Some advice please on a diver to clean MB's hull and prop. I had a good bloke in Pittwater but don't know anybody down in the harbour.

His name is Deniz and cleaning my bum for awhile 100$ a pop less than a mile from where you are.
0413-990770

Just another option - Dave on 0411206347 is over right by Balmain Sailing Club.

By the way MB...where did you end up finding to keep your dinghy at? I'm thinking about maybe getting my mooring moved over to the same area as yours to make things easier during race season, but wasn't sure if there was anywhere you could easily store a dinghy nearby?

I was heading home yesterday arvo passing your tub and saw your chafe guard off the peccant point of the warp!
Check it out before you leave for os.

I think it was around or after 3pm.

loco said..
Hi, first time posting here so please be gentle, bought a second hand 24 footer and I think it might need some tlc.
It has been out of the water Jan of last year for anti faul.
Is that a mate's rate type of thing or that would be the going rate?
Thank you
loco

G'day Loco,

That's around about the going rate, plus or minus.

In your case it'll probably be plus - even if your boat's been moving regularly, after almost a year and a half, you're going to have some pretty gnarly hard growth.

The other thing that will change the cost is how much of your boat is actually underwater and needs to be cleaned - mine's 27 foot, but it's pretty small underwater as it's a race boat. Other boats the same length, but with a deeper hull shape that's more in the water would probably take more time and therefore cost more.

I've never used them, but I've occasionally had the guys from http://www.scubabees.com.au drop a card in my boat - they write an intro quote price on there and even they were quoting about $100 for me.

Depending on where you're moored, it might be an idea to have a swim to look for yourself first to see how bad it is too. If it's easy, just give it a rub over with a scrubbing brush and use a paint scraper for the hard stuff. If it looks pretty feral (which I'm guessing it is), let the pros do it the first time, then do it yourself occasionally to save some cash.

Haha - well, let him know his cards are a really good idea.

For my part, I jump in and do it all myself. Every two weeks, lined up with whichever week I have the most races on. Takes me about half an hour, and I'm just doing it with a snorkel.

yeah its a bit scary doing it that far in the harbour - same as woodford bay. Ive been doing mine out near the heads where the waters clear but theres probably more sharks!

SandS said..
are you blokes using hard anti ?

Yes. The divers in Pittwater wouldn't scrub a ablative paint as they lose their license if they are caught with a paint bloom in the water. I find the hard allows a scrub at about 9-11 months, another one at 12-14 months and then a anti foul. You could probably get another scrub at 16 months if needed.

SandS said..
have you tried ablative with a sneaky scrub around the waterline at about 14 months ? then haul out and paint a couple of months later ?
don't you get a lot of build up of anti using the hard ?

The hard is put on a lot thinner than ablative. While it is hard it does rub off so the marina wet sand it before a new coat. It has been on MB after a bottom soda blast about 7 years ago. No build up yet.