Pool Brush for Cleaning Bottom ? Yes / No

[rhr1956]

This morning I shocked my pool and was using the pool brush to move the stuff around when it came to me. There are a couple different type brushes pool stores sell. One has wire bristles and wouldn't dream of using that on a boat bottom. The other is a white nylon bristle and is relatively soft. I can't see a reason why that wouldn't do a good job. Any thoughts from those who might dissagree?

[atoll]

put the boat in the pool,then you can use the barracuda,sucky thing as well!

[rhr1956]

Now we're getting somewhere! Thanks Atoll for the tip. Now all I have to do is rent a crane. I don't think my neighbor will mind at all.

[atoll]

easy get your self one of these,its got wheels!

Duckworks Magazine

[HappySeagull]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

This morning I shocked my pool and was using the pool brush to move the stuff around when it came to me. There are a couple different type brushes pool stores sell. One has wire bristles and wouldn't dream of using that on a boat bottom. The other is a white nylon bristle and is relatively soft. I can't see a reason why that wouldn't do a good job. Any thoughts from those who might dissagree?

Barnacles.
Also, weed on boat-bottom clogs bristles pretty quick.Trying to unclog it on the end of a pole,underwater is difficult.I'd use the brush after a preliminary scrape-off...I just use a piece of plywood on the end.
You will need a long ,strong,(stiff)pole...long for balance and to apply pressure against the hull surface,so it's longer than you'd think .

[MC2019]

If you have ever seen how J24 sailors scrub the bottom of boats that is one thing I will always carry with me

Its like 20 foot long mesh sock. Two people stand on each side of boat and work the way along the boat moving the sock back and forth.

[rhr1956]

Where can you get one? Or do they make their own somehow?

[rhr1956]

Oh..I found something. Even though is says to not use in on bottom painted boats, it's interesting. Cheap Diver Home

[Bloodhound]

I use the longest telescoping pole Home Depot sells (usually used with paint rollers) and screw on a bristle scrub brush (fairly stiff brush that I would not use on my teak deck). Takes lots of elbow grease and I sweat like a horse with it in the summer but every 2 to 3 months it keeps the bottom free of algae and crud. I'm in fresh water, so don't know how it might work in salt.

[MC2019]

Yeah it will take bottom paint off .... but that don't keep J-24 guys from doing it

Originally Posted by rhr1956

Oh..I found something. Even though is says to not use in on bottom painted boats, it's interesting. Cheap Diver Home

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by mackconsult

Yeah it will take bottom paint off .... but that don't keep J-24 guys from doing it

Here's what the web site says:

Not recommended for use on boat bottoms with barnacles, rust or sloughing paint.

Most boats do not use sloughing paint and certainly very few racers do. It is likely that the sellers of this device do not know the difference between sloughing paints and ablative paints. I wouldn't recommend using it on either. I have a client who cleans his J/29 with one of these between my dives. It cleans the spots it gets to fairly well. The problem is; there are lots of spots it doesn't get to- at all.

[speciald@ocens.]

Someone used to sell a brush with an adjustable articulated handle for bottom cleaning. Havn't seen one recently.

Try this, (I searched for boat bottom brush)MarineStore.com - Dri-Diver Boat Hull Cleaner - Clean from the dock!

[Cheechako]

Many of the racers used a brush just before the race. Like a pool brush with a curved shaft. and a float to "push" it up against the hull. Mostly just for algae.. It takes some exercise!

[fstbttms]

I'm biased of course, but cleaning a boat bottom from the dock (regardless of device used) is really a half-assed attempt to skirt proper boat maintenance. You are working blind and you will miss spots. There are many other reasons this is not an ideal bottom cleaning method but the most important is that you have almost no control over the amount of pressure you are applying to the scrubber (to say nothing of the coarseness of the cleaning media itself) and are almost certainly not going to be as gentle on the paint as you should be.

[rhr1956]

Now I'm thinking I can put a sweeping bend in the aluminum pool brush pole, slide a noodle down over the pole for flotation and upward pressure. I'll let you know how it works.