In-water bottom cleaning

JohnS12875 · Oct 20, 2005

Roomba

Is this from the same folks who make the "Roomba" vacuum cleaner? (Didja see the Saturday Night Live skit about the new spinoff device for women, "Woomba"? Funny stuff.)

Alan · Oct 20, 2005

Dri Diver

I use the Dri Diver when I get lazy, but you can't clean the rudder and keel which are the most important parts to keep clean. If someone developes a self scrubbing machine, they're going to make a fortune.

BobW · Oct 20, 2005

A 'Hullba'? I'll buy one!

Hard to believe it could clean a hull underwater for any reasonable price, but I'd buy one!And if it can check the zincs, I'll marry it!!!!!Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

MrBill_FLL · Oct 21, 2005

barnacle trick

fwiw:when in college I worked at a marina in coconut grove (merrill-stevens)when they lifted a boat out of the water, they would walk around the hull and lightly hit any barnicles with a butane torch. just a second or two.this killed the barnicle, then later in the week when they pressure cleaned it, the barnicles would flake off, once they dried out.as I remember, they also did a quick pressure wash right as it was lifted. (5 min job).the real pressure wash took several hours, then sanding, then new paint.if you want to dive, brownies sells 150' hose for you scuba tank. but its hard to get leverage under the water... and its a itchy nasty job...

Fred Ficarra · Oct 21, 2005

Barnacles?

What's wrong with a putty knife?

Franklin · Oct 21, 2005

yeah....

What's wrong with getting a diving mask and diving down there and cleaning the bottom with a brush and putty knife? That's what I do. Do it about two or three times a year...depending on how many jellyfish are floating around (this years was extremely bad for jellyfish and man-o-war). I would love to have that Dri Diver thing but damn....$2k...I don't think so. I would rather spend that $2k on hookers....I mean solar panels

Franklin · Oct 21, 2005

I also

change my zinks that way.Oh yeah...forgot to say...you can get most of the bottom cleaned by taking two PFDs and wrapping them under the arms around the chest, then float in the water and use a brush with a one foot handle. That way you don't have much to do when your under the water doing the rest. It's good excersize and actually kind of fun playing in the water.

BobW · Oct 21, 2005

Franklin, you never cease to amaze ;D

I'm thinking that a brush with a long handle is going to clean off most of what's there, and then a short dive would take care of the rest.I've been thinking for a while that if the brush handle was curved just right, and had a little video camera and light mounted on it just right, the whole bottom-cleaning process could be done from the dock.... except for changing the zincs, of course, but a camera would be useful for checking them, and we all use extra zincs at the dock, don't we?????Diving is an issue here because of sorta cold water (65 to 70 degrees) and yucky water in the back of the marina.My wife usually takes a brush to the hull when we go out to the islands - her choice, OK? - where the water is much nicer.We're headed out for lobster tomorrow.... oh, yeah, and to clean the hull!!!!!Cheers,Bobs/v X SAIL R 8

JohnS12875 · Oct 21, 2005

Franklin

Where did you see the Dri Diver at $2K? A quick google search and the first listing was MarineStore.com who had the "Pro" model for $124.25.

Seattle Scott · Oct 21, 2005

On my dock

I've seen PVC poles about 10 feet long with a 45 degree elbow and a 3 ft wide "T" at the "boat" end with the "T" pipe wrapped in carpet or astroturf. The whole thing has all the ends capped off so air tight to give some flotation up against the hull. I haven't borrowed one yet but I have slime in spite of Petit albative with anti-slime at $185/gal.

Bill Roosa · Oct 22, 2005

Technology to the rescue

My kid was watching the science channel today and some researchers at the Dep of the Navy have come up with a plastic film that sticks to the hull and prevents ALL fouling!!!! AND lasts for 8 years!Man I can't wait for this stuff to hit the public scetor.Bill

Fred Ficarra · Oct 22, 2005

Forget it!

Big money will kill it. Just like the anti addiction pill. It was announced about 5 years ago. Target the part of the brain that makes us want stuff like alcohol. I'm sure THAT will get on the market.

Calif. Ted · Oct 24, 2005

I got a diver that cleans the bottom

zincs every month for less than I would charge. Besides my wife only let me buy the boat on the condition that I would admit to being too old to do it myself anymore.

Franklin · Oct 24, 2005

You guys know me too well....

eliot...that was just too funny

I try just about anything that seems to make a little sense and saves cents. JohnS...I don't know what search I put in goggle to come up with the link for the high prices but I can't seem to find it now. I must be working way too much. I just might buy me that dri diver now. Thanks.

JC on Bainbridge · Oct 25, 2005

Yeah, just like the tank filler whistle.

That is a product that is useful, easy to install, and I can't wait to get my hands on one.I will go over to Seabeck and have a duet with Fred. ;d

JC on Bainbridge · Oct 25, 2005

Yes, it goes on the tank's vent tube

Yep, go to this thread to read all about it. It was designed by Alan, one of the regulars here.I think every boat should have one installed. Hey, Alan, maybe they will preinstall one on every production boat coming off the line. Won't that be a nice chunk of change? And save the environment to boot.

In-water bottom cleaning

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