For skimming beleive it or not I use a skimmer. The pool kind that can attach to a super long extendable handle. I also have a leaf net with metal reinforcement or aluminum frame for heavier material and algae. I work that from the shore then hit the boat and work outside in whatever I did not get. I'll get one of those rope handled tubs and fill it up in the boat, sometimes two. If the material is really wet and heavy I just drain out all the water I can, lighten up the load.