Seeking Input for DIY Propeller Cleaning Tool – Master's Thesis Research Survey

Hello everyone,

I’m currently working on my master’s thesis and am researching a DIY solution for boaters to clean their propellers while afloat. The goal is to create an efficient, cost-effective tool that can be used without needing to haul out the boat or hire a diver.

As part of my research, I’m gathering feedback from boaters, divers, and anyone with experience in marine maintenance. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the following:

1. How do you manage propeller fouling?
   
   
2. Would you consider using a DIY tool to clean your propeller without removing the boat from the water?
   
   
3. What features would make such a tool most attractive to you?
   
   
4. What do you think would be a fair price for a reliable and easy-to-use device?
   
   
5. Any tips, insights, or personal experiences you’d like to share?
   

If you have a few minutes, I would greatly appreciate it if you could participate in my short survey. Your input will be incredibly valuable to my research and will help shape the future of DIY boat maintenance.

Survey Link: Willingness to Pay for a DIY Propeller Cleaner https://forms.gle/xNUzo9jVz6mH88W97

Thank you in advance for your time and help!

 

Here in Minnesota, prop fouling is never considered; the boating season is short and boats are hauled every 5-6 months as a standard.

Since it is not much an issue, answering more than me answering #1 seems silly, but I will offer some thoughts.

I would not want a powered device. I believe your tool is not. This is good, but I can’t see barnacles getting removed, so it seems a little wimpy.

The device needs to stow easily.

I think a fair price is somewhere around $100 US, and a good price to avoid being undercut. Probably the Chinese are already gobbling up your intellectual concepts and will have it available next week. No, not a political post; they are just good at taking others ideas to market

Ease of use matters a lot. I’m not quite sure I understand how you locate the prop well. And, you also need to device to be buoyant because holding it up will be very hard.

The other issue is skeg near prop awash in growth and left that way is not good; so best way is to clean more vs less. The device might need to do more than the prop for best effect.

Anyhow, I’m not sure your tool will do enough to beat diving or hauling.

 

In the tropics, propeller cleaning means vigorous scraping to remove barnacles and hard coral like growth, followed by harsh scrubbing with a rough abrasive pad.
I can say with some authority that the brushing device you’re presenting is useless against that type of growth.
It might be somewhat useful against slimy growth and what appears to be spongy growth, that is if you can even locate the propeller with the tool from above the waterline, and maintain contact with the intended target through multiple strokes.
I have brainstormed the subject, and the best idea I’ve had is a set of rotating roller brushes with abrasive balls on the bristles like you’d see on a cylinder hone. (Have a go at that, China!)
Still not likely to be able to reach in near the hub, or be operated from the dock.

 

What you show is not more than what running the boat for a short time would clean. Slime is not really an issue; hard growth is. A brush won't clean hard growth, it has to be scraped. Your product has to compete with coatings that prevent growth like: https://www.bottompaintstore.com/PropGlide