Frequently asked questions

In Puget Sound saltwater, most vessels need cleaning every 60–90 days from May through September and every 90–120 days from October through April. Boats kept in fresh water on Lake Union, Portage Bay or Lake Washington can usually go 3–6 months between cleanings. Commercial and charter vessels often run a monthly schedule.

A diver works systematically from the waterline down to the keel using hydraulic rotary brushes on open, flat surfaces and hand scrapers around the keel, rudder, shaft and through-hull fittings. The vessel stays in its slip for the whole job, so there are no haul-out fees, no dry-dock scheduling and no waiting for a travel lift.

Regular cleaning is what keeps antifouling paint intact and working. The damage comes from waiting: barnacles left on a hull for several months expand their base plates into the coating, and removing old colonies then strips paint with them. Cleaning on schedule avoids that.

Barnacles cannot survive in fresh water, so boats on Lake Union, Eastlake, Portage Bay and Lake Washington do not get barnacles. They do build up algae, bacterial slime and biofilm quickly in warm months, which is why fresh-water hulls are cleaned every 3–6 months rather than every 60–90 days.

A thin biofilm layer increases drag by roughly 10–15%. Moderate barnacle growth after 90–120 days without cleaning increases drag by 25–35%, and heavy fouling can add 40% or more. That shows up as lower top speed, higher RPM at cruise and more fuel per trip.

Published packages are by vessel length: $500 for boats up to 30 ft, $1,000 for 31–60 ft and $1,500 for 61 ft and up. Final pricing depends on vessel condition, how heavy the growth is and the location. Commercial fleet contracts and recurring maintenance plans are available at discounted rates.

Underwater cleaning and scrubbing, barnacle and marine-growth removal, a propeller inspection, a full visual below-waterline inspection with any issues reported at no extra cost, and HD video documentation of the work. Before-and-after photos are delivered the same day.

Inspections start at $200 for vessels up to 40 ft, with full HD video documentation packages up to $500 for larger or more complex vessels. A written findings report is included after every inspection.

Propeller cleaning and polishing is quoted with your hull-cleaning package or on its own. Tell us what you need on the quote form and we will price it for your vessel.

After the job is done. You receive the photo and video report of the completed work first, then the invoice.

No. All services are performed in the water at your berth. We come to any Seattle-area marina; you do not need to be present.

Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard, Elliott Bay Marina, Lake Union, Eastlake and Portage Bay, Lake Washington marinas on the Kirkland and Bellevue side, Bainbridge Island (Eagle Harbor and Port Madison), Edmonds Marina, Des Moines Marina, and Puget Sound anchorages by arrangement.

We respond to every request within 24 hours. Same-day and next-day service is available for most jobs, and pre-purchase inspections are typically scheduled within 24–48 hours.

Friday to Sunday, 7am – 6pm. You can submit a quote request online at any time and we will reply within 24 hours.

Use the quote form on the contact page — vessel length, the service you need and your marina are enough — or call (206) 240-2687. Quotes are free and we reply within 24 hours.

Yes. Create a free account with the same email you used on the quote form and your requests are linked automatically. Your account shows the status of each request, the quoted amount once set, and the scheduled dive date. You also get an email when the status changes.

RapidScuba divers are ADCI-certified commercial divers. The business is licensed, bonded and insured, and operations follow OSHA 29 CFR 1910.430 commercial diving requirements. Every job is documented with underwater video.

The full hull surface from stem to stern, the keel and keel attachment, rudder and rudder bearing, propeller and shaft, cutlass bearing area and all through-hull fittings, documented on HD video with a written findings report. We do pre-purchase surveys, annual condition checks, post-grounding assessments and insurance documentation dives.