at one metre unless pressurised. A diver will know the answer, but I seem to remember that the critical depth is surprising little.
BobnLesley
Well-known member
I'm glad I didn't know that when I used the technique on our boats (1.2m & 1.6m drafts) I might've drowned
. To be truthful, the deeper drafted one was more of a struggle, you couldn't draw much/any air while down by the keel bottom.
Stemar
Well-known member
Surely there's somewhere nearby where you can dry out against piles or a wall to scrub off? A pressure washer from Toolstation will cost a lot less than an hour in a lift.
Refueler
Well-known member
We have a friendly Diver in Ventspils ... cash in hand .... retrieve item - 20e .... if its a long job .. then it starts at 20e an hour but per hour reduces depending on length of job ..
stranded
Well-known member
Thanks - might have a play at that. Probably not for scrubbing but maybe in emergency for a rope round the prop or something.I'm glad I didn't know that when I used the technique on our boats (1.2m & 1.6m drafts) I might've drowned
To be truthful, the deeper drafted one was more of a struggle, you couldn't draw much/any air while down by the keel bottom.
stranded
Well-known member
I’d have a go if we were smaller, but at 44ft and around 13 tons the forces involved if get it wrong scare me a bit.
billskip
Well-known member
It's you self control that is the danger, when something goes a little wrong it's your ability to control yourself and not go into panic, this with some people is difficult. I'm sure some drownings were possibly preventable if the person did not panic.
It doesn't take much water in your lungs cause serious grief.
Just think about choking on something, we have all had things "go down the wrong way " a mouth full of water a couple of feet down .....
Stemar
Well-known member
The forces involved when something goes wrong at 24 ft and 3 tons can be just as terminal, but people do it all the time.
Sure, things can go very badly wrong, but the worst I've seen is a boat your size that came onto the Hardway grid right at the top of a spring tide. His big mistake was in not allowing for the fact that the next high was a little lower than the one he came in on. He was lucky, the next spring tide was a bit higher, so he was able to get off, but much piss was taken in the meantime
seeSimon
Member
As a one time commercial diver...simply put (always best for divers
) there's a good reason why they don't sell 6ft breathing snorkels, at least not for humans.Normal mask/snorkel etc fine for what lies within arms length when swimming alongside. Probably the worst of the fouling in my case.
Be VERY careful if attempting to breath-hold dive beneath the boat, especially if any risk of entanglement (saildrives, shafts etc) or overheads (flat aft sections?)
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Snowgoose-1
Well-known member
Also. Breathe through a hollow reed in a pond to escape those dogs. ?
Breathing Through Hollow Reed is Unlikely Escape Gimmick | Geophysical Institute
William_H
Well-known member
I would suggest OP become very practiced at scrubbing his boat using just a snorkel (and mask) I am fortunate in that a small boat 21ft is do able despite fierce fouling conditions. A/F lasts about 10 weeks from then scrubbing needed every week. I am able still at 78yo to dive down to do a quick scrub of keel and under hull while holding my breath. (might be getting more dependent on son this summer)
In my case the trick is to hold one arm on top of gunwhale head facing forward (into tide or wind) snorkel on the hull side. From there I can reach a long way under hull while continuing to breath through snorkel. Then a little sally forth under holding breath scrubbing and back up again.
I have had SCUBA tanks in the past but not worth the effort rigging up for a clean.
Nigel I would say your diver is very cheap compared to divers here. 60 e for a quick clean. Many years ago my kids did boat scrubbing for pocket money. Had lots of customers. about10e 30 years ago.
With a a larger boat not so easy, the hanging on bit but a rope from bow to stern may be a big help. With cold water, wet suit needed and weight belt to get neutral buoyancy. I guess I am spoiled with warm water but that is what makes the weed grow. ol'will
In my case the trick is to hold one arm on top of gunwhale head facing forward (into tide or wind) snorkel on the hull side. From there I can reach a long way under hull while continuing to breath through snorkel. Then a little sally forth under holding breath scrubbing and back up again.
I have had SCUBA tanks in the past but not worth the effort rigging up for a clean.
Nigel I would say your diver is very cheap compared to divers here. 60 e for a quick clean. Many years ago my kids did boat scrubbing for pocket money. Had lots of customers. about10e 30 years ago.
With a a larger boat not so easy, the hanging on bit but a rope from bow to stern may be a big help. With cold water, wet suit needed and weight belt to get neutral buoyancy. I guess I am spoiled with warm water but that is what makes the weed grow. ol'will
Boater Sam
Well-known member
Using makeshift breathing apparatus and techniques qualifies you for the Darwin Awards.
greeny
Well-known member
Slight thread drift but related to the subject of scrubbing off. I think that people should remember that in many cases you're not just scrubbing the sealife off the hull. Your anti foul is coming off with it. And you're swimming in it, exposing your skin and possibly your internals to the toxic soup you create. I suspect coppercoat and other hard antifouls may reduce the amounts in the water but not the soft stuff most people use. Its alright saying that you stay up current and in clean water but thats not always possible.
