No in-water hull scrubbers available?

[patrickkidd]

I am surprised to find no hulk brushes / scrubbers for in-water hull cleaning on the market. The only thing I can find are deck brushes. I remember one called Scrubbis that was made of foam and worked really well, but it doesn't seem to be available any more and they aren't responding to inquiries.

Are there any solutions out there at all? I am in Alaska and we hardly get any growth, but it can make a difference in the occasional race without taking the boat out of the water.

 

[jssailem]

I have seen ones on the dock made using PVC schedule 40 pipe and a piece of carpet for the scrubber. I think the carpet was attached using zipties. It was long enough to reach the keel on a 30ft boat.

 

[thinwater]

Yup, seems to de discontinued. I have one and sometimes used it for a spring cleaning, before the water warms up. Best with the Groovy head, which was more aggressive. Far more effective on soft growth and slime than you would think, but I guess they did not sell well. I could clean my trimaran (yup, reaching under the tramps) in about 15 minutes. But right now my paint is working really well.

I would use something stiffer, like 3/4" EMT bent with a hickey (not 90 fittings), a float made from one of the fat (5-6") pool noodles (as much flotation as you can reasonably push underwater), and artificial turf. It is the flotation that does the scrubbing (it mostly cleans on the up-stroke IME), so the turf needs to be more on the top.

 

[Will Gilmore]

The Goby - Hull Cleaning System

I found this.

-Will

 

[Foswick]

Looks like Scrubbis are still made. I think maybe Davis Instrument just doesn't distribute them anymore which also means West Marine doesn't sell it anymore. (That isn't fact - just me reading between the lines.) It looks like they are still available, at least in Europe. But, it looks like there are still a few to be had in the U.S.:

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit - With a 12-foot reach, the Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit allows you to reach the rudders, keels

www.tackledirect.com

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit

With an extended reach, the Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit allows a boat owner to reach rudders, keels, and all underwater surfaces on boats up to 40' and larger.

www.campingworld.com

... probably elsewhere ...

 

[patrickkidd]

Looks like Scrubbis are still made. I think maybe Davis Instrument just doesn't distribute them anymore which also means West Marine doesn't sell it anymore. (That isn't fact - just me reading between the lines.) It looks like they are still available, at least in Europe. But, it looks like there are still a few to be had in the U.S.:

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit - With a 12-foot reach, the Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit allows you to reach the rudders, keels

www.tackledirect.com

Davis Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit

With an extended reach, the Scrubbis Underwater Hull Cleaning Kit allows a boat owner to reach rudders, keels, and all underwater surfaces on boats up to 40' and larger.

www.campingworld.com

... probably elsewhere ...

Yeah, both of those links are out of stock like all the others I saw in the US. I sent an email to one of the Swedish retailers to see if they will ship to Alaska. They all looked pretty small, we'll see if they reply

 

[Will Gilmore]

Is it hard to ship from Japan?

This company is based in the UK, but they advertise a new USA division. I can't tell if their Scubbi's are out of stock, but they do ship within the US.
https://us-thewetworks.glopalstore....uk/products/scrubs-hull-scraper-set?wi=proxy#

-Will

 

[patrickkidd]

Is it hard to ship from Japan?

This company is based in the UK, but they advertise a new USA division. I can't tell if their Scubbi's are out of stock, but they do ship within the US.
https://us-thewetworks.glopalstore.com/products/scrubs-hull-scraper-set?utm_campaign=pr_r&utm_source=www.thewetworks.co.uk&utm_medium=wi_proxy&utm_content=en_US&utm_term=c&glReturnTo=https://www.thewetworks.co.uk/products/scrubs-hull-scraper-set?wi=proxy#

-Will

I guess I'll find out! Just ordered, $200 shipped to Alaska. I used PayPal to make use of their purchase protection in case it's a scam.

 

[capta]

I'd imagine a quick Google should get you a contact for an in-water hull cleaner. A couple of times a season and your bottom should be slick as snot whenever you want to use her.

 

[Will Gilmore]

She looks like a fractional.

-Will