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Anyone faced with the cost of ownership of a new vehicle, be it land, sea, or air, inevitably asks themself the number one question: "How much of this do I want to do myself?" It's a good question, and the benefits of a clean boat bottom are incontestable. Of course, we firmly believe in the spirit of independence, of adventure, and self-reliance; many of the people who purchase a boat do so in the pursuit of those exact virtues. But as with any other maintenance task, there are several reasons why one might consider ceding the responsibility to a professional...so let's talk about 'em.
Safety
Did you even know there is risk associated with cleaning the bottom of your boat? Regardless of your answer, a lot of people don't - but getting little isopods down your boardies (and the nibbles that follow) is the least of those risks.
Cleaning a boat bottom in a reasonable amount of time usually requires the use of some kind of weight, and for many, scuba equipment. SCUBA, whilst generally a very safe activity, is never without risk, even in shallow water, and for the untrained, those risks (and those of using weight underwater) go up dramatically. Passing boats can cause fluctuations in the water level that carry the boat up and down, result in the possibility of an incapacitating blow to the head. The barnacles themselves are razor sharp and can dig chunks out of you at the slightest touch, which is an especially significant concern when you consider the current downward trend in water quality in the Indian and Banana River systems. Infection is an ongoing risk, as is the hazards of operating underwater in near-zero visibility. To cap it all off, the extremely serious risk of Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) from failed grounds in AC currents should make any prospective hull cleaner think twice about the DIY impulse when it comes to this particular task.
It isn't all death and dismemberment, obviously, but a professional diver will know how to navigate these hazards and save you the trouble of ever worrying about it. Money spent on safety is always money well spent.
Convenience
The safety issues aside, let's face it...scraping crap off of your hull sucks. There is very little fun to be had holding your breath or covering your expensive Scuba gear in crap and buggies to do a job that you could just as easily hire out and never think about again. We buy boats for a myriad of reasons, but despite all of the jokes at the dock, "because it's a good excuse to suffer" is rarely one of them. Many of us have better things to do that beat ourselves up for the sake of saving a few bucks. Save your energy for the trip...and the other 800 things you have to do on the boat already...
Tools
Like any job, cleaning the boat bottom, changing props and anodes, cleaning thru-hulls...they all require tools to get the job done. The acquisition, maintenance, and storage of those tools quickly becomes your problem if you're not hiring a professional. For those that aren't SCUBA certified, this process is already prohibitively expensive. Sure, you could snorkel the job but that usually involves weights without a contained breathing system (see above for Safety) and at least twice the time to complete the job (see below for Time)...I mean, we recommend breathing every now and then, after all. It would take a lot of hull diver hires to make up one purchase of SCUBA equipment, saying nothing of the other tools involved.
Expertise
A lot of boat owners pride themselves on their considerable expertise, and if you're among them, then feel free to ignore this segment. For those of you who don't know what you're doing...well...ask anyone who does what you're in for. Most will recommend that you just let us handle it and wash your hands of the nightmare that is bottom cleaning.
But let's be honest, the job isn't generally rocket science. Where expertise comes into the fold is for safety, best practices for ablatives and bottom surfaces, a knowledgeable and experienced report of the condition of your bottom, changing zincs underwater, cleaning props and cutlass bearings and thru-hulls and bow thrusters...trust us...we've got this.
Time
Our old nemesis. None of us ever seem to have enough of it. This is the reason for our reminder to ye captains...you didn't get a boat to clean it. Life is hard enough. Kids, pets, work, school, spouses, cars, homes, lawns, gardens, tech...to say nothing of things you actually WANT to do. Responsibilities pile up constantly, and it seems like every time you get ahead, some new nightmare crops up to put you behind. For many of us, the old adage that "time is money" can be taken quite literally.
Our suggestion? Keep your boat as the thing that takes you away from all of that. Let us handle the tough stuff so that you can take your baby out to enjoy it.
Tip:
If you use an ablative paint, these paints are meant to work by shedding their outermost molecular layer to keep fresh biocides active. If you're not using your boat, this is really happening, so extend your time between bottom cleanings by getting out there!
Sound like a good plan?
Here’s how ya do it:
Create yourself an account! (not necessary, it just makes your life easier later)
Head on over to the "Book Online" page, or give us a call at 321-795-0083
Select the service(s) that best suits your needs
Pick a time and date that works for you
Feel free to pay conveniently online, or at the time of the appointment!
We'll contact you (or chat on the phone) and ask a few questions about your boat and your preferences, and we'll send you a tailored quote; if it sounds good, click accept
Kick your feet up and let us handle the rest. It's easy street from here on out. You can get on a repeat schedule with us for a discounted rate and forget all about this nonsense, or just shout at us when you need us. Either way, the goal is to keep you out on the water, with your worries where they should be...elsewhere.
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