Good Idea for Bottom Cleaning

[Celestialsailor]

I was researching for a design for a power bottom cleaner that would operate on ambient water (hydraulic). My concept was to use the spinning to create a vacuum of the brush against the hull...These guys figured it out 10 years ago. Check out the video.

Pool Scrubbers - Meridian Sub Tek

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

My concept was to use the spinning to create a vacuum of the brush against the hull...These guys figured it out 10 years ago.

This concept has been around a lot longer than ten years and is how every powered hull cleaning system (and there are many) works. I am in possession of one of them:

[Celestialsailor]

Is it something you use on a regular bases or only for certain types of jobs?

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Is it something you use on a regular bases or only for certain types of jobs?

Honestly, I haven't used it at all in many months. It isn't capable of cleaning across enough of the fouling spectrum to be truly useful, plus it has a relatively short battery life. These are all issues the manufacturer promised to address but have not. It works well in certain situations and is about as fast as manual cleaning but is not currently well suited for professional hull cleaning applications.

[Celestialsailor]

I see...The ones on the link were water powered through a pump, via 110ACV. I'm sure it would take a lot of cleanings to pay off. One concept I had (with all the cutting down on pollution of bottom paint) was to have it separate the metals from the water for disposal. I think the powers to be are heading in that direction.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

One concept I had (with all the cutting down on pollution of bottom paint) was to have it separate the metals from the water for disposal. I think the powers to be are heading in that direction.

1.- I suspect a brush machine capable of filtering biocides and other pollutants from the effluent would likely be too large and expensive to be of use to pleasure boat hull cleaners. At least one such device is currently in use for ship husbandry applications.

2.- I think it is more probable that water quality policy makers (in this state at least) would ban in-water hull cleaning before requiring that pollutants be captured, especially since no hull cleaning system currently exists to do that on this level.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

I think it is more probable that water quality policy makers (in this state at least) would ban in-water hull cleaning before requiring that pollutants be captured

I hope not but sadly and probably true.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I hope not but sadly and probably true.

The reality is that a capture requirement would probably have the same result as an outright ban- in-water hull cleaning would cease.

[riggear]

I understand that Disney Cruise Ships do not have any anti fouling on. They area clean with huge hydro cleaners like this when they are in port on rotation, Port side one visit, Starboard next, bottom 3rd and props and struts on the 4 visit then repeat. They use different size units for each treatment and are controlled underwater by Divers., They are self propelled and use suction to stay on the hull, the Divers steer.
Not sure how relevant this is, but I thought it was pretty cool none the less. You can do anything with enough money.

[fstbttms]

I'd be very surprised if any ship, cruise, cargo or otherwise was operating in a marine environment without an anti fouling coating. Disney's ships might be using a non-toxic coating, but they are using something, that is practically garaunteed.

[Sailmonkey]

I highly doubt a cruise shop operator would run without anti fouling when even a little extra drag on the hull translates to literally tons of fuel per hour.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I see...The ones on the link were water powered through a pump, via 110ACV. I'm sure it would take a lot of cleanings to pay off. One concept I had (with all the cutting down on pollution of bottom paint) was to have it separate the metals from the water for disposal. I think the powers to be are heading in that direction.

110V

You couldn't get my big toe in the water with a 110V device! I've seen too many deaths of high voltage and water. Just recently there were some kids who died while swimming next to a dock with a hot line leaking into the water.

[Celestialsailor]

The pump on is on the dock driven by 110. The pump provides hydraulic to the unit under water. Hope this helps.

[delmarrey]

OK, the ipad wouldn't open the link so I didn't know how it worked. One of those late night assumptions.
Never mind!