Commercial Diving is also known as Underwater Welding is considered as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The nature of work is basically on the elevated pressure water either in a dry or a wet environment. It was first invested by Konstantin Khrenov, a Russian metallurgist in the year 1932. Today, commercial diving plays a major role in the underwater world. Types of Commercial DivingCommercial Diving takes place in two ways. 1. Dry Hyperbaric Welding The dry hyperbaric welding takes place in a dry environment enclosed in a positive chamber filled with a gas mixture. The chamber is placed in the sea bed of maximum 400 meters from the surface of the water. The pipe to be welded is inserted into the chamber and the welder does the welding job. The pressure inside the chamber is very high, so only divers who have the capability to work in that nature are considered. It is the most preferred method than wet underwater welding when quality welds are needed. Some of the welding processes operated under dry hyperbaric welding are shielded metal arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, gas metal arc welding, tungsten arc welding and plasma arc welding. 2. Wet Underwater Welding The wet underwater welding takes place in the water and the divers are directly exposed to electric currents. The current used in this type of welding is between 300-400 amps. The electrodes used in this welding type are heavily insulated and it is switched off whenever not in use to prevent the electric shocks. Some of the welding processes operated under dry hyperbaric welding are shielded metal arc welding, flux-cored arc welding and friction welding. Risks in underwater WeldingThe job at underwater is a challenging one and a number of risks involved in it. The most common type of risk is to get exposed directly to electric shocks. For that, the welding current must be used in between the specified level and make sure the welding electrode is properly insulated. All commercial diving companies should train the newly joined divers with safety measures. Learning safety methods help them on how to sustain in critical situations. Other minor risks reported by the commercial divers are decompression sickness due to the high pressure in the breathing gases and the musculoskeletal effects.
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A boat prop is an essential part of the boat such that the performance of the boat depends on that only. There are several propellers available and one can choose according to the requirement. Few factors which are considered while choosing the propellers are, • Certain propellers increase the top end speed and for boats, with increased speed, this propeller can be used. • Few propeller designs give improved acceleration. • Props are also chosen based on the load carried by boat. • The design of the propeller differs for different boats including ski boats, pontoon boats and more. • Based on the boat engines, boat size, there are various propellers available. • Also, the boats that are in fresh water and in seawater require different propellers. Before Getting Started
The propeller can get repaired at any time; therefore, you should carry a spare propeller whenever going for boating. Now, when you come to know that your propeller has encountered some problem, you should make some precautions. Generally, the corners of the propeller will be sharp, therefore, wear rubber gloves before handling them. The sharp edges can injure your hands. Just observe the arrangement of the already existing propeller. This may help you during replacement of the new one. The Needed Tools For repairing the propeller, there are few tools required, namely, • Flathead screwdriver • Specialized propeller pliers • Pliers • Ratchet • Rubber gloves Steps in Repairing a Propeller 1. Removal of shaft nut - The first step in propeller repair is you should remove the nut and the washer. When you have issues with the removal of the nut, you have two options. You can apply oil over it and after a day you can try removing it. Otherwise, you can opt for heating. 2. Checking for damages – Now, you should have a glance at all the parts including the shaft, washers, hub, nuts and more. Find for any damages. 3. Replacing and repairing the damaged parts – The parts which are damaged should be replaced. This can be done by you itself. Repairing the damaged parts is complicated and therefore, you should approach an Under Water Prop Repair company. The professionals will have the required tools and will perform the repair efficiently. 4. Cleaning the shaft – When the propeller operates under the water, there are chances for materials to get stuck in it like aquatic plants. There may be the presence of the fishing line. Therefore, clear these things and clean them completely. When these items are cleared the boat is said to function efficiently. Also, the fuel consumption will be reduced. After completing all these things, you should tighten the nut and you should check the orientation. Just refer the things which you have noted before dismantling the old propeller. This will help you to do things easily. Observe the performance of the new propeller and make sure everything has been done in a proper way. Maintaining the Boat in the Proper Condition is essential. If the boat is not maintained properly, the normal marine growth on the vessel will cause excess drag, clogged thru- Hull which leads to excessive fuel consumption and Prop vibrations. For a Boat, a prop is a fundamental part that helps any kind of marine vessel to thrust in the water and sail. Thus, maintaining the prop in the best condition is also important for the efficient functioning of a Boat. Propeller Repair
The propeller gets repaired when it hits the obstacle or put an overload on it. Another common issue for the repair of onboard props or stern drive props is the Center hub. The Center Hub of a prop is mostly made of rubber which easily worn apart and decreases the efficiency of the prop functioning. There are many signs to say that the Prop is repaired like Prop speed decreases and high fuel consumption. The Prop Repair can be done by total replacing with new Prop or can just repair and replace the affected parts in the prop to maintain the Boat. Underwater Prop Repair Guidance There are many reasons for a Prop to get damaged. One must keenly observe and examine that what is the actual problem with the prop for underwater Prop Repair. Consider replacing or repairing the part with new ones for cost-effective repair service. If the Prop is itself in good shape and condition without any cracks and bent blades, but only the center hub is torn out, then change the center hub. A new Hub costs only a few Dollars which can be very effective than getting serviced by a professional. But only some of the hubs are changeable by the owners like XHS interchangeable hub system, however, it needs special tools and equipment to repair. So if the owner doesn’t have knowledge of service, then they should leave it to the professionals. Another main reason for the Prop repairs is by the Prop Blades. Sometimes, the prop will get repaired by simple aquatic plants stuck on the blades or blades bent or broken by hitting on an obstacle. The bent Blades need to be repaired either by welding or by hammering the blades. And this type of prop repair services is generally done by a licensed technician or prop Repair Company. Sometimes the prop can’t be repaired, it just needs replacement when it affected by Corrosion or Electrolysis Damage. Corrosion in salt water area is very common which corrodes the prop to a major concern and whereas Electrolysis Damage cannot be repaired or undone, these two damages can result in major havoc in prop. Take preventative measures and maintain the boat or have a Spare Prop in the boat for safe sailing. Whether it is repairing or replacement, one should consider leaving the work to professionals who are experienced in Underwater Prop Repair services. The Specialist knows well about which part and what is the exact problem with the prop and what will be the right solution for prop repair. Buying a boat is going to be a big investment and it will be in your interest to know the proper boat cleaning procedures so you can keep your vessel in tip-top range. A well maintained boat looks clean which will be an added advantage if you want to sell your boat later on. In order to maintain maximum performance and fuel consumption, you should keep your boat clean. In this blog we give you some basic procedures for boat bottom cleaning process.
Boat Hull Cleaning Boat hulls are constantly exposed to the elements and they sustain heavy abuse. It is true, if you travel in polluted water although regular trips in salt or fresh water can also lead to hull corrosion and barnacle growth. By maintaining a boat hull clean, shiny and smooth will help you to move through water at a faster speed and preserve integrity of your vessel. Experts recommend cleaning your hull at least thrice in a year depending upon how often you use your boat. The best option is to clean your boat bottom, hire a professional boat hull cleaner. They use licensed divers who will clean barnacles and parts of your boat hulls. Basic Cleaning Use a large, soft sponge and dip it into the cleaning solutions. Wring out the sponge slightly, and then wash all the sides of the boat hull. Make sure don’t scrub the boat hull’s paint. Once you have finished scrubbing the hull, rinse it with fresh water. Extensive Cleaning If your boat has lots of barnacles in bottom, its best to use a muratic acid and a strong hose to clean your boat hull. The professional underwater divers use a hose to thoroughly rinse your boat hull, make sure to remove all barnacles, weeds or other slime. They spray the muratic acid mixture directly on the boat bottom and wait for five minutes to clean. And then use a soft bristle brush to remove excess cleaner and grime. Repeat the same process on opposite side. Boat Hull Cleaning Products There are many varieties of boat hull cleaning products available in market. Some of the most popular boat bottom cleaning products is: Muratic Acid – It is the powerful substance which is used by many boat owners for clean their boats. Spray one side of the boat bottom thoroughly with muratic acid mixture using bottle sprayer. After 10 to 15 minutes clean the boat using brush and remove the barnacles fully. Zinc hull cleaner – this zinc specialized hull cleaner must be mixed with water and directed on the products label. And the starbrite buffered acid is recommended for mildly dirty boat hulls. |
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