Your thoughts please

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Robo72

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Good morning,
I haven't had a search on here so apologies if this has been asked before but I was hoping you would be kinder enough to let me know your thoughts.
This is not a new idea but I'm a diver and I was wondering if you think it would be beneficial to have your boat hulls fully cleaned while being left in the water in props etc ?i know it would be cheaper for sure.
I am doing my homework on quality and professional equipment and I am also having discussions with the HSE and other authorities so the whole operation would be a professional one.
The whole procedure could easily be filmed aswell for the customer to see the results from start to completion.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
I don't know about the requirements for "professional" divers, but you may find out by contacting harbour masters, marinas etc. most of whom will have conditions under which a diver may operate in their waters. I suspect most will require a level of insurance cover and although they won't require a buddy to dive with you, you will need one above you to act like a boatman - look out for above water activity and rescue should you get into trouble. Cleaning is not so easy in the water, although it can be quicker than waiting for the tides on scrubbing piles. You'll find that you'll use more air when scrubbing a boat!

Rob.
 
Morning Rob,
Thanks for the reply.
I am making more enquiries now with marinas etc and there will also be full insurance cover. I have been cleaning and maintaining some boats already within a small circle of people and they say that just the convenience of not having to move the boat is beneficial along with the benefits of prolonged life to the hull etc etc . It isn't easy but there are ways to make it less difficult and air consumption wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Rob.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
Are you sure it would be cheaper? Marinas often give a good price on a mid-season lift-jet wash-relaunch.
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Morning Angus,
Yes I am sure it would be cheaper and i think it would be much more convenient for the owner. I am also thinking that once they get to know me and a trust is built up they wouldn't even have to be there.
I am also into marine life so making sure i am eco friendly is very important.
These are my thoughts which is why I am asking the questions and grateful for your replies.

Cheers Angus.
 
Just musing about the work done by some moorings contractors I know, who inspect 'their' moorings by diving on them. Those found in need of work are lifted by the workboat's gantry, but shackles, positioning, gauging wear/corrosion., etc. require working sub-surface. I'm certain they are required to have a Diving Attendant above - and every so often, that individual is needed.

I'm also aware of significant build-ups of mussels on mooring chains and 'joining ropes', such that the mooring contractors had to be engaged to clear these. There may be work there, too.

Or it may already be a 'closed shop'.
 
Thanks Bilbo,
Yes , there are a number of things sub surface that need maintaining and kept under control but thanks for pointing those out. I'm sure you could easily be there underwater odd job man !
Some areas may be a ' closed shop ' but I am hoping not all.

Thanks again.
 
From my limited experience, as soon as you start paying any one for diving work, then a huge legal burden falls on you as the client. You can not delegate, nor ignore, these responsibilities, and the dive contractor also picks up thier share of responsibilities, which includes diver certification, gear certification, risk assessments, etc. all under HSE legislation.
 
We have had a couple of people in our area doing underwater scrubbing for payment- not what you would call professional divers - just PADI people doing it for pin-money. I have not used them but have heard how difficult it is for the diver to hold himself steady enough to do a good job.

I do't think those who have used one have worried about all this certification etc mentioned above.
 
OceanSprint said:
From my limited experience, as soon as you start paying any one for diving work, then a huge legal burden falls on you as the client. You can not delegate, nor ignore, these responsibilities, and the dive contractor also picks up thier share of responsibilities, which includes diver certification, gear certification, risk assessments, etc. all under HSE legislation.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I am in conversations with the HSE and getting their advice at the moment because I know the massive importance of the H & S , HSE regulations. Rules and regulations are a tough one but obviously need to be addressed.

Thanks.
 
davidej said:
We have had a couple of people in our area doing underwater scrubbing for payment. I have not used them but have heard how difficult it is for the diver to hold himself steady enough to do a good job.

I do't think those who have used one have worried about all this certification etc mentioned above.
Click to expand...

David,
Perhaps these guys were just doing some part time work but I would like to go the professional route for many reasons. It is a bit tricky under a smooth boat to scrub , clean and work but I have overcome this. Don't get me wrong this wouldn't be a glamorous diving job like it might in Florida keys but it does work.

Thanks.
 
davidej said:
We have had a couple of people in our area doing underwater scrubbing for payment- not what you would call professional divers - just PADI people doing it for pin-money. I have not used them but have heard how difficult it is for the diver to hold himself steady enough to do a good job.

I do't think those who have used one have worried about all this certification etc mentioned above.
Click to expand...

I am sure they didn't worry, but if anything happened to the diver, I am afraid they would be held accountable as the dive client. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, I think?

See the links and info here
http://www.hse.gov.uk/diving/faqs.htm
 
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I had a quick scan through these regulations

While they might make perfect sense for an oil company contracting a diver to do work at the bottom of an offshore rig, if they do apply to a person asking someone to scrub the bottom of their boat, then it makes the whole thing unviable.

When you employ a plumber or electrician to do a job on your house, you are relying on his expert knowledge about the risks etc. How is this different? Has commonsense gone out of the window?
 
Robo72 said:
Good morning,
I haven't had a search on here so apologies if this has been asked before but I was hoping you would be kinder enough to let me know your thoughts.
This is not a new idea but I'm a diver and I was wondering if you think it would be beneficial to have your boat hulls fully cleaned while being left in the water in props etc ?i know it would be cheaper for sure.
I am doing my homework on quality and professional equipment and I am also having discussions with the HSE and other authorities so the whole operation would be a professional one.
The whole procedure could easily be filmed aswell for the customer to see the results from start to completion.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I did a bit of that in the early eighties - its ok for removing slime but barnacles etc do make for hard work and unless the hull is coppercoated ( or something similar) the antifoul goes as well.
 
davidej said:
I had a quick scan through these regulations

While they might make perfect sense for an oil company contracting a diver to do work at the bottom of an offshore rig, if they do apply to a person asking someone to scrub the bottom of their boat, then it makes the whole thing unviable.

When you employ a plumber or electrician to do a job on your house, you are relying on his expert knowledge about the risks etc. How is this different? Has commonsense gone out of the window?
Click to expand...

I guess you pay your money, and make your choice. At the end of the day, its up to you to decide. But you can't opt out of laws cos you think they are daft.
 
Lakesailor said:
If there are no contractors offering this work already that may be a clue to how difficult and costly it would be to operate legally.
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Around the Solent, there are several contractors. Andark and RS Divers being the best known.
RS clean a lot of small yachts, as well as anode changes, prop work etc.
I get the impression that HSE are well aware of the market.
If you start advertising, you will need to meet the regs. AFAIK, that means at least two divers and a boatman.
 
OceanSprint said:
From my limited experience, as soon as you start paying any one for diving work, then a huge legal burden falls on you as the client. You can not delegate, nor ignore, these responsibilities, and the dive contractor also picks up thier share of responsibilities, which includes diver certification, gear certification, risk assessments, etc. all under HSE legislation.
Click to expand...

If you are a boat owner (as opposed to a repairer contracting a diver) and pay a contractor to do some work on your boat, the risk assessment is his duty as are the liabilities, not yours, as long as you're not involved with the work.
 
This service is popular amongst racing sailors who depend on having a slippery bottom. Therefore have a word with local yacht clubs and look for maximum demand ( and clients in one place) before local regattas or events such as the Round the Island Race. Another target market may be cleaning fast motor boats especially if you are able to find figures on the average reduction of fuel consumption with clean compared to fouled hulls.
 
GrahamM376 said:
If you are a boat owner (as opposed to a repairer contracting a diver) and pay a contractor to do some work on your boat, the risk assessment is his duty as are the liabilities, not yours, as long as you're not involved with the work.
Click to expand...

Nope. You bare all the responsibilities of "the client" in the regs. You are involved in the work, as you own the vessel the work is being done on, which is the place of work, and you are paying the diveing contractor.

But it is up to each individual how you want to deal with this. Denial and / or ignoring it is one way, I guess.
 
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