Electric vs. Gas powered Hookah?

[bdahunter]

I've been thinking that a hookah unit is the way to go for the next step in my water hunting. Being stopped in my hunt at neck level, just when I am getting into the good stuff is becoming annoying.
A gas unit will probably attract a lot of unwanted attention at a lot of the beaches I hunt in Bermuda but an electric unit will go largely unnoticed. Therefore, I am leaning towards a floating electric unit.
Does anyone have an opinion on the pros and cons of these types of units? I'm planning on working the area just beyond the surf in 10 to 20 feet of water, waves will be no more than 4 feet generally, due to the reef, except on storm days which I generally don't hunt anyway.

Thanks,

BDA

 

[Royal]

have never had a problem with the gas. I suspect traveling with a gas hookah might be a problem though. I really don't know.

I only had problems at a beach one time out of many dives. I try not to go when others are around. I usually go early in the morning or in rainy weather. Late or early in the season.

I can see a problem with swimmers if they are present because if you are in fifteen ft of water with a hookah with 60 ft of hose, the wind will have that dang hose wrapped around the swimmers necks.

I always try to respect the swimmers rights and I have only been asked to leave two times. Once in a nice way because there was a lifesaving class going to be going on and once in a nasty way by a feller that will be nice from now on.

You are in for an eye opener when you get out beyond the waders. It depends on the beach though. Almost all of my water hunting has been in fresh water lakes so I know squat about salt water beaches.

 

[bdahunter]

I knew I would get an honest but informed response from you Royal.

Thanks,

BDA

I really enjoy your 20th century forum.

 

[Royal]

n/t

 

[Golden]

Gidday hunter, my hubby uses a petrol hookah on a floating tyre, that trails behind him. But he's also looking at an electric unit, so he doesn't have to worry about fumes. Not that he has any trouble, as he's designed it in such a way that the air intake is facing away from where the fumes come out. But I would say an electric hookah would draw less attention from onlookers, be much quieter, and I can't see why you couldn't mount one of these on a floating tyre. Maybe if you made up a frame of a sort, that the unit is attached to.I'm not real versed on it, but my hubby says it can be done.
Golden

 

[bdahunter]

An electric unit will be heavy but worth it if I can avoid attracting unwanted attention. Bermuda is a big tourist destination and anything that could be perceived as bad for tourism will draw attention.
I am hoping I can find a floating version without having to make a frame and raft. I can build it myself of course but I don't have the time to source all the different materials, special materials are hard to come by here.

Cheers,

BDA

 

[landman]

I used an electric hooka for 2 years. They are heavy to lug from car to water. But once set up and in the water...heaven! I bought 2 batteries. I could stay down 10-20 feet for 3 hours at a time. Lots of goodies below 6 foot of water. Harder to retrieve. I created a vest of 45 lbs to keep me down. Used a dry suit-I live in NY. Used a Excalibur with the 8" horseshoe coil.

 

[landman]

Keene Electric hooka.

 

[bdahunter]

Thanks Mate

 

[billKY]

No experience whatever, but I can envision a fifty pound electric/battery combination at the end of a thirty foot air hose. What I can't envision is the amount of stress a four foot bounce of this rig would place against the upper and lower jaws (holding the mouthpiece). Even if you're tied by line instead of using the hose, fifty pounds (or even thirty five) pulling against you in a four foot surge would be DISTRACTING at the very least. Now while this is going on, you want to step on a scoop and ...............

Somehow this doesn't seem like a workable situation unless you anchor the hookah, and then you have a swamping issue to resolve.

Fresh water diving yes, I think a hookah would be great for most any fresh water location, but on some of the Great Lakes, you'd have similar issues with wind generated surge.

Someone please explain where my concept is way off base..... thanks. I'm interested too, though probably never able to afford a hookah for either environment.

 

[Cadblaster3]

As a diver(Scuba) with many hours beach diving, I can't imagine using a hookah in Bermuda. Fighting the surf and current while trying to swing a coil and dragging along a Hookah. I haven't dove around the North side of the Island, but spent a good deal of time around the South West Coast (By the Mari Celeste). Anyhow, why not just use Scuba? There's plenty of dive shops to get tanks filled etc.

Just my 2 cents.........

Ed

 

[TREASUREMAN]

what does a eliectric hookah cost?ive never throught of hunting with something like that,sounds great.

 

[TNBob]

I disagree about the hookas. I definitely recommend using a gas powered motor driven compressor for all diving. Honda motors are the most reliable and get good gas mileage (pounds of air per gallon). They run quietly and you can get one of those nice little 4 stroke Honda motors like a 2.5 HP that should be enough to power a T80 compressor. Check with Keene Engineering or Proline Mining to purchase one. ALso there a several listed on the Gold Prospecting forums for sale. You might even find one on Ebay under dredge hooka or T80 compressor. I have been diving with hookas since 1999 and they are reliable for gold detecting diving.
TNBob

 

[goldman76]

NOT much materials needed A tire inner tube and a ice chest

 

[love to dig]

Hi Would you or anyone else please explain the working of a hookah and how to generally make an easy one? Maybe a step by step explanation? I'm thinking of getting certified instead but maybe make one of these too..... seems, a small engine floating on an inner tube with some small supports and a hose coming off (of what)???? into the water and I guess I conect, or jerryrig a mouthpiece to breath through it>? Thanks
This all sounds like some gizmo I would have made with my buddies in the 60's when we were kids.... like when we turned Schwinn STingray bikes upside down, had some guy weld here and there and we rode bike way up in the air having to mount them from street signs! Ha! The memories! : )