GB2411579A

GB2411579A - Boat cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2411579A
Application number: GB0501983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Leonard Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-05
Filing date: 2005-02-01
Publication date: 2005-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-01
Also published as: GB0501983D0; GB0402509D0; GB2411579B

Abstract

A boat cleaning device comprises a floating frame or dock 4, in which a boat 2 can be docked. A cleaning means is mounted movably on the frame and positioned so as to clean the boat below the waterline whilst it is still floating. The cleaning means comprise a nozzle connected to a pump, the pump operating a high pressure fluid through the nozzle, to contact and clean the underside of the boat.

Description

A DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND PAINTING THE

UNDERSIDE OF A BOAT

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and painting the underside of a boat whilst the boat is in water with the underside of the boat being beneath the water line.

A problem with boats that are moored in water is that fouling can attach to, or grow on, the underside of the boat such as the hull, rudder and propeller. Such fouling typically comprises hard barnacles and other living organisms especially seaweed. The effect of fouling is to increase the underwater surface area of the boat which creates drag, reducing performance and increasing fuel consumption.

Traditionally boats having such fouling have been cleaned and painted when the boat is out of water. This may be achieved by lifting the boat out of the water, or waiting until low tide if the boat is moored in tidal waters. This involves inconvenience, time and cost.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for cleaning the underside of a boat whilst the underside of the boat is in the water, the device comprising a floating frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the boat so that the frame is fixed relative to the boat, and cleaning means movably mounted on the frame so as to be positioned beneath the water line and to be movable relative to the boat in such a way that the cleaning means is a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the cleaning means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump high pressure fluid through the nozzle and into contact with the underside of the boat to clean the underside of the boat.

Preferably the floating frame is adapted to extend around the periphery of the boat.

Preferably the floating frame is of modular construction so that the floating frame can be assembled into various sizes by adding frame modules.

Preferably a plurality of struts extend from the floating frame to the boat, each of the struts being provided with fender means that engage the boat and retain the floating frame the predetermined distance from the boat.

Preferably each fender means comprises a resiliently deformable cup operative to resist relative movement between the respective strut and the boat.

Preferably the amount by which each strut extends from the floating frame is adjustable so as to be able to adjust the distance between the floating frame and the boat.

Preferably part of the floating frame comprises horizontal elongate members, the cleaning means comprising a carriage mounted for movement along the elongate members, the carriage carrying the nozzle.

Preferably the carriage is movably mounted on a sub frame, the sub frame being mounted on the floating frame. Most preferably the sub frame is movably mounted on the floating frame. Preferably the sub frame is provided with first horizontal bar means along which the carriage can move from bow to stern of the boat.

Preferably the sub frame further comprises vertical bar means that are moveable relative to the floating frame so that the sub frame and carriage can additionally move from top to bottom of the boat.

Preferably the carriage is provided with second horizontal bar means moveably mounted on the sub frame so that the carriage can additionally move along the second horizontal bar means towards and away from the boat.

Preferably the bar means comprises a respective rail along which the sub frame or carriage can slide.

Alternatively the bar means comprises a rotatable rod, rotation of the rod effecting movement of the sub frame or carriage along the rod.

Preferably the inclination of the nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat is adjustable such that the nozzle can point generally upwardly, generally downwardly or generally horizontally and inclinations between these positions. Preferably the orientation of the nozzle is adjustable so that the nozzle can point generally towards the front of the boat, the rear of the boat or any orientation therebetween.

Preferably control means are provided to control the position, inclination and orientation of the carriage and/or nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat. Preferably the control means are user operated.

Preferably the control means also controls the pump so as to control the pressure and duration of the fluid pumped through the nozzle. The control means thus allows the pump pressure and duration to be varied if necessary.

Preferably camera means are provided beneath the water line to provide an image of the underside of the boat before and after cleaning by the cleaning nozzles. Preferably the camera means are mounted on the carriage.

Preferably the device further comprises painting means secured on the carriage so as to be positioned beneath the water line, a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the painting means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump paint through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat so as to paint the underside of the boat.

Preferably the painting means comprises a hollow container having a mouth adapted to be sealed to the underside of the boat, the container having a compressed air inlet and a paint inlet, in use the container being pumped with compressed air to displace the sea water within the container, and then paint being pumped through the paint inlet through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat.

Preferably the paint inlet is connected to a plurality of paint supplies.

Preferably the paint is a quick drying paint or a type of paint that can be applied under water. Most preferably the paint is a quick drying antifouling paint.

Preferably the floating frame extends along both sides of the boat, the device comprising one or more carriages mounted on the frame on each side of the boat.

Preferably the carriages on both sides of the boat, in use, move substantially simultaneously.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein. The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat cleaning device in accordance with the present invention with a boat in situ; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the boat cleaning device of Figure 1 with some components removed for clarity; Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the device shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of another part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of another part of the device shown in Figure l, and Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the part of the device shown in Figure 5.

Referring initially to Figure l, a device 1 for cleaning the underside of a boat 2 comprises a modular peripheral frame 3 that extends around the periphery of the boat 2.

The frame 3 comprises a plurality of interconnected frame modules 4.

Each module 4 is of cuboid shape defined by eight or more horizontal members 5 and four vertical members 7 arranged in rectangular formation as can be seen from Figure 2. The modules 4 are secured together using bolts or quick release clamps or any other suitable means so that the modules 4 together form a rectangle that surrounds the boat 2.

Each module 4 further comprises a sub frame 9 comprising two spaced apart vertical ladder frames 11 joined together by at least two horizontal cross bars 13. Additional horizontal bars 13 can be used as required to ensure sufficient structural rigidity of the sub frame 9.A horizontal x- axis runner 14 is attached to the outer horizontal cross bar 13. The sub frame 9 is mounted on the module 4 so as to be moveable vertically up and down the module 4 and also to move horizontally along the module 4, towards and away from the boat 2. The ladder frames 11 act as runners mounted on some of the horizontal members 5 of the module 4 to allow the vertical movement, whilst some of the horizontal members 5 act as runners to permit the horizontal movement. Thus the sub frame 9 lO can be moved to a position adjacent to each end of the module 4 and has two degrees of freedom.

Each module 4 further comprises four struts 15 that are slidably mounted on members 5, 7 of the module 4 so as to be moveable towards and away from the boat 2. It will be appreciated that any suitable number of struts 15 can alternatively be used including, for example, only one strut 15. Upper struts 15 are mounted on horizontal members 5 and lower struts 15 are mounted on vertical members 7 where the strut position is adjustable. The end of each strut 15 nearest the boat 2 is provided with a fender 17 that may, for example, comprise a resiliently deformable cup that is operative to abut the boat 2 by pushing the cup towards the boat 2, the air in the cup acting as a cushion between the boat and the respective strut 15. The other end of each strut 15 is provided with an end stop 19. Each fender 17 can alternatively comprise any suitable means to releasably secure the boat 2 to the frame 3, or simply to abut against the boat 2. It is envisaged that each fender 17 could alternatively comprise an airbag or air filled capsule, or simply a padded plate.

Locking means are provided to lock each strut 15 in a predetermined position relative to the frame 3 and boat 2. The locking means can comprise a plurality of bores 21 formed in each strut 15 and a pin 23 dimensioned to be received in a particular bore 21 so that the pin 23 engages part of the frame 3 to resist movement of the strut 15 relative to the frame 3. This can be seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

Alternatively, each strut 15 is "roughed, and a locking element is provided having spaced apart legs dimensioned to slot into one of the troughs and to engage part of the frame 3. Any suitable locking means can alternatively be provided to lock the struts 15 in position relative to the boat 2 and the frame 3. When so locked, the frame 3 is fixed relative to the boat 2 so that the distance between the boat 2 and the frame 3 is fixed.

Referring additionally to Figure 4, a carriage 25 is mounted on the horizontal x-axis runner 14 of the sub frame 9 for horizontal movement between each of the frame modules 4. The carriage 25 is also mounted for horizontal movement towards and away from the boat 2.

The carriage 25 comprises two spaced apart beams 26 that are movably mounted on the x-axis runner 14 of the sub frame 9 and a platform 27 mounted on the beams 26. The platform 27 is provided with cleaning means 29, painting means (not shown), and camera means (not shown).

The cleaning means comprises a high pressure water nozzle 29 that is connected to a pump 33 by fluid supply lines. The nozzle 29 can be a single or multijet nozzle or a rotating turbo nozzle and is directed generally towards the boat 2. A rotating turbo nozzle incorporates rotating blades that cause rapid pulsing of the water which results in the effective water pressure at the nozzle increasing by up to approximately 70o over that of a standard nozzle. The horizontal orientation of the nozzle 29 can be adjusted so that the nozzle 29 points to the bow or stern of the boat 2, and the inclination of the nozzle 29 can also be adjusted so that the nozzle 29 points up to the top of the boat or down to the underside of the boat 2.

The painting means comprises a hollow, flexible container provided with one open side which faces the boat 2. The container is provided with a compressed air intake and a paint intake which allow compressed air and paint respectively into the container. The intakes are connected, by supply lines, to a compressed air and paint supply. The container is mounted on the platform 27.

Additionally a camera is mounted on the platform 27 so as to provide pre cleaning and post cleaning images of the area of the boat 2 to which the cleaning means and the painting means are directed.

The nozzle 29 of the cleaning means is connected to pump 33 via high pressure fluid supply lines. A control valve arrangement as is well known is provided to control the pump 33 and the supply of high pressure fluid to the cleaning nozzle 29. The pump 33 and control valves are located in a support boat 31 and the pump 33 is operative to draw water from the water on which the boat 2 and support boat 31 are floating and through a protective strainer before pumping the fluid at high pressure to the cleaning nozzle 29.

The paint nozzle is connected to a paint supply on the support boat 31 via paint supply lines, the compressed air nozzle is also connected to a compressed air supply on the support boat 31 via compressed air supply lines, and the camera is connected to a monitor on the support boat 31 via power supply lines. All of the supply lines are contained within a single piece of tubing that links the boat 2 to be cleaned, and the support boat 31. This helps minimise snagging of the various cables.

It will be appreciated that the above described sub frames 9, carriage 25, cleaning means, painting means and camera are repeated on both sides of the boat 2 and are adapted to be operated simultaneously.

A control means is provided on the support boat 31 to control the supply of high pressure water, compressed air, and paint and the operation of the camera. In addition the control means controls the vertical and horizontal position of the carriages 25 relative to the frame 3 and boat 2 and thus the position of the cleaning and painting means. In addition the control means controls the horizontal orientation and inclination of the cleaning means the painting means and the camera. The control means thus may comprise a data processor of any suitable type.

In use, the frame modules 4 are assembled around the periphery of the boat 2 using the support boat 31 to form a rectangular frame 3 when viewed in plan. The fenders 11, which may be, for example, in the form of resiliently deformable cups, are then slid towards the side of the boat 2 and pressed against the underside of the boat to resist movement of the boat relative to the respective frame module 4. The resiliently deformable cups are mounted on the frame 3 such that the suction cups are secured to the boat 2 at or near the waterline, and also at the keel of the boat 2. This prevents the boat 2 leaning relative to the frame 3. The struts 15 are all extended such that the distance between the boat 2 and the frame 3 is uniform about the periphery of the boat 2. The locking means that may be the hole and pin arrangement is used to secure the struts 15 in the correct position.

The cleaning means, painting means and cameras are initially located at the bow of the boat 2 as shown in Figure 1. The user can use the control means to move the nozzle 29 of the cleaning means to a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat (by adjusting the position of the carriage 25 relative to the sub frame 9, or the sub frame 9 relative to the frame module 4). The container of the painting means is positioned in contact with the underside of the boat so that the open side of the container is located on the underside of the boat 2. The user uses the camera to accurately position the cleaning means and the painting means.

The user then uses the control means to apply a predetermined water pressure from the pump 33 to the cleaning nozzle 29, the water from which is incident on the underside of the boat 2 and cleans fouling from the underside of the boat 2.

The control means then moves the cleaning means along the underside of the boat 2 towards the stern so as to clean the length of the boat 2. This process can be repeated by adjusting the position of the cleaning means so that all of the underside of the boat 2 is cleaned. The control means ensures that the same process occurs on the other side of the boat 2 even though the user may only be controlling the cleaning means on one side of the boat.

The movement of the cleaning means along the boat 2 is achieved by moving the carriage 25 horizontally from one frame module 4 to the other.

When the carriage 25 reaches the adjacent frame module 4, the carriage 25 is moved away from the boat 2 so as to not extend from the part of the frame 3 nearest the boat 2. It will be appreciated that the carriage 25 is small enough to be of lesser width than the width of each frame module 4 and so can be retracted so as to be contained within the uprights of each frame module 4.

To move the carriage 25 from one module 4 to the adjacent module 4, the carriage 25 is retracted so as to be contained within the uprights of the frame module 4. The carriage 25 is then moved from one sub frame 9 to the adjacent sub frame 9, along the x-axis runner 14 of the sub frame 9.

The adjacent sub frame 9, with carriage 25 now mounted thereon is then moved towards the edge of the frame 3 nearest the boat 2. The carriage 25 can then be moved towards the boat 2 along the sub frame 9 and the cleaning and painting process can be repeated with the carriage 25 moving along the sub frame 9 from one end of the sub frame 9 to the other. The inclination and direction of the cleaning nozzle 29 can be adjusted as desired.

The distance between the frame front cross section 5 and the bow of the boat 2 is adjustable (see Figure 5), so as to allow the complete frame 3 to be moved forwards or backwards relative to the boat 2. This allows the cleaning means and the painting means access to those parts of the underside of the boat 2 which would otherwise be masked by the various inner vertical members of the frame modules 4.

Additionally, a submerged airbag running the length of each frame module 4 (not illustrated) allows, when the air bag is either partially or totally inflated with compressed air, the frame 3 to be slightly raised, allowing the cleaning means and painting means access to those parts of the underside of the boat 2 which would otherwise be masked by various inner horizontal members 5 of the frame modules 4.

The container of the painting means is located behind the cleaning means throughout the above process. Compressed air is fed into the container and the compressed air serves to displace the water from the container.

A drain in the container is provided for this purpose. The compressed air also serves to dry the area of the underside of the boat 2 that is contained within the container. The compressed air itself is continuously pumped into the container and escapes via the seal between the container and the underside of the boat 2. Quick drying antifouling paint is then pumped through the paint nozzle and is incident on the dried area of the underside of the boat 2.

The speed at which the cleaning means and painting means move along the length of the boat 2 is controlled by the control means such that sufficient fouling is cleaned off the boat 2 and so that the paint applied in the container dries before being wetted again.

The cameras allow the user to view the condition of the boat hull before and after cleaning as well as allowing care to be taken when cleaning parts of the boat hull that may be vulnerable to damage from the high pressure jet of the cleaning means, eg the stern shaft seal, the propeller, and the log impeller. The cameras also allow visual control of the painting process.

As there are frame modules 4 extending the entire length of the boat 2, the entire length of the boat 2 can be cleaned and/or painted. Indeed the end modules 4 extend beyond the bow and stern of the boat 2 and thus the bow and stern of the boat 2 can also be cleaned by appropriate adjustment of the horizontal cleaning nozzle direction.

Because the frame 3 is modular, any number of frame modules 4 can be used as required dependent on the length of boat being cleaned. Each module 4 attaches to adjacent modules using any known attachment means which may include spring clips, quick release clips, bolts or any suitable clamp arrangement.

It will be appreciated that the adjustable fenders l l on movable struts 15 allow the frame 3 to be positioned as close to or as far away from the boat 2 as desired. Because of the sub frames 9 moveably mounted on each frame module 4, and the carriage 25 moveably mounted on a sub frame 9 and transferable to adj acent sub frames 9, the position of the cleaning nozzle 29, painting means and camera can be adjusted with 3 degrees of freedom, ie in the x (bow to stern), y (up and down) and z (towards or away from the boat 2) directions. In addition the cleaning nozzle 29 can be adjusted by rotation about the x- and y-axis, ie the nozzle 29 itself has another two degrees of freedom. This allows the cleaning means to be accurately positioned and directed so as to be able to efficiently clean all areas of the underside of the boat 2 including the bow and stern areas. Each degree of freedom is controlled by the user, using the control means on the support boat 31.

Any suitable means can be provided to move the sub frame 9 relative to the main frame 3, the carriage 25 relative to the sub frame 9, and the nozzle 29 relative to the carriage 25. Such means can include, pulleys, electric motors, solenoids, hydraulics, pneumatics, a head of water such as a head of seawater or any combination of these.

All of the paint supplies, pumps and control means are located in the support boat 31. There may be a paint supply for each colour or type of paint used.

The use of cleaning means etc on each side of the boat 2 in geometrically similar positions ensures that the boat 2 does not moves sideways uncontrollably when the cleaning operation is in use. A balancing valve is additionally provided to alter the pressure of fluid being applied to each side of the boat 2 to provide further control in this regard.

The sub frame 9, carriage 25 and the nozzle 29 can move along the main frame 3, sub frame 9 and carriage 25 respectively by sliding movement, by means of a rack and pinion type mechanism, by means of a screw and rotating thread mechanism or by any other suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning the underside of a boat whilst the underside of the boat is in the water, the device comprising a floating frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the boat so that the frame is fixed relative to the boat, and cleaning means movably mounted on the frame so as to be positioned beneath the water line and to be movable relative to the boat in such a way that the cleaning means is a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the cleaning means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump high pressure fluid through the nozzle and into contact with the underside of the boat to clean the underside of the boat.

2. The device of claim I wherein the floating frame is adapted to extend around the periphery of the boat.

3. The device of claim I and claim 2 wherein the floating frame is of modular construction so that the floating frame can be assembled into various sizes by adding frame modules.

4. The device of any one of claims l to 3 wherein a plurality of struts extend from the floating frame to the boat, each of the struts being provided with fender means that engage the boat and retain the floating frame the predetermined distance from the boat.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each fender means comprises a resiliently deformable cup operative to resist relative movement between the respective strut and the boat.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the amount by which each strut extends from the floating frame is adjustable so as to be able to adjust the distance between the floating frame and the boat.

7. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein part of the floating frame comprises horizontal elongate members, the cleaning means comprising a carriage mounted for movement along the elongate members, the carriage carrying the nozzle.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the carriage is movably mounted on a sub frame, the sub frame being mounted on the floating frame.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the sub frame is movably mounted on the floating frame.

10. The device of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the sub frame is provided with first horizontal bar means along which the carriage can move from bow to stern of the boat.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the sub frame further comprises vertical bar means that are moveable relative to the floating frame so that the sub frame and carriage can additionally move from top to bottom of the boat.

12. The device of claim to or claim 11 wherein the carriage is provided with second horizontal bar means moveably mounted on the sub frame so that the carriage can additionally move along the second horizontal bar means towards and away from the boat.

13. The device of any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the bar means comprises a respective rail along which the sub frame or carriage can slide.

14. The device of any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the bar means comprises a rotatable rod, rotation of the rod effecting movement of the sub frame or carriage along the rod.

15. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the inclination of the nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat is adjustable such that the nozzle can point generally upwardly, generally downwardly or generally horizontally and inclinations between these positions.

l 6. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the orientation of the nozzle is adjustable so that the nozzle can point generally towards the front of the boat, the rear of the boat or any orientation therebetween.

17. The device of any one of claims 7 to 16 wherein control means are provided to control the position, inclination and orientation of the carriage and/or nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the control means are user operated.

19. The device of claim 17 or claim lS wherein the control means also controls the pump so as to control the pressure and duration of the fluid pumped through the nozzle.

20. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein camera means are provided beneath the water line to provide an image of the underside of the boat before and after cleaning by the cleaning nozzles.

21. The device of claim 20 as dependent on any one of the claims 7 to 19 wherein the camera means are mounted on the carriage.

22. The device of any one of the preceding claims further comprising painting means secured on the carriage so as to be positioned beneath the water line, a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the painting means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump paint through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat so as to paint the underside of the boat.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the painting means comprises a hollow container having a mouth adapted to be sealed to the underside of the boat, the container having a compressed air inlet and a paint inlet, in use the container being pumped with compressed air to displace the sea water within the container, and then paint being pumped through the paint inlet through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the paint inlet is connected to a plurality of paint supplies.

25. The device of any one of claims 7 to 24 wherein the floating frame extends along both sides of the boat, the device comprising one or more carriages mounted on the frame on each side of the boat.

26. A device for cleaning the underside of a boat substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

I . .

. . . ... , . ( , 1

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the carriages on both sides of the boat, in use, move substantially simultaneously.

27. A device for cleaning the underside of a boat substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A device for cleaning the underside of a boat whilst the underside of the boat is in the water, the device comprising a floating frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the boat so that the frame is fixed relative to the boat, and cleaning means movably mounted on the frame so as to be positioned beneath the water line and to be movable relative to the boat in such a way that the cleaning means is a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the cleaning means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump high pressure fluid through the nozzle and into contact with the underside of the boat to clean the underside of the boat, the floating frame being of modular construction so that the floating frame can be assembled into various sizes by adding frame modules.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a plurality of struts extend from the floating frame to the boat, each of the struts being provided with fender means that engage the boat and retain the floating frame the predetermined distance from the boat.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each fender means comprises a resiliently deformable cup operative to resist relative movement between the respective strut and the boat.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the amount by which each strut extends from the floating frame is adjustable so as to be able to adjust the distance between the floating frame and the boat. ( . it

6. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein part of the floating frame comprises horizontal elongate members, the cleaning means comprising a carriage mounted for movement along the elongate members, the carriage carrying the nozzle.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the carriage is movably mounted on a sub frame, the sub frame being mounted on the floating frame.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the sub frame is movably mounted on the floating frame.

9. The device of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the sub frame is provided with first horizontal bar means along which the carriage can move from bow to stern of the boat.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the sub frame further comprises vertical bar means that are moveable relative to the floating frame so that the sub frame and carriage can additionally move from top to bottom of the boat.

11. The device of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the carriage is provided with second horizontal bar means moveably mounted on the sub frame so that the carriage can additionally move along the second horizontal bar means towards and away from the boat.

12. The device of any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the bar means comprises a respective rail along which the sub frame or carriage can slide.

13. The device of any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the bar means comprises a rotatable rod, rotation of the rod effecting movement of the sub frame or carriage along the rod.

14. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the inclination of the nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat is adjustable such that the nozzle can point generally upwardly, generally downwardly or generally horizontally and inclinations between these positions.

15. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the orientation of the nozzle is adjustable so that the nozzle can point generally towards the front of the boat, the rear of the boat or any orientation therebetween.

16. The device of any one of claims 6 to 15 wherein control means are provided to control the position, inclination and orientation of the carriage and/or nozzle relative to the floating frame and the boat.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the control means are user operated.

18. The device of claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the control means also controls the pump so as to control the pressure and duration of the fluid pumped through the nozzle.

19. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein camera means are provided beneath the water line to provide an image of the underside of the boat before and after cleaning by the cleaning nozzles.

( .. . . 20. The device of cl aim 19 as dependent on any one of the claims 6 to 18 wherein the camera means are mounted on the carriage.

21. The device of any one of the preceding claims further comprising painting means secured on the carriage so as to be positioned beneath the water line, a predetermined distance from the underside of the boat, the painting means comprising a nozzle connected to a pump operative to pump paint through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat so as to paint the underside of the boat.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the painting means comprises a hollow container having a mouth adapted to be sealed to the underside of the boat, the container having a compressed air inlet and a paint inlet, in use the container being pumped with compressed air to displace the sea water within the container, and then paint being pumped through the paint inlet through the nozzle and onto the underside of the boat.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the paint inlet is connected to a plurality of paint supplies.

24. The device of any one of claims 6 to 23 wherein the floating frame extends along both sides of the boat, the device comprising one or more carriages mounted on the frame on each side of the boat.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the carriages on both sides of the boat, in use, move substantially simultaneously.