We used the DEWALT DWFP55126 6-Gallon 165 PSI Pancake Compressor with the Honda EU2000i generator and I was down cleaning the
boat bottom just over two hours. It was great having unlimited air! Got a real premium
job done.
We will run the dock cord to the Honda EU2000i and then put the DeWalt air compressor in the cockpit and run the hose out through the
stern steps. That way the compressor will be far away from the genset. We will
just leave the dock chord on the life lines. It works for sailing that
way.
We are on a single SS income. Remember we are not pro divers. Just want to clean
the bottom. This system worked great and cruisers with the Harbor Freight model
seem happy enough with them also. I have said that we are looking for a better
water trap but it takes time in Mexico to find the stuff and even to get ashore
etc. I figure better to have it than not because we see others with them. It is
not expensive. We can always remove it. The other water trap in the picture we
posted is much sturdier and we can mount it different.
The Honda EU2000i is running and the
DeWalt air compressoris running to fill the accumulator tank. This was the first time running
for the DeWalt air compressorand the drain for the tank was open at the bottom so the air was
hissing out. I realized this just after the video and shut it.
Running the DeWalt air compressor off the inverter may
just be a bad idea and we will skip it. The thing is we do not need the Honda EU2000i for any other reason but bottom cleaning. That means we need to leave
up on deck for 8 months of the year for just bottom cleaning. The other 4
months we need it for cloudy days etc. Oh well it is what it is I guess.
Here in Mexico all the bottom cleaners I
have seen use water traps. Do not know why and maybe they do not either?
We set the PSI to 90 and this worked for air delivery to our 5' 6" draft or more
because our water line is under water We have
about a 40' hose.
Had to go to a truck-brake hydraulic shop and get a 1\4" fitting crimped on the
old Scuba Hookah Systems hose to connect to the water trap or water separator. We also saw
single air line fittings there of all types.
Then we attached the water trap and we are good to go diving!
The water trap is all metal going through and has a plastic outer housing. We are still trying to get a better one. We have never seen any water in this so we decided it was working just fine and no need for a better one.
With the stern steps dropped down into the water.
For us, using the compressor with the accumulator tank works good. We do not use
the system but a couple hours every two weeks, if that. We are going down to
clean the bottom this coming weekend and the bottom looks like it is staying
cleaner because of our good job last time. It should not take as long to clean
the bottom this time. It is time to replace the shaft zinc and that will be a
first for me.
When we get a bottom job this summer the time will be even
less. The accumulator tank saves both the Honda EU2000i from running at a higher
speed all the time I am under water or on the surface talking, or getting ready
to go in the water or just not breathing through the regulator etc. The
compressor also is working less because it just shuts off. The noise is also
reduced.
Once the compressor reaches 150 PSI in the accumulator tank the
compressor shuts off, starts again at 120 PSI. This in turn ramps down the Honda EU2000i to echo mode, meaning it is running at it's lowest speed, fairly quiet
and not using as much gas. We need to dinghy out everything which also means gas
so this helps on the schlepping.
This works out for us and with the drain
on the bottom of the accumulator tank the system should last us quite a long
time. It was also fitting our budget
We know of a boat for sale in the La
Cruz marina (Marina Riviera Nayarit atLa Cruz) that has the 12v hookah system. I was thinking of asking if he would
sell it but at even half price it would be too many pesos for us.
It is also very nice to be in control of our boat bottom, zincs, keel cooler for
the refer and thru-hole strainers etc..The fun factor is there too,
staying down as long as we like.
Now we are going to try to use this
system to clean our anchor chain while it is in the ocean. Debbie my wife will
operate the windless and pull it up say 6' at a time and I will try cleaning
that section in the water on so on. We have been doing this on deck and it is
messy and not that easy. I imagine we can not get all the growth off but
possibly the heavy stuff.
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