Waterline Brush

[osprey877]

I am looking for a DIY design or ideas for fabricating a brush that I can clean my waterline while standing above it on deck. It would need to have a large curve in to reach under the tumblehome, especially at stern, and preferably a swiveling brush head. I have seen a number of home built ones, some using jointed pvc pipe, others bent aluminum tubing. Before trying to Mcgyver my own version, I thought I’d see if anyone has any ideas, perhaps some pics, of one that works. Thanks

[HankOnthewater]

Like you, I have seen some home concoctions.
As far as I know, none of these worked very well, as one cannot apply pressure to the brush head, I would think.
And.... that is another piece of equipment one has to carry on board

What about using a hand brush from the dinghy? Or if the water is warm enough, and in the absence of bity animals, go for a swim around the boat with a hand brush?

[Stu Jackson]

You get some PVC pipe and assemble it, tie some empty plastic bottles for flotation and you're done. Like this:

[Uncle Bob]

Perhaps one of the variations of a turks head brush fitted to a painters pole/broom handle ?

[Tupaia]

A line from the toe rail provides a fulcrum to a broom used from a dinghy.


Often thought about an upside down mechanical car wash arrangement.

What about a swimming pool crawler cleaner, on a tether so it didn't go off and clean the boat next door.

[Weatherbird]

I can't find a picture but the best I've used had a flexible piece of plastic about 1' wide and 3' long with an abrasive pad covering one side and 1' sections of foam tubing spaced along it crosswise. A straight pole is attached to one end. You push it down the side of the boat with the foam floats keep it pinned to the hull and the flexible plastic allowing it to conform to the hull shape. You could get everything but the keel for the boat it was for. I don't think it would be as effective of you have a hard chine.

[osprey877]

Some good ideas above. I think I will try some variation of the flexible brush with floats attached. Thanks to all who responded.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by Weatherbird

I can't find a picture but the best I've used had a flexible piece of plastic about 1' wide and 3' long with an abrasive pad covering one side and 1' sections of foam tubing spaced along it crosswise. A straight pole is attached to one end. You push it down the side of the boat with the foam floats keep it pinned to the hull and the flexible plastic allowing it to conform to the hull shape. You could get everything but the keel for the boat it was for. I don't think it would be as effective of you have a hard chine.

I saw a commercial version of that somewhere a few years ago. No link.

[deblen]

https://www.amazon.ca/Pool-Brushes-S...n%3A6307597011


https://www.thespruce.com/best-robot...eaners-4682659

https://www.thespruce.com/best-robot...eaners-4682659


No personal experience with any of above./Len

[wefleenor]

You might consider placing a fin on the brush-head end that would force the brish against the hull as you push down.

[HopCar]

ShurHold makes a curved adapter to use with their handles and brushes.
https://shurhold.com/products/curved...RoCNCwQAvD_BwE

[John_Trusty]

What Weatherbird described is a Dri-Diver, discussed in this old thread: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ing-16851.html

Apparently still sold by Henderson Marine: https://www.hendersonmarine.com/products-dri-diver.htm

I’ve used one on a friends racing boat before each race. It does wear the paint, and he had hard paint. Frequent use would flat remove ablative paint. It’s fairly easy to position the aluminum pole then force the thing up and down in the water. The flotation applies all the pressure. Pad is about 9 inches by 3 feet. Perhaps 15 min to scrub the waterline of a 32 ft sailboat down about 4 feet.

[CyKlop]

There is always flossing - a long loop of cloth that goes completely under your boat and around to the other side that you pull back and forth in a "sawing" motion, as well.

[Dr. D]

Scrubbis works great.

[ArmyDaveNY]

In addition to the ideas mentioned above, if you are passage making or sailing often, you can tie a line and let it float alongside the hull for a while while sailing. The motion of the line will clean waterline over time. Obviously you don't want to overdo it and wear away the gel coat, but it does work.