Stuff That Works: Hooka System

We have recently installed a hooka system onboard. For those that aren’t familiar with hooka systems, they aren’t to be confused with hooka pipes. A hooka system consists of an air compressor that pumps air down a hose to a diver. Our system consists of a small electric compressor connected to a 14m hose. At the end of the hose is a dive regulator. We power the compressor by connecting it to our house battery bank. The cables are long enough that the compressor can sit on deck with the power cables reaching down into the main salon.

We purchased our hooka so we can work on the hull. Mainly, we need it for scrubbing the bottom. I mentioned in an earlier post that a friend compares needing to scrub the bottom of his boat to a homeowner needing to cut his/her lawn. We don’t have to scrub the hull as often as we used to mow our lawn but we do have to do it every few weeks. If we don’t, the growth gets harder to get off and we sail noticeably slower.

We have scuba gear onboard and previously that is what I used to clean the boat but it wasn’t ideal. Scuba gear is great when one is several meters below the ocean’s surface but when one is working at the surface or just a few meters below the surface, it is cumbersome. Also, we found it difficult to get our tank filled. In most places we were able to plan ahead and get it filled as we moved along but in New Zealand, no one would fill it. New Zealand did not recognize its certification and we couldn’t get it certified–we tried. That’s why we decided to take the plunge and get a hooka system. The system won’t be good for diving but it is quick and easy to set up for routine cleaning and maintenance on Cambria.

We know one boat that made their own hooka system. It’s not difficult but with everything else we had to do in our last weeks in New Zealand, we decided to buy a Deck Snorkel. Over the last couple of years I have tried a couple of hooka systems and frankly, I didn’t like them. When scrubbing, I found I would outbreathe them. I would often have to pause what I was doing to catch my breath. They couldn’t supply me with the air I needed. The Deck Snorkel is different. It has a small tank built into the delivery hose. The tank is like a buffer. If on occasion I need more air than the compressor can deliver, there is extra air in the tank. I have used our new hooka system several times and so far, I have not outbreathed it. I assume it’s because of the tank but I don’t know. I just know that it gives me all the air I need.

I should note that the bottom paint we had put on in New Zealand is much better than what we used the year before. I am not having to scrub the hull nearly as often. I’d like to not have to scrub it at all but at least when it does need a scrub, I now have an easier way to do it.