Shallow dive gear

T

Tiger Rag

Joined
27 Nov 2002
Messages
388
Location
Whiteley, Hampshire.
Visit site
Dear All,

I need to change the propellers on a 42 foot motorboat but have just found out that the dive gear I was going to borrow is not available. Without sounding too stupid can any one suggest a viable alternative?

I was thinking or adapting a standard snorkel and extending the tube. Bearing in mind I only need to be less than a metre underwater would this work?

I should say that I am a fairly experienced diver and realise there are some risks involved but just cant think why this would not get me out of the fix.

Best regards,

Russell.
 
Tiger Rag said:
I was thinking or adapting a standard snorkel and extending the tube. Bearing in mind I only need to be less than a metre underwater would this work?
Click to expand...

this wont work !
at 1 meter depth, pressure of the surrounding water is 1,1 bar
your brest muscles and diaphragm have to push 0.1Bar, as in the tube and in your lungs is only 1,0 bar,
so it will be very difficult or not possible to breath.
and if you would, you won't be able to get enough fresh air in the tube, tube filled with exhale gas.

moreover,
many props won't go off easyly, and need heating to get them off,
I don't know for your specific model, but chances are real that you need a liftout anyway

sorry to be of no more help
 
Last edited:
Hi Bart,

Boat is an F42 with IPS pods. I have changed a prop on this boat before underwater and with the wide grooved spline it came off quite easily so shouldn't be a problem.

The main issue is that there are no leisure boatyards where the boat is only big (please read VERY expensive ) and not too appealing commercial ones so lift out is a real issue.

Hopefully I can beg, steal or borrow some dive gear and do it properly was just hoping that there was a widget or gadget out there that could help me out.

cheers,

Russell.
 
Tiger Rag said:
Boat is an F42 with IPS pods. I have changed a prop on this boat before underwater and with the wide grooved spline it came off quite easily so shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...

OK thats good,
if I didn't have dive gear, I would borrow it from a diving friend, don't you know someone ?
I'm sure I would find one who would love to borrow me some gear for a ride on a F42 ;)
 
Bart is going to hate this and I wouldn't do it
but I have spoken to someone who hooked up a hose to a dinghy bellows foot pump and a diving snorkel.
The idea was that as someone on the surface pumped the foot pump, air gushes out of the snorkel's valve.
And while the air is passing the "diver" takes a gulp.
Apparently, the "diver" can hear when the air is passing and I believe it worked quite well.

Personally, I wouldn't do it - I have a couple of scuba sets on the boat if ever I need to go underneath.
Actually, I go under the boat quite regularly with just a mask and only use the scuba for longer periods like cleaning the props.

I'm with Bart here - I'd pay whatever it cost to get the boat lifted.
You can't put a price on your life.
 
Hurricane said:
Bart is going to hate this and I wouldn't do it.............

but I have spoken to someone who hooked up a hose to a dinghy bellows foot pump and a diving snorkel.
The idea was that as someone on the surface pumped the foot pump, air gushes out of the snorkel's valve.
And while the air is passing the "diver" takes a gulp.
Click to expand...

not really,
I think its very clever !
but only for people who know EXACTLY what they are doing !

but anyhow,
for a boat owner who's a licensed diver (at least level 2 or AOW !)
It makes sense to invest in a basic dive set anyway.
price is neglectable on the total scale of boat ownership,
and you might be able to do a nice dive every now and then, if you find a buddy, never alone! (imho)
 
Tiger Rag said:
I should say that I am a fairly experienced diver and realise there are some risks involved but just cant think why this would not get me out of the fix.
Click to expand...

Replace 'fairly' with 'Holiday' and you might be close! :p

Get a bottle and do your open water ticket! Some poor bugger will have to pull you out, Frothy! :ambivalence:

RR
 
BartW said:
It makes sense to invest in a basic dive set anyway.
price is neglectable on the total scale of boat ownership,
and you might be able to do a nice dive every now and then, if you find a buddy, never alone! (imho)
Click to expand...

Exactly, thats why I have two sets on board.
But to be honest we have found such lovely places over the last few years, that a snorkel and mask is all you need.
Most of the time we forget that we even have scuba aboard.
But if we were to dive, it would be two at a time - thats what we were taught on the PADI course.
 
Dear All,

Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions both serious and less serious. Luckily I have managed to secure the use of a full set of dive gear so problem solved. Hopefully it should be fairly straightforward and we can get my friend up and running again.

For the sake of the worriers I should point out that my good friend and colleague will be in the water with me so while still technically diving alone he will be looking out for me.

Thanks again.

Russell
 
Also a point for anyone trying breathing down a long tube..... Breath in through the mouth..... Out through the nose....waste gas bubbles away with the co2.... No toxicity problems.... :)

Madness :encouragement:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top