Hull-Scrubbing/-Cleaning "Pad" On A Pole?

SEMIJim · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007

One of the boats we looked at, the owner had this handy thing that was a long-ish, flexible "pad" that was suspended between two points at the end of a pole, in such a manner that it had a bit of curve to it. You could scrub a goodly portion of the hull below the waterline from the deck. He said he couldn't find them anywhere, anymore. I'm wondering if anybody here has ever seen these and if they're still available?

TIA,
Jim

hellosailor · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007

A friend of mine took a chance on one 4(5?) years ago. None of us really was impressed, and it was back to hiring the diver to clean the bottom within the month. We all tried, it just wasn't good enough.

It can clean off "waterline beard" but it just isn't good enough under the hull.

cardiacpaul · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007

a-ha! make your own...
wander into home depot, buy 1-10ft section of 2 in pvc, a 2" tee 2 -2" endcaps, 1- 30 or 45 degree 2" angle and "welcome" mat made out of astro turf and 2 cans of tuff stuff foam. cut 2 18in pcs of the pvc, one 12" piece and the rest is a handle. insert the 2 18" pieces to the tee, the one 12" piece to the tee, and glue away. install the angle to the other end of the 2" piece. now is the time to fill the bad boy up with the foam. After that, put on the endcaps, and attach the handle. cut the welcome mat in half, wrap the mat around the 18" pieces tie wrap in place.
It floats! (also gives enough upward pressure on the bottom of the hull to dislodge most yucky stuff.)

the angle and 1 ft piece give you enough room to hit the keel on a 30 ft catalina from the dock.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007

The only thing I've seen that seems to work somewhat for scrubbing the hull is a scrubbing brush that had a big float on it... the float would put some pressure on the pad when it was submerged. I saw it in action and thought it was pretty clumsy.

Fstbttms · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

You can probably guess what my opinion of dock-side hull cleaning is, but for anybody considering it, let me give you a couple of caveats:

You will never, ever, clean the entire hull, or even do a particularly good job on what you do manage to clean. I know how easy it is to miss relatively big spots in good visability with my face literally 12-18 inches from the hull while I'm under a boat, so I know the "Dry Diver" devices will miss much as well. You are essentially working blind.

You will probably be unable to clean the keel at all and you will certainly be unable to clean the running gear. Zincs? Thru-hulls? Transducers? Forgeddaboudit.

You have little control over the scrubbing pressure applied to your paint with one of these devices. Got a spot that needs a little extra elbow grease? Too bad. Got a soft paint that needs a real gentle touch? Bummer. Trying to blindly clean your hull from the dock is no replacement for proper maintenance, IMHO. And by that I mean a diver. 'Course I might be a little biased.

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

I'd have to agree with Fstbttms, even if he is a bit biased...

I can't reach much of my main hull since the amas are in the way..

But then again, I have no zincs or keel underwater on my boat either...

TrueBlue · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

I've got all this expensive scuba gear in a boat locker, just itching to be used for the next bottom cleaning, which is a bit overdue . . . although it's a chore I don't much like doing.

My bottom has Micron Extra, an ablative, which creates a blue toxic cloud in the water each time it's scrubbed . . . nasty job.

sailortjk1 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

My back hurts from just thinking about it.

SimonV · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

Hey Fstbttms, when working do you get that feeling that you are not alone,

waiting for the bump between the shoulders or on the lower leg.

I would say money well spent and you earn it.

Fstbttms · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonV

Hey Fstbttms, when working do you get that feeling that you are not alone,

waiting for the bump between the shoulders or on the lower leg.

I would say money well spent and you earn it.

Simon, here in the San Francisco Bay we don't have any salties to worry about and the sharks more likely to end up breakfast for a sea lion than they are to be bumping me between the shoulders. but I won't argue that I don't earn my money, none-the-less.