How to Clean the Bottom of a Sailboat Underwater! (Tips from the Pros #4 /Patrick Childress #55)

[@lukewallace1]

Great video! Looking to get into boat cleaning this summer so I’m watching these videos and getting PADI certified this winter

[@RVLifeNOW]

Excellent!

[@hullpros7380]

If your boat is sitting in a slip or at anchor for a while. Sea life will attach to the bottom of your hull no matter what type of bottom paint you have. It does not mean you have to haul out. Cleaning the bottom is just part of the monthly maintenance a boat owner should keep up with, just like everything else. Cleaning the hull is not that bad , plus no one can bug/talk to you while you work! 😜

[@RVLifeNOW]

Exactly! Except maybe barnacles, your paint can still be fine and you will get growth. You shouldn’t get barnacles if your paint is still good! You have to keep on top of it though or it will take over and you will have a Reef on your hands :) In warm water hull cleaning is not so bad, but where we are heading next year, cleaning the bottom of the boat will be a real cold chore...so hopefully Coppercoat can make it a little easier and quicker! -Rebecca

[@2jsims]

Great! What kind of prop is that? How about a complete video on that-which one, why you chose it, pros & cons, etc - Thanks!!!

[@RVLifeNOW]

It’s a Kiwi Prop made in New Zealand. We have had it for about 8 years now, and Propspeed is going on it again, right this very second, as we get ready to splash in 5 days here in S Africa. We know we will be easily able to clean the prop underwater. The big test is if the Coppercoat we put on this week will make it easier to clean the bottom of the boat. Nothing ever works, so I’m not sure this will either. Cleaning the bottom is always such a hassle! The Kiwiprop cost half as much as a Maxprop. The Kiwi blades are independent so each blade truly feathers in the direction of travel. The Kiwi gets some very good reviews in prop tests. The one thing I don't like is the high pitch in reverse, which is a fixed pitch. That does not always give me the RPMs needed in certain docking situations. Good idea for a future video...keep them coming!

[@2jsims]

Thanks, Payrick! I need to research the Kiwi Prop & I appreciate your feedback on Propspeed! I have been very skeptical about that but based on your feedback I will give it a try on my next haulout.

[@RVLifeNOW]

You welcome! Thanks for your comment!

[@sailingoasis6369]

Great video! This helps a lot. Our sailboat really needs to be cleaned soon!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for watching. Always fun to clean the bottom..hope you are in warm clear water :)

[@chrisguice139]

A wetsuit with no weight belt holds you to the bottom and you just crawl along. Can also put an inner tube around the tank and let it float. I use the same rig for zinc replacement and pulling wheels.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Great ideas for cleaning the bottom of a sailboat, for sure!

[@TheBowen747]

blue3 nemo hooka air system .. is what i plan to use.. already have it and three batteries. raedy to go...

[@Powers3848]

Thank you for showing how to keep your bottom clean.

[@RVLifeNOW]

You are so welcome! That reminds me… I need to do my hull soon! Thanks!

[@Powers3848]

Haha Cheers. @@RVLifeNOW

[@RiggingDoctor]

I’ve had good luck with Hemple Olympic + paint. I bought it because it was available and it turned out to be wonderful. I haven’t had to clean the bottom in 6 months and somehow it still looks clean! Most of the time has been spent anchored in dirty harbors or slowly sailing to the next place in calm weather.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Interesting

[@pateallan7764]

I've heard stories about divers getting bit (on the arm) by Baracuda in marinas with shinny scrapers. They are attracted to the flashing action of the scrapper. Painting it black or using a non flashy type may be a good idea.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Good point Pate. I know a person who was scraping their bottom in the murk just outside of Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas. A very large cuda bit him on the thigh and left some deep puncture wounds. So it happens, but rarely. Still, I will wait and clean the bottom in fairly clear water.

[@garyleonard4009]

Great video Patrick. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to both of you. Thanks for sharing 👍😎🍺🇿🇦

[@RVLifeNOW]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family too! Thanks for watching!

[@soggybottom3463]

Genius..Many thanks to Hank, the man clearly knows his business, thanks and applause!!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hank has been doing this work including cleaning boat bottoms for decades and a difficult one to race against out on any ocean.

[@moriver3857]

The visibility underwater is a big contrast from one video another. I was once at a marina where if I didn't move the boat, I had to call a diver every 4 to 5 weeks and there not just slime, but barnacles as well. I need to recertify to get scuba tank service but I'm naturally buoyant so I need a 50 lbs minimum to go and stay under. Nice to be able to change your zinc anodes as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@RVLifeNOW]

re-certify? I thought once you get your certification card, it is good for life. Has that changed?

[@moriver3857]

@@RVLifeNOW The certification itself does not expire, but if a diver has not logged any dives for years, dive shops refuse to service the tank. You can buy BCs, regulators, and other gear but no air refills. That has been my experience anyway and it's just a liability issue for dive shops I think.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Is that in the us or worldwide? We have filled our bottle maybe a dozen times around the world and have never been asked for certification but its always been in some pretty obscure places. But a dozen times in a fozen years shows how often we have used the tank. Its usually to inta gle an anchor ;)

[@moriver3857]

@@RVLifeNOW Probably just the US. We are a country of liabilities and sue-me generations. I'm sure it's not the way other countries operate. I usually just free dive to check or reset an anchor, but that's about it. Never tried to clean the bottom of the boat. But I will start soon.Thank you.

[@henryschmitt7163]

Hi Guys,The tanks need to be certified each year. Once a year they get a VI, visual inspection. Every 5 years they need to go out for a pressure test. Tanks older than a certain age fail. Certification is good for life, but your tanks need to be checked each year. But not always in 3rd world countries.Hank SchmittOPO

[@PaulusPHM]

as always your tips are spot on.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thank you Paulus.

[@alexashford3465]

Where can I buy the three scrubbis and suction cup online I can’t find them any where ? Thanks

[@RVLifeNOW]

I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find those exact ones. Possibly at Defender industries : www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=4077222. Or on Amazon : amzn.to/3put3eO. But can’t guarantee they will work well underwater and stow for years like this one does. Try West Marine too.

[@emersonharper434]

Home Depot online

[@zakaria600]

Marinemax they may have them

[@rickgillis1613]

I have to ask this question ...As someone who dove commercially years ago, who has cleaned hulls then and often since then as family know ' you can dive' . Why are you not using a snorkel for the surface areas? Many times working a snorkel would be useless, but being basically on the surface cleaning that hull, a snorkel would be way better than holding your breath for a minute then lifting your head out of the water to breathe. I remember way back to teachings of proper equipment to do a job & working near the surface a snorkel would be perfect.

[@RVLifeNOW]

When cleaning the bottom of a boat, you could certainly use a snorkel or not use a snorkel. Whatever works for you. -Rebecca

[@darbyandreneesholidays2501]

Hi there I was wondering if you think a modified snorkle sealed to pool hose and then attached fixed upright to a stable floating device that follows you around the boat would be a workable idea. Why do you need a tank when air is so readily available?

[@camsail]

@@darbyandreneesholidays2501 because water pressure presses against your chest and makes it physically impossible for you to breathe in. Regulators open and force air into your lungs, that's the only way to breathe once you are a couple feet below the surface.

[@keeldragger]

Nice video. Admittedly, I've taken this for granted having hired divers at the marina the last few years.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Keeldragger, I have come very close to hiring a diver in some of these dirty, muck water, marinas to put a bag on the prop or clean the boat bottom. Such water nearly always guaranteed a sinus infection. But it was faster and easier just to do it myself. But now I use dish soap to wash off with and nearly drown myself flushing out my nostrils with the dock water hose.

[@russellcole3549]

Fore years I had three sailboats, a Cal 20, Cal 25 and a Ranger 33, that were kept in the water in Southern California. I started with a hookah, because that is what the professional boat cleaners did. Must be right, right? No. If you are only doing one boat, it is much easier to use a scuba tank on a bouyancy compensator. You can become positively bouyant to push up against the bottom for more pressure on the pad, and you are not restricted by the hose. Handling a hose underwater around the keel and rudder is a pain in the butt. Pro boat cleaners use a hookah because they want to run a compressor instead of having to get a bunch of tanks filled and transported to their jobs. If you are only cleaning your own boat, ditch the hookah. An added benefit? If you are actually a scuba diver, handling your actual equipment while cleaning your boat will really increase your competence, and therefore your safety, when you finally get to dive for fun. --Russ, Sailing Vessel Coyote, ABYC, Long Beach, California

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for your comment, Russell.

[@edwardfinn4141]

Solid video Patrick

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Edward! Hope you will subscribe!

[@daredevilskydiver]

Great video sir, do let me know if you up for taking an extra hand when you sail.

[@RVLifeNOW]

vinit Doshi would love to, but we never go on a schedule, and have no place to put a third person. But if you sign up with Offshore Passage Opportunities they have tons of opportunities to get on nice boats with lots of space, and on a schedule too. -Rebecca

[@daredevilskydiver]

@@RVLifeNOW Tx rebecca. sail safe!

[@daredevilskydiver]

@@RVLifeNOW Alrite, tx

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

This looks pretty interesting loved watching the Maintenance! Have a Merry Christmas new friend Ruthie

[@RVLifeNOW]

Pople BackyardFarm Thanks so much for watching Ruthie! Glad you like the maintenance..l

[@scotsteenson7834]

Ah, brings back great memories! This is what I did... - used a single suction cup. They make them with a handle. Cheaper and easier to maneuver. - buy buffer pads to use as scrubbers. You can cut them to size and save a lot of money. - I used a glazier scraper. The half-round cutout was great for quickly scraping shafts. The pointy part was great for outboards, changing zincs and cleaning other places that were hard to get. - hookah is great. But if you can get a pattern down, you can do almost the whole boat by holding your breath. Probably not the smartest, but I did it to save money as I hookahed off bottles. Wow, you two are KZbin experts! Love what you’re doing!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for the pro tip. Did you use a tank with a long hose? If so where did you get the long hose and make the connections to the regulator and tank?

[@rustyshackleford6693]

Here in South Florida during summer after a week or two there’s barnacles

[@RVLifeNOW]

A week or two...geez!

[@TheBowen747]

Im in clearwater fl. just got boat , 41 morgan ketch sailboat. it has not been cleaned in over 7 months, i plan to haulout and redo bottom, in next month or two , we got miltom problems don here rite now.. question: do i need to scrap the bottom clean before its hauldout and bottom redone?? or can they lift the boat out with out being scrapped clean..

[@RVLifeNOW]

It’s good to clean it if you have Coppercoat paint, before you haul because any barnacles come if easiest when it’s wet. But if normal bottom paint, if it’s not terribly covered I’d wait and have them power wash it immediately upon hauling it out so everything comes off easier. If you wait it becomes harder and harder to get it off and you will have more prep work when hauled. It depends on if you rather do the cleanup work in the water or on land… expenses in water be out of water, your desire, temperatures in the boat yard etc. the important bit to remember is once it’s been out of water for 24 hours, any growth is harder to get off at that point. So if you have them pressure wash it have them do it while you are still in the slings and it hasn’t dried out. Make sure they know before your haulout that you want an immediate pressure wash on hauling out. It’s usually pretty cheap to have them do it.. don’t wait and do it yourself with a home pressure washer because dryer makes it all so much harder and less effective . Good luck! 41 Morgan is a nice sailboat!

[@TheBowen747]

@@RVLifeNOW thank you, its my first boat and two hurricans back to back im luck its still floating.. yes groth is a lot, it sat in a satwater deep south canal , now its docked in treasure island fl. haulout is maybe next month now. illl call them tomorrow morning and ask questions.. local diver needs electric and wants 600 to scrap bottom , treasure island dont have electric yet and most likely wont for another week. . thanks bro..

[@TheBowen747]

update boat hull is cleaned no major problems found.. cost 250 + 50 dollar tip , total 300. hullout date and time is unknown now, due to storm damages. power outages etc ectc.. and im also looking for a sailboat boom furling and sail if possible , hardware is what im looking for i can always buy new sheets for it.. to fit a 41 morgan ketch

[@budsvjourney2919]

Thank you for another interesting vid. It seems that using a tank and long hose is very similar to the hookah ....... except with less/simpler gear. Do you need scuba certification to do this? What are the general pros and cons.

[@RVLifeNOW]

It is simpler gear but a hookah has nearly endless air....as long as the batteries stay charged, and no need to go find a Scuba shop to refill a tank.

[@martyspargur5281]

Lots of people do use them without getting certified....but there is no substitute for one-on-one professional instruction. You simply don't know what the not so obvious dangers are. Like you could get bent, if you went deep enough for long enough. It would take days to do it but remember the changes that your body goes through don't end when you get out of the water, it takes awhile to recover. More likely would be an embolism, but casual diving on vacation especially could kill you. How? After just a day of ignoring the "tables" or depending on a dive bottom time computer, you think you've beat the odds bc you have no symptoms. Then you fly home. Oops, the tables just went out the window bc you're subjecting yourself to 8 or 10,000 foot elevation cabin pressure with gas still in your blood. The yellow button on his regulator (mouthpiece) is the second stage of the regulator that reduces the pressure from as much as 2000psi in the bottle to around 140psi feeding the mouthpiece. (A hookah won't be that much). You need that part of the regulator down there with you because it needs to know what the water pressure is where you're at, not what the pressure is at the surface. If you still decide that you don't need any instruction, for the love of Mike don't ever hold your breath or ascend faster than your bubbles.

[@martyspargur5281]

My point is, the worst day to clean your mooring is the day before you fly home, certified or not.

[@RVLifeNOW]

All good info for people to keep in mind! Certification is a good thing to get to have the full education on how to do it. Just becuase it’s a shallow dive doesn’t mean there isn’t precautions to take. A Sea breathe hookah like ours is no less or more dangerous than a scuba tank, and learning how to use it properly with a basic diving course is well advised! -Rebecca

[@martyspargur5281]

@@RVLifeNOW I am not a professional diver. I know ear issues are a problem. I think the most important rule is never dive alone. Hookah too.

[@Sailingintoinfinity]

Hi Patrick, Would be really great to see a vid on how to service your kiwi prop. I’ve only seen one video on YT and it was poorly done. I just picked up a second hand 3 blade kiwi prop with spare blades for $20 and am thinking of replacing my 2 blade folding Martec with it.

[@RVLifeNOW]

What a deal you got on the Kiwiprop. The only maintenance on the Kiwi is to pump 3 squirts of grease into each blade after removing the tiny stainless screws, then grease the 3 small blade stops with half a shot of grease and then 3 shots into the hub where one of the retaining screws is recessed. Not much else to it....just need a diagram to show those grease points and a very tiny needle nose grease tip.....plus water resistant grease that would go in an outboard engine. But, tell me why you would want to replace your Martec? I thought those were great props.

[@Sailingintoinfinity]

It’s an older Martec and im not sure how to get it into low drag mode while sailing. The instructions say manually turn shaft to “sail” position but first of all I can’t manually turn my drive shaft even in neutral - it’s tough to reach plus it’s attached to a V-Drive. The kiwi prop seems has the benefit of feathering itself into low drag mode. I need to haul out this spring so will be consulting a local prop shop. Thanks for your insight and advice!

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@Sailingintoinfinity The Martec, like the Maxprop get locked by shutting down the engine, under sail, then moving the shift selector into reverse....if it is a manual transmission. With a hydraulic transmission, I would have to shut down the engine while simultaneously shifting into reverse. Please let me know if this works.

[@defylifeadventure]

Where do you get the hose from? Diving stores don't sell regulator hoses that long.

[@MrSeachaser175]

Just buy a regular 50ft air compressor hose, that’s what I use.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hank says he had his hose made up at the local dive shop. The shop will make up any length you want.

[@Ramel40]

Bottom paint doesnt always do it. It may help somewhat, but nothing beats a diver scraping.

[@RVLifeNOW]

No...you are right. Every bottom paint must be periodically scrubbed or wiped or scraped. So far, Coppercoat has been really really easy to wipe clean.

[@spaceoddity2485]

Obviously

[@user-wr8go9ee2n]

Thanks for the video. I was wondering how often scrubbing needs to be done, however, Hank eventually mentioned the time frame in the video. But I suppose the time frame between scrubbings really depends a number of factors. I also checked out the tip jar and was expecting to see a link where I could enter my card details and be done with it. Didn't see anything like that. Do you have PayPal?

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hi David...yes, it of course depends on how old and how good your bottom paint is, how rich the water is that you are in, and how often you are using the boat, and how clean you want it to be. When our paint is brand new, we probably clean every few months. When it’s more than 6 months, it seems like every few weeks. Thank you for your support! Here is our direct link to PayPal: www.paypal.me/WhereIsBrickHouse

[@MattBargain]

I‘ve done that without a tank and it’s quite tedious work even on my small boat

[@RVLifeNOW]

It never gets any easier does it. For 5 years, I lived on a 27' sailboat and seldom had the money to haul out....

[@rabbit3502]

May want to address pinch points against dock or other boats, i could see getting crushed if another boat bumped or wind came up.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for pointing that out. Hank has been doing this for a long time, and is in his home marina there, but yes, you don’t want to be a human fender! So please be careful! -Rebecca

[@HandyMan657]

Maybe someone already mentioned this, but I was thinking of a small air compressor for this very purpose rather than an air tank. Thoughts?

[@RVLifeNOW]

Patrick, there are commercially made hookah compressors such as we use on Brick House. That compressor is shown in our other bottom cleaning video. There is a link in this video to get you there. I runs off of 12 volts and I can stay under water as long as needed, sometimes for 2 hours when the bottom is really badly fouled.

[@robertchilders8698]

If you use a àir compressor, make sure it's an oil less kind, take especially care if it's gas powered!

[@twistedrace6885]

Hey Patrick, Very Nice job on the video and cleaning your bottom in an organized way . Also How long you can expect to get out of ... Prop Speed ... I just used that on my prop on my Pacific Seacraft and did not know how long of life I would get form it's use. As we all know.. Prop Speed is very expensive but seems to work very well and worth the money if you get two years out of one application. Robert North Star

[@RVLifeNOW]

We needed to haul the boat for a bottom job long before the propspeed was finished. My guess is 2 years. Now with Coppercoat on and hopefully no hauling for a long time, we will find out how long propspeed will last :)

[@zenaincorporated4416]

Very useful post. Looks like you're using a Kiwi prop. Hod do you like it?

[@RVLifeNOW]

The Kiwiprop does okay. It performed well in tests conducted by a French sailing magazine. I live with the high pitch in reverse. My preference would be to have less pitch which could give me more RPMs in reverse and an increase in power selection when backing up. The blades are independent of each other so they truly do feather in the direction of travel, unlike a Maxprop which only one blade is really feathered and the other just has a reduced pitch. For half the cost of a Max or any of the other bronze props, it is effective.

[@markbailey6051]

I use a wide scraper blade 10" and gently shave the growth with one swipe. I would not scrub at all. You can buy a 10" stainless steel drywall blade that works best. I use swim fins or no fins but a suction cup will slow me down. Cover the propeller with a canvas bag when not used.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yea I think this is what Patrick used to use before we had Coppercoat…… the stainless steel drywall blade… seemed to work well. But with Coppercoat you don’t even really need that . And yea the suction cup Patrick always felt like it slowed him down. He also put a plastic bag in the prop, squeezed a bit of bleach in it and sealed it up with a wire tied that always made me a little nervous if we had to leave in a hurry though.

[@larryj9091]

Good to see Hank, sailed with him many moons ago..

[@RVLifeNOW]

It is amazing how many decades he has been professionally sailing boats and crossing oceans. His energy level has not dropped a speck.

[@skillmeup53]

Nobody seems to have mentioned it yet, but you probably need to be aware of your surrounds. In a marina is probably okay, but in some places at anchor be careful of sharks. Sydney (Australia) has plenty of Bull Sharks which are very aggressive.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yeah bull sharks while cleaning a boat are not great. But this all takes place in kinder water with friendly sharks :) Need not be afraid of most sharks… but bull sharks for sure :) Ecspecially since those are in muddier waters and they can’t see that you are NOT the food they want :)

[@wisconsineaglesfan7925]

5:52 That is a whale shark, of the most most docile and gentle sharks there is, and almost zero threat to humans.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes the whale shark is gorgeous… swam with a number of them every day in Triton Bay Indonesia…

[@alexlysenko3276]

I haven't had vergood results from Propspeed or other brand on prop and running gear... Shell after 6 months... Any tips?

[@RVLifeNOW]

In what regards is "not very good results"? I had slime grow on it but it wiped off very easily with a soft rag. In all, it lasted about 2 years but on the bronze strut it lasted little more than a year. I think having a grounding wire and zinc on the strut had something to do with it. If the application instructions are not exactly followed, then there is a high chance of detachment of either the primer or silicone finish and failure will occur. Did you apply the Propspeed yourself or did a worker in the boatyard do the application?

[@alexlysenko3276]

@@RVLifeNOW Hi Pro application... Barnacle growth after 6 months... Never able to wipe fouling off.. Always a metal scraper job. Sailboat with not a lot of motoring Seems an expensive waste of money so far... I also have a tank with a long hose I had made up at a tank testing business. I tried another brand of silicone which looked very like Propspeed with the same dissaponting results : (

[@RVLifeNOW]

Alex, the stuff is very easy to apply. You might want to apply it yourself. Boat yard workers do not always read the directions or follow them if they do happen to read the instructions. There are time critical parts of the application which leave no margin for error. All applications are applied wet on wet so there is no time to take a cigarette or bathroom break or go off to lunch and finish up the job. The big thing now is to remove all of the previous applications before starting anew.

[@alexlysenko3276]

@@RVLifeNOW thanks for your comments... Unfortunately I've done both.. Pro application as well as DIY... Poor results either way.. Always get barnacles requiring serious scraping. Does everyone get good results I wonder or am I just a barnacle magnet? :)

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@alexlysenko3276 It would be interesting to find out the reason for your Propspeed problem. Might it be waiting too long, like 3 or months, before wiping with a rag to clean? A grounding wire goes to my bronze strut which degraded and shortened the life of Propspeed on the strut, compared to the shaft and prop. Are there any grounding wires on your prop shaft?

[@GrampalettasCamp]

Do you have tips on how to assure there is no stray current in the marina before you enter the water?

[@RVLifeNOW]

Sit on the edge of the dock and dip your toe in? Maybe that was a problem at one time somewhere in the world, and maybe you can tell us more about it, but I don't know of anyone who has experienced that problem nor have I ever experienced such a problem in a marina. GFI, Ground Fault Interrupter circuit breakers would trip and stop all current. I have read at a private lake front dock, where the home owner did some bad wiring with no GFI and a wire somehow came in contact with the fresh water, electrocuting the next person who dove in, not slipping into the lake, from the dock.

[@martyspargur5281]

If it is a freshwater marina, the chances of electrocution (if that's what you mean) are way higher than in a saltwater marina. That is not a hard fact, that is my opinion based on where electrocutions occur. One thing to consider is that many people do electrical wiring themselves so how can you assume anything. A marine electrical technician or a marine surveyor can give you specific readings or teach you how to determine if there is a dangerous condition nearby. The best way I can think of to be aware of the many dangers involved would be to take an ABC (Power Squadron) or CG Auxillary Marine Electrical course. Another one of my opinions is that there will Always be stray current present in a saltwater marina, usually not lethal. Around here, when the electric dredge is working, zincs also seem to disappear faster. I cannot recall hearing about anyone being electrocuted in our saltwater marina in the last 50 years. However, I have lost count of the number of boaters who fell in and drowned because they were apparently unable to get out.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

Look.

[@RVLifeNOW]

At what? -Rebecca

[@martyspargur5281]

@@RVLifeNOW the current

[@palmbeachunderwater]

"If you have barnacles on the bottom of your boat or anything, then you really should just be hauling the boat out and painting it" 🤣🤣🤣 If your boat was in Florida you would be hauling it out and painting every 2-4 weeks

[@RVLifeNOW]

Geez..painting the bottom of a sailboat every 2-4 weeks! That sounds awful! We have actually put on Coppercoat…for nearly 2 years now, and it’s going pretty well!!

[@StealthTheUnknown]

You can go to mexico and get some lead paint applied that won’t grow barnacles. The regulations in the US are absurd

[@alleyesee7313]

approximately how long does this process take for you?

[@RVLifeNOW]

About 2 hours in both side of moderate growth

[@andrewtaylor9615]

Thanks. good work.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Andrew

[@westcoastdean]

Well done! Thanks so much!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for watching! See… sailing can be fun too!

[@peterjohnstaples]

I keep hearing that if it was good it would already be in the anti foul paint, I have heard of heaps of additives and if you apply just anti foul to the port side and a mixture on the starboard side in the last coat you know if it works or not. Now I know there are legal processes here but if you can put it on your skin why would it be illegal. I have one that works and have seen others that do too but I think they would be illegal and they are not TBT or the like, I have not scrubbed mine for a year but it needs it now to wipe off mainly green slime and definitely not like years previous and the same mooring field, the boat next to me six months and she is chokers but I also use expensive anti foul.

[@RVLifeNOW]

There have been all sorts of Wives Tales about what to add to antifouling to kick up the level....like hot sauce, antibiotics, and now someone is saying use egg whites on the prop to prevent marine growth. Good luck with all of that. TBT is very hard to find these days. Saw it only in Colombia, for sale, 12 years ago. So, what secret sauce can you suggest?

[@marktomko457]

Have you seen the Remora Solo? Game changer.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes, saw that...but does it last is the question. Would be curious to see a review of it after a year of use. Know of any videos like that?

[@marktomko457]

@@RVLifeNOW There is a Remora Solo user's group on FB with a couple years of comments and reviews.

[@marktomko9002]

The is also: Hull Divers & The Business of in-water hull cleaning-on FB full of Remora Solo users.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Can’t join the first group if you don’t own a unit. And I applied for the second group but you have to be a professional, so won’t be able to see it there either. Personally, I can imagine suiting up to dive AND suiting this thing up to go underwater with. And can’t imagine how it could last very long for a cruising boat who has very limited fresh water supply to rinse the thing off throughly after each use. Probably great for a pro or boat owner in a marina though. -Rebecca

[@z_actual]

that was excellent, thanks ..

[@RVLifeNOW]

You are welcome.

[@SpearfishingSam]

Hey guys, just wondering where you got you dive regulator hose from? Cheers

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hank says any dive shop will have it and cut to the length you want.

[@lydiaajohnson]

Only a sailor will walk around in the rain as though it were a dry day. Smile

[@RVLifeNOW]

The surprises that happen when making a video. I just had to get that clip finished no matter what weather was developing, so the video could be finished and uploaded.

[@hughsmith4008]

What is your opinion of the best bottom paint??

[@RVLifeNOW]

Nothing at all has ever worked for us for more than a year. Most don’t even make it that long. This time we put on Coppercoat DIY. Everyone thinks of it as so expensive...but it actually isn’t when you do it yourself....about $1700 for a 40 foot boat, plus paintbrushes etc. At the most twice the price if using medium price paint. We aren’t expecting it to work any better, considering the luck we have with bottom paint.We will still have to scrub at least once a month, but hoping that it’s an easier scrub.Many happy owners of Coppercoat...but I guess like anything, some will love it, some will hate it. But to answer your question...no, there is no bottompaint that works as well as we would all like! We have used ablative hard paints...Jotun Seaforce 90 (lasted 4 months): International 640 (1st time lasted 1.25 years, another time, 1 year), another kind of International that lasted about 9 months, and when we left the US, some kind of bottompaint with a weird name like “The best bottompaint in the world”...eco friendly, cheap, all kinds of good reviews. It lasted about a year. we scrub about once per month on all paints, and hence we favor an ablative hard paint that can take a good scrub without completely flaking off. By the way, ablative paint may shed its poison and clouds of color, as the boat moves or you scrub it...but very little of the actual paint seems to actually come off...there is always so much left when we haul. And we rarely paint over the old because we don’t want it to build up when it has no use anymore. At least if the Coppercoat doesn’t work, it’s at worst a protective epoxy barrier coat, so we won’t have to take it off next time it’s bottompaint time. It would be so nice if it worked....and we didn’t have to do anything but some touch ups for the next decade! Fingers crossed that this will be easier to maintain. -Rebecca

[@SoundzAlive1]

@@RVLifeNOW I've seen many youtube videos who say that it depends on your location due to the different sealife in your area. André

[@robz5435]

@@RVLifeNOW Hi Pat, thanks for the excellent videos. I'm down in Tx and have heard that some people along the coast, mostly over towards Louisiana, will paint their bottoms with pepper paint (a pound or two of powdered cayenne pepper mixed into the paint). They claim it helps keep their hulls clean. I haven't tried it. It would make an interesting test, maybe on a small area, and an interesting video to see if true.

[@Kitiwake]

That guy hacking the gelcoat!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Where? -Rebecca

[@martyspargur5281]

@@RVLifeNOW The opening scene, where the yard worker is scraping someones hull with a screwdriver. Good illustration of reality vs the Romper Room we live in and how spoiled we are. Hopefully it's at least a flat blade screwdriver.

[@martyspargur5281]

it looked like a screwdriver on my phone screen. It's a scraper.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Marty Spargur I cant see it sell enough on my small screen and wasn’t photographing it...neh...can’t be a screwdriver...is that what you see!?! God! That’s REALLY gonna take a long time if so! - Rebecca

[@RVLifeNOW]

Marty Spargur Ah ok..just saw your second reply..thank god. Our bottom has never been that bad thank god. Some people really never ever clean their sailboat bottoms! -Rebecca

[@stephenkillick5812]

Are you still in Richards Bay? If so, have you located Porkys again? Thank you for the company, although it was kind of noisy - bad environment for Patrick who cannot hear too well, and me who battles to speak at the best of times! Where are you heading after Zululand? I thought you said Cape Town, which is beautiful at any time of year but way too much traffic. I have family who live in East London, and good friends who live in Port Elizabeth. Steve Killick

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hi Stephen. Yes still in Richards Bay for a few more weeks. We haven’t gone back there...we try to eat mostly on the boat. We enjoyed your company as well. We will head off mid January to go as far as the fair winds will take us. Probably won’t stop in Durban because officaldom is said to be cumbersome there, but East London very likely since the longest weather window barely gets most boats there. And then despite the rough conditions in Port Elizabeth, it’s likely we will stop there too. If we can keep going though we will. It’s time to get to the other side. We are trying to finish some projects now. Three more major ones left to finish and then it’s just back to normal maintenance chores. That will be a great day! -Rebecca

[@stephenkillick5812]

As far as I am concerned, Durban has little in its favour. I am not sure where the Point Yacht Club actually is, but have spent very little time South of the old International Airport, that is kind of South of the harbour. I go to Ballito, north of the city on occasion and rarely venture into the city - no reason to! Usually Christmas in Richards Bay is really warm unlike so far this year. That is fortunate for you as in the past, you sweat so much, it is like you are melting. Swimming pools are normally really popular at this time of year. I am fortunate that the block of apartments where I own a sea view, has a pool, that it seems, I am the only resident who uses it! Not bad, a sea view with a private pool!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Stephen Killick You seem to live in the perfect place as far as I can figure ;) We have a pool here at the ya ht club but haven’t gone in it once. We Hen we are hot, we go upstairs where the nice bartender give us unlimited ice water, and we buy some ice cream and sit in the AC. We walk out new people ;)

[@stephenkillick5812]

When my family lived in Salisbury, in Rhodesia (way before it became Harare, Zimbabwe) we used to holiday at the coast. Beira in Mocambique became to dangerous to drive to so we came to South Africa and found Mtunzini almost by accident. When we emigrated from Zimbabwe, we had friends here so came to live here. Eventually I and my brother built a house in the village, where my parents now live. I married, then moved to Johannesburg for financial reasons. 4 months later we were on a long weekend break near the Kruger national park, when an out of control truck slammed my car into me (stopped to change a flat wheel) and I was in a coma for 4 months, then in hospital for a further 5 months. I was retired on ill-health pension and chose to come back to the coast. My then wife decided she could no longer live with a disabled spouse so we divorced (messy). We have a daughter who now lives in Canada, as does my ex. My daughter wants to live in Vancouver and that is the drive for me to find a yacht, apart from my brother and his wife living in Los Angeles. I have a lead on one for sale where they wanted to sail to Canada from Richards Bay, but by the time they were sailing past Mtunzini, she was horribly sea sick, forced them to turn round and put the boat up for sale. I have no detail on which yacht it is.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I hope she got seasick from Richards Bay to Canada and not in the other direction!

[@hansposselt2096]

What paint do you use on your propeller? Happy New year 2020

[@RVLifeNOW]

We use Propspeed, which lasts for about 2 years, except on the bronze strut. On the strut, it lasted only a year; probably due to the slight electrical charge from grounding wires attached to it and the zinc. We just applied Coppercoat to our hull and all bronze fixtures but still put Propspeed on the prop shaft and prop. No other antifouling worked for very long on the prop.

[@marceld6061]

Although Hank was very descriptive in his method, and it makes sense, Patrick, your video was better. We could actually see what you were doing.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Marcel for the feedback. The water in Long Island Sound is seldom very clear, where Hank was. In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, I had to wait for just the right settled weather and then the right tide to get the water clarity needed to do some filming. Making simple videos is not easy. Much more difficult was all the terrible noise from on shore. There were loud trucks shifting gears, motorcycles, call to prayers over very loud, loud speakers. Time and again I would start to record then have to stop in the middle of things and then start over again.

[@fastlink]

HOw can the guy see anything in that dirty water.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I know, hah? - Rebecca the wife

[@Dave-sh3tv]

I'm sure the visibility is better than the gopro suggests

[@GriffinVb]

I would avoid this in San Diego or VA Beach. Navy ship active sonar tests could injure or even kill you. Over the side in a marina generally not great.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Have there been any whale strandings in these areas? At Andros Island, in the Bahamas, where the U.S. does torpedo and underwater acoustic testing, there was a high correlation between the presence of a navy submarine and whale strandings. They had to reduce the amount of acoustics in the water and take other precautions. Do you have a link to tell about how sonar tests can "injure or even kill you"?

[@spaceoddity2485]

You need a wait belt to offset your own lung buoyancy

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes,

[@StealthTheUnknown]

Depends. I would prefer to be just above neutral buoyancy at the surface, so that going down crushes the suit and lung volume and makes it easier to sink. Should stay floating at the surface with lungs empty, even if just barely floating

[@sharonel2458]

In water bottom cleaning in many marinas in Aust is no longer allowed, greenies claiming that it releases too much on the antifouling paint into the water. One more rule to reduce the enjoyment of your boat.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Wow...so what does a yacht do to clean their boat? Just drive it around with a Reef in the bottom? How about the prop...can’t even wipe that off? -Rebecca

[@sharonel2458]

@@RVLifeNOW If the antifouling is hard and non ablative you can wipe it, but not with a hard abrasive.

[@RVLifeNOW]

So Australians have to use hard non ablatives? And then when it’s time to take off the many layers of it, I suppose there is more rules. Drats...Rebecca

[@RVLifeNOW]

Please leave us a comment with anything you do special to clean the bottom of your sailboat, while its in the water... If you enjoy this video, maybe you want to subscribe or even share this video on facebook or Instagram for us.. every little bit helps to get this video seen and distributed by KZbin!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Right now, we are hauled in Richards Bay. Juvenile "plankton" start life free floating and looking for a solid object to attach to and grow, and reproduce. Boats, docks, pilings, are all attractive to marine organisms. Slippery and toxic surfaces help to inhibit marine growth, but nothing stays slippery or toxic forever. On our boat, I just applied "Coppercoat" antifouling to the hull and "Propspeed" to the prop and shaft. Propspeed is a silicone finish which makes it difficult for organisms to attach. Past experience shows Propspeed will last almost 2 years. Watch video #12 and you will see a variety of marine growth on different surfaces after leaving our boat to sit in one place for 3 months.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes

[@studiocapriolo3568]

It is not prudent to tie the suction cup to the hand.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Do those suction cups float?

[@yachticus]

one concern - rather than use a paint scraper to remove the barnacles we use a perspex splade - same shape as the paint scraper made out of 10mm perspex or similar - rationale the steel scrapers are of variable hardness and flexibility and you can dig into and damage the hull. Not a good idea

[@RVLifeNOW]

Good idea, Ian.

[@stephenkillick5812]

You must have noticed that we who not exactly have to endure cold winters! This last year, even our summer has been mild. November and December are traditionally VERY WARM - temperature up in the mid to high '30's centigrade and very humid. This year has been colder then usual but not that visitors would notice. Makes me wonder where the fear out Global Warming is coming from because we certainly have not seen the effect.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Where are you located?

[@stephenkillick5812]

@@RVLifeNOW I live in Mtunzini, just south of Richards Bay. I have an appointment at lunchtime in Empangeni which is give or take half way to Richards Bay. I will try to drive through and see you after lunch, IF you are available. I would like to buy some stuff from the Boardwalk Mall. One thing is that today being wet, the air in the Bay should be clean so the risk of a serious asthma attack for me is limited.

[@RVLifeNOW]

(Deleted #) will get you past the gate here. Would love to meet you! You can help us install the heater we are putting in today. When is summer going to be here in earnest...we are freezing! -Rebecca

[@stephenkillick5812]

I arrived at the gate to the Club in Richards Bay but they denied me entry. The number you gave only arrived on my tablet when I turned it on after I got home. In the last 35 years that I have been in Zululand, December is really hot, not just warm! Christmas Day is best spent in a swimming costume next to the pool - most people here at the coast have at least a pool, if not an efficient airconditionair. I really would not like to drive a car that does not have an aircon, and as a rule, I never turn mine off - ie the aircon is on every time the engine is on. As a general rule, I am about as mechanically minded as my wallet with gold credit cards. It seldom rains like today, but that is for me a good thing today as the air is not contaminated with pollution from Alusaf (aluminium smelter), Mondi (paper mill) and Indian Ocean Fertilizers. It is one or all 3 of these that affects my brain - hence breathing - and after a while, I cannot talk (even badly) and battle to maintain my balance - something to do with how your motor reflexes are controlled by your brain. My linkages between the brain and my muscles was damaged when a truck ran me down. Drives me insane that I cannot talk easily, walk properly or even breathe or swallow properly - not like I used to. Enjoy your time in Zululand. If you get a chance to, there is a brilliant restaurant at the Small Craft Harbour - Porky's. It can be reached by dinghy from the yacht club and honestly, in the last 3 decades at least, I have yet to have a substandard meal there. The food is always well prepared and presented - and not expensive!

[@stephenkillick5812]

As a general rule, April is the best month to be here, February is really hot and humid and October to January is normally swimming pool weather. This year, despite dire warnings of Global Warming, is unusually cold. Looks kind of like there is a possibility of a White Christmas.

[@tahamm5156]

I will show you how we clean our bottom lmao

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks!

[@tahamm5156]

@@RVLifeNOW 🤔

[@wkdemers]

HAHAHAHA @5:46 LOL LOL HAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOL LOL LOL HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@RVLifeNOW]

You like that hah? Yep...still makes me laugh every time I watch it! -Rebecca

[@stephenkillick5812]

Where are you currently?

[@RVLifeNOW]

Our, Brick House, is in Richards Bay, S. Africa. Hank did this video in Long Island, New York. His boat is back in the Caribbean for the winter.

[@jimdagostino4792]

Suction cups do not work. You need to be a good diver in order to clean a bottom. Plus he’s going in with no protection to his body. That growth is sharp. Yeah hire a diver to clean your boat.

[@RVLifeNOW]

He’s been doing it for a long time…he kind of IS the guy you hire…

[@georgefloyd4143]

@@RVLifeNOW His advice is terrible though. Only does boats without barnacles... Completely useless if you ask me

[@GriffinVb]

Don’t do this by yourself either...

[@RVLifeNOW]

Haha

[@lairdbanfro6908]

No sound

[@RVLifeNOW]

Can you please try another browser so we know if it’s browser specific or what...sound is ok here...anyone else???-Rebecca

[@paulb1794]

Sound good here, iPad 👍🦘

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@paulb1794 Thanks for letting me know Paul, and thanks for watching!

[@lairdbanfro6908]

I'm using the KZbin app.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Still no sound on it...the youtube app on your iPhone, android phone? Windows device, what? So I can try it and figure out what’s wrong. Do you have any other device you can try it on? Are other KZbin videos playing on it ok? -Rebecca

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Whay about all those bugs in the green hair that grows.

[@RVLifeNOW]

What bugs in whose green hair? -Rebecca

[@akathesquid5794]

swimming in a marina? dangerous AND disgusting. Dangerous because DIY electrician hacks. Disgusting because marinas are open sewers.

[@RVLifeNOW]

As you can see, Hank's boat is not in an enclosed marina but open to Long Island Sound. But I agree with you completely about sewer pit marinas. Going into marina water to bag or unbag our prop, nearly always resulted in a sinus infection. Now, after getting out of marina water, I immediately hose off at the dock and use a lot of dish washing soap plus nearly drown myself flushing out my sinuses. That seems to work but I think I would rather sand fiberglass than plunge into marina water.

[@RVLifeNOW]

So if someone doesn’t go to clean the boat bottom, How will it get done? -Rebecca

[@akathesquid5794]

@@RVLifeNOW anchorage? Not in an electrocution drowning or septic zone...?

[@RVLifeNOW]

Sure, always the better option. But if the boat is filthy and 50 miles from an anchorage, sometimes one has no choice. The reality of electrocution is low, but present, and a bit of septic has never killed us...but an anchorage is ALWAYS more desirable. But some marinas...many marinas...have some of the cleanest waters anywhere, especially if you are at a marina where it’s mostly weekend sailors! Best to have good paint, and haul often! And sail often to a nice anchorage ;) -Rebecca

[@canadaboycanada3620]

Why don’t you just go ahead and go ahead and do that huh.

[@RVLifeNOW]

When was the last time you cleaned the bottom of your boat///bet its cold where you are!

[@flasher702]

Has anyone used foil anti-fouling like Macglide? www.macglide.eu/ It's supposed to work better against growth, with less drag, not release biotoxin into the water, and last longer (costing less per year on average), but I've not found any reports from actual users who could compare it to something else. Only seen pictures of it installed on new boats. All of the positive claims seem believable, but they don't say anything about how easily it gets scratched and then comes off.

[@GrampalettasCamp]

Lex Maxwell I put an Interlux Teflon impregnated epoxy on my freshwater boat. Very hard and slick. Easy slime removal every 2 months with a Scotch Brite. Wonder how it would work in salt water

[@GrampalettasCamp]

Lex Maxwell that sounds awful

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks

[@carbarrer6]

Ah, the infamous SWAN 48 Avocation. Don't buy that one....

[@RVLifeNOW]

What do you mean? -Rebecca

[@carbarrer6]

@@RVLifeNOW just google Swan 48 Avocation. It has a history, wrecked, abandoned at sea, bad owners, sold many times. Never looked after, never loved... I was in the market looking for a Swan 48 and did find her at a good price, but for a reason... The broker was honest about it, but only after he knew iI knew....

[@RVLifeNOW]

Ah...can’t find anything about what happened all those years ago, but luckily it is well cared for and loved now, and making many offshore passages yearly. Solid offshore boats always have History and some challenging owners, god knows our boat had at least one neglectful owner, but when they get in the right hands, they often become better than when they were brand new...ask me how we know this ;) Luckily both Brick House and Avocation are in the right hands now ;) Avocation will probably never be put up for sale, so nobody has to worry about buying it or not ;) -Rebecca

[@henryschmitt7163]

Hi Carlos,I think you are mistaking this boat with another Swan that was abandoned by an Irish crew one winter a few years back. We are the 3rd owners of Avocation and have had her since 2005. The first owner was a Dutch European owner and docked in the Med. Then an American from the East End of Long Island NY bought her and sailed her out of Sag Harbor NY. We bought her in 2005, had her for sail for a year and then took her off the market. Please come visit her anytime. Presently in St. Maarten. All our videos are done on the boat so you can see she is in great shape.Regards, Hank SchmittAvocation

[@RVLifeNOW]

Ha...sorry Hank...if I added to the confusion :) I couldn’t imagine that Avocation ever was neglected, considering how awesome of a boat she is...but one can never tell ;) Glad to hear it’s a different boat. -Rebecca

[@bizim_eller]

👍🙂

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for watching :) Hoping you will subscribe too?! -Rebecca

[@bizim_eller]

@@RVLifeNOW oh I did it quite a long time ago🙂

[@RVLifeNOW]

Well thank you very much;)