Hi

has anyone tried one of these cheap 12v snorkel hookahs off eBay? I need to change my prop in the water and was thinking about buying one of the more expensive ones but it's hard to look past these on eBay for $1k less and they look very similar

They will be more than adequate. Just check on the hose for the proper standards.

I recon you will toss the hose and the whip, the reg might be ok and if you make some sort of inline tank it will help if the pump gives up. Can't see any sort of pressure relief / poppet valve you might want to put one in to take the pressure off the diaphragms or perhaps it has a pressure shut of but I doubt it

i got one a while ago, they get very hot after a hour of use, I struggled to get enough air, had to realy suck to keep my lungs filled. I strip the reg and found it was assembled wrong.They are only a plastic low pressure regulator. I reassembled it diffrently and it works a lot better.
you dont need a relief as they are are low pressure and the diaphragm soaks it up, how ever you will need to exhaust all presure if you stop it and try to restart it as it will stall out. They also vibrate and make a lot of noise, they also move a lot and need to be run some where that they wont jump overboard.
The hose has ok fittings and able to handle the working pressures, ie about 10 psi.
I have used mine a few times and happy with the puchase.
they do come with spare diaphragms so i am not sure how long they last

I use a single Thomas diaphragm pump mounted on a SS 50mm tube frame that is also the reserve chamber and also have a 1 metre X 200mm plastic cylinder that floats along side the boat as a chamber as well. The Thomas is a USA made pump. The one in the ad is a Chinese copy with two chambers. One of my neighbouring boats has the single chamber version of this kit and it's fine for cleaning his prop etc.
When using these systems make sure all the hose goes into the water. I think the minimum length of hose is 30 metres and that should be enough air reserve to get back to the surface.



Note the stocking air filter.

Thanks. I ordered one. I'll let you know how it goes.

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Ramona said..
I use a single Thomas diaphragm pump mounted on a SS 50mm tube frame that is also the reserve chamber and also have a 1 metre X 200mm plastic cylinder that floats along side the boat as a chamber as well. The Thomas is a USA made pump. The one in the ad is a Chinese copy with two chambers. One of my neighbouring boats has the single chamber version of this kit and it's fine for cleaning his prop etc.
When using these systems make sure all the hose goes into the water. I think the minimum length of hose is 30 metres and that should be enough air reserve to get back to the surface.



Note the stocking air filter.

Ramona do you have a relief / poppet valve or do you let it load up, as per grich62 ?

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woko said..

Ramona said..

Ramona do you have a relief / poppet valve or do you let it load up, as per grich62 ?

No relief valve. The frame for the hookah mounts on the side of my tender/workboat. I jump into the water and move up the side of the boat and reach up and switch on the pump. I place the reg into my mouth and the pump comes under load as it fills the cylinder. I then just hang off the dinghy's ladder for 20 or 30 seconds just breathing steadily. I find that depending on the water temperature and whether I'm wearing a wet suit or not I can find myself over breathing. Winter time and a thick suit can be a problem. With a hookah it's all about breathing regularly and not holding your breath so there is no need for a relief valve.

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Ramona said..
I use a single Thomas diaphragm pump mounted on a SS 50mm tube frame that is also the reserve chamber and also have a 1 metre X 200mm plastic cylinder that floats along side the boat as a chamber as well. The Thomas is a USA made pump. The one in the ad is a Chinese copy with two chambers. One of my neighbouring boats has the single chamber version of this kit and it's fine for cleaning his prop etc.
When using these systems make sure all the hose goes into the water. I think the minimum length of hose is 30 metres and that should be enough air reserve to get back to the surface.



Note the stocking air filter.

Hi, I wonder if you could let me know where you got the plastic cylinder and if it will hold 100 psi. Thanks.

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Ramona said..

woko said..

Ramona said..

Ramona do you have a relief / poppet valve or do you let it load up, as per grich62 ?

No relief valve. The frame for the hookah mounts on the side of my tender/workboat. I jump into the water and move up the side of the boat and reach up and switch on the pump. I place the reg into my mouth and the pump comes under load as it fills the cylinder. I then just hang off the dinghy's ladder for 20 or 30 seconds just breathing steadily. I find that depending on the water temperature and whether I'm wearing a wet suit or not I can find myself over breathing. Winter time and a thick suit can be a problem. With a hookah it's all about breathing regularly and not holding your breath so there is no need for a relief valve.

That's an interesting approach, I put an adjustable
popet valve in the system and dial it down to 20psi I use the same Thomas pump I got from a fellow seabreaser

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UncleBob said..


Hi, I wonder if you could let me know where you got the plastic cylinder and if it will hold 100 psi. Thanks.

It's just straight heavy duty plumbing PVC. My unit operates at 25psi.

Uncle bob there's some not so expensive stainless steel rated air tanks made for the air suspension market.

here is a pic off one i put together, 12/ 240 volt compressor also runs off Makita battery, in line filter and a secondary regulator,
works great , i found it does take a bit of getting used to , plus you can use it for blowing up fenders and air tools, cost around $600

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ralasa41 said..
here is a pic off one i put together, 12/ 240 volt compressor also runs off Makita battery, in line filter and a secondary regulator,
works great , i found it does take a bit of getting used to , plus you can use it for blowing up fenders and air tools, cost around $600

On sale at Sydney Tools for $399. Could it do small spray jobs? I don't like rolling and tipping complex shapes on the boat.

sydneytools.com.au/product/chicago-air-hushacdc-18v-liion-5l-acdc-brushless-oil-free-air-compressor?gclid=CjwKCAjwrJ-hBhB7EiwAuyBVXXWAUQYUFWheTR3_RigziOtRoC5_lVAPqy1CWa4p4NXMUSvRoI_4cRoCrOYQAvD_BwE

only very small spray jobs

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ralasa41 said..
here is a pic off one i put together, 12/ 240 volt compressor also runs off Makita battery, in line filter and a secondary regulator,
works great , i found it does take a bit of getting used to , plus you can use it for blowing up fenders and air tools, cost around $600

Ive been looking to buy something exactly like this for a while now, how long do you get out of an 18v battery? looks like a very tidy unit and decent price at $399.

Any issues with it? Does it supply enough air when you dive down a few metres?

I have the powerdive unit but the motor died so I have been looking for a replacement, looks like I could buy this for $399 and the connect up my existing hoses/ regs and be away in no time.

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Jake888 said..

ralasa41 said..
here is a pic off one i put together, 12/ 240 volt compressor also runs off Makita battery, in line filter and a secondary regulator,
works great , i found it does take a bit of getting used to , plus you can use it for blowing up fenders and air tools, cost around $600

Ive been looking to buy something exactly like this for a while now, how long do you get out of an 18v battery? looks like a very tidy unit and decent price at $399.

Any issues with it? Does it supply enough air when you dive down a few metres?

I have the powerdive unit but the motor died so I have been looking for a replacement, looks like I could buy this for $399 and the connect up my existing hoses/ regs and be away in no time.

Curious how old the power dive unit was. No recourse from the distributor?

My power dive compressor stopped running so I did the following.


I also made up a gauge connection to check the compressor output and the gauge told me that the relief valve was opening at 15 psi,,, so I replaced the o ring in it and adjusted it for 25 psi.
Don't get so exhausted now cleaning the bottom.

Makita 5amp battery doesnt last long , you would not want to dive with this unless just a quick inspection,
I hook it to the house battery

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Jolene said..
My power dive compressor stopped running so I did the following.

I also made up a gauge connection to check the compressor output and the gauge told me that the relief valve was opening at 15 psi,,, so I replaced the o ring in it and adjusted it for 25 psi.
Don't get so exhausted now cleaning the bottom.

Who makes the Powerdive compressor? Looks like a Thomas.

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ralasa41 said..
Makita 5amp battery doesnt last long , you would not want to dive with this unless just a quick inspection,
I hook it to the house battery

I use the house battery as well. I spent up big on heavy cables and this transformed the pumps performance!

Spec sheet for the bonafide Thomas units aka deck snorkel, stalled out it draws 40amps, that's gotta burn windings sooner than latter

I use the 907CDC18. On the rare occasion I bother to look at the pressure gauge it's about 22psi. I bought mine used off the USA eBay. It was used in a laboratory. I believe this pump is used in ambulances. I must have read that somewhere, probably on the Thomas webpage!
I used 15 amps as the current draw and bought some cable sized to suit the length. It makes a big difference to have big cables.

Top quality units without a doubt, and I'm impressed to learn that the diaphragm can absorb the excess pressure, but if shut off then psi needs to get down to 5psi for the pump to restart, in this stalled stage it's drawing 40 amps......
I looked at a pressure shut off/start up switch on a pressure tank set up but the pump won't boot up until -5psi anyway so no point, hence the poppet valve

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woko said..
Top quality units without a doubt, and I'm impressed to learn that the diaphragm can absorb the excess pressure, but if shut off then psi needs to get down to 5psi for the pump to restart, in this stalled stage it's drawing 40 amps......
I looked at a pressure shut off/start up switch on a pressure tank set up but the pump won't boot up until -5psi anyway so no point, hence the poppet valve

You are over thinking it, if you just keep breathing its all good, only have to dump air if you turn it of and try to restart it.

these are all very similar correct? in regards to the decksnorkel

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grich62 said..

woko said..
Top quality units without a doubt, and I'm impressed to learn that the diaphragm can absorb the excess pressure, but if shut off then psi needs to get down to 5psi for the pump to restart, in this stalled stage it's drawing 40 amps......
I looked at a pressure shut off/start up switch on a pressure tank set up but the pump won't boot up until -5psi anyway so no point, hence the poppet valve

You are over thinking it, if you just keep breathing its all good, only have to dump air if you turn it of and try to restart it.

I agree I did over think it, the adjustable poppet valve is in now and works well. If I'd of known I wouldn't of bothered

Just cleaned my hull with my $600 hookah from eBay. Worked very well. I'm happy. I put it in tool box. I made a lead with an Anderson plug so I can plug straight to my house battery.
motor says it does 13Amp. Must do more than 15amp on startup as it blows a 15amp blade fuse. My shunt says it draws 11.9 amps during operation. it does take a bit to get used to it. I feel the pressure drops a little after it's been running for 15 min. Not sure. Found i cleaned in 15min intervals.
My hull was covered in barnacles! It was a 3 hour job.

does take me bit to get used to ,I keep forgetting to breathe

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ralasa41 said..
does take me bit to get used to ,I keep forgetting to breathe

#1 rule of diving is never stop breathing, you just do it faster or slower depending upon energy being expended.
Air inflates rapidly with pressure, not something you want to have happen in a bit of your lung!