Crab Pot in Your Propeller - What Next?
It was late November and we were approaching our chosen anchorage, Shark River, located on Florida's west coast. The seas were calm; the weather was clear and had been nice and warm all day. I could not wait to enjoy a cocktail on the trawler's fantail watching the sun set. In just another minute or so we would be there.
All of a sudden, thump, thump and the port engine died. What was that? I looked down below and everything seemed fine. But our First Mate’s vigilant eyes spied a crab trap float, suspended from a line attached to the boat.
We had been eluding these floats all day long; thousands had been set by the local fishermen. But we obviously missed spotting one and now had the line and the crab pot wrapped in our prop. We were miles from any one; no mask, no fins, no dive tanks. There was neither cell phone service out here nor any VHF reception. Matters didn’t look good, not at all.
Think that imaginary event could happen to you? Think again! We don't think about it and it's unusual that it does ever occur. I have made the same passage I described numerous times, praying that we could avoid those traps and we always did. But the chance that could occur is always there so it's best to plan for the worst.
And yes, let’s not forget the slime that grows at the water line that needs scrubbing.
And turning up a diver is not always easy to do. Here in north Florida, divers are rare, pricey, and they are commonly less than dependable. And you never know precisely what they did or didn’t do below either. So what’s a mariner to do?
Some time back I decided that if I wanted my trawler to have her bottom inspected as often as I liked, my best option was to do it myself. After all, most mariners learn early on that you must become reasonably self sufficient to own a boat. It’s not that saving some cash wasn’t good, but you just can’t rely upon others to help maintain a boat.
I had watched divers go under my trawler and wonder how he did it with all that gear on that must certainly get in the way. There had to be a better way. I discovered a man called Dennis Parker. Dennis is a boat owner himself and had his trawler here in Florida at one time. Dennis and his team was selling a new tank less dive system that might prove to be useful.
Dennis and his team began in 1996 as an effort between several boat owners and engineers. The need was felt by all to design and build a tank less dive system that could be affordable for boat owners and simple to use.
The system was born, utilizing an oil-less electric compressor to furnish air to the diver without concern of carbon monoxide. A regulator, air hose and belt comes with the package. All you need to furnish is a mask, wetsuit and fins. The system will allow a decent to 30 ft, but most boaters will only be about 4 ft under the water.
All complete, including the system, wetsuit, mask, and fins the cost came in at under $1000.00.
It works great.
Questions and Answers
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