Keelcrab! (hull cleaning drone)

[RobWales]

Hi all, I'm wondering if any of you have 1st hand experience of the Italian manufactured product called "Keelcrab" ?
Designed as a submersible drone with rotational brushes etc and operated via cable to TV screen with controls.....
Described in it's marketing blurb as a revolution in hull cleaning!
Reason for my asking is that as I'm now living in the Canaries I would see it as a potential small businesses opportunity in offering my services.
Should add though that on looking at a few YouTube vids of it in action I'm yet to be convinced of it's effectiveness hence my question.
Thanks.Rob

 

[Croftie]

Have you seen this thread

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...An-alternative-to-Antifoul&highlight=Keelcrab

 

[Hurricane]

Not seen any videos but, IMHO, keeping the hull clean isn't the problem.
Most antifoul paints do that well enough between lifts.
For me, it is the underwater metalwork that isn't protected.
And I haven't yet found a coating that will go onto the props and stay on long enough to be effective.
We berth in a particularly aggressive area for marine growth.
And as a result, our boatyard gives really cheap lift and scrubs (in fact we get one free each year).
Additional lift and scrubs cost about £150 for a 20m boat.

Even though your lifts/scrubs may be more expensive, I would save your money and put it towards a lift and scrub.
How many Lift/scrubs would you get for the cost of a Keelcrab? - I wonder.
And with a lift/scrub, you would get a much better boat clean.
And a chance to inspect other stuff - anodes etc.

It is a "no brainer" to me.