SharkVac
Limited evidenceRead the findings →Hayward's simplest pool robot, a corded floor cleaner with a top-loading filter. It suits pools where the mess settles on the floor. It doesn't clean the waterline, and there's very little testing behind it.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Hayward’s range
Feedback
What we know
There's one hands-on source. Pool professional David Van Brunt filmed the US SharkVac in a fibreglass pool for Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) in 2016, and found it picked up dirt and debris well, handled steps without flipping and went about three feet up the walls before turning back. Owner reviews on Sunplay customer reviews mostly agree about the floor, sand included, but split on walls and steps, and one reports an impeller failure after a year. Specs come from Hayward (US) and Hayward (UK).
Good at the floor
Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) found it works really well at picking up dirt and debris, and its programmed turning pattern covers the floor instead of going over the same spots. On Sunplay customer reviews, one owner says it cleaned an 18 × 36 foot pool in under two hours, including sand that had sat near the drain. Another, now on their second SharkVac, has never needed the manual vacuum. None of the sources we found say how it copes with heavy leaf fall.
Walls and steps: owners disagree
Hayward sells it as a floor cleaner, and the US version cleans floors and coves, per Hayward (US). Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) saw it climb about three feet up the walls before coming back, and it had no trouble with steps. Owners on Sunplay customer reviews split: one says theirs does the walls and stairs, another that it cleans neither and gets stuck on the smallest ridge. Pool shape probably decides it, so don't count on walls.
Easy filter, no waterline
Two fine cartridge filters sit in a debris chamber under the top lid, per Hayward (US), and you hose them off without turning the robot over. Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) liked this, and says the filters catch particles down to 5 microns. The European version has a large filter area, per Hayward (UK). What it won't do is scrub the waterline, so you'll still be brushing that by hand.
Durability: one year to many
Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) praised the build and called it a hefty 22 pounds. Owners on Sunplay customer reviews are mostly happy, and one bought a second SharkVac to replace the first. Another says the impeller fans broke exactly a year after purchase and is switching brands. The current US listing gives a three-year parts warranty, per Hayward (US), longer than the one year Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) quoted in 2016.
Pool Man Dave and the Sunplay owners used the US SharkVac (RC9740CUB), which cleans floors and coves. The European SharkVac (RC9743CEBY) is described as a floor cleaner for pools up to 6 × 12 metres.
Our take
Should you buy the SharkVac?
Best for: Pools where leaves and grit settle on the floor. Skip it if: You need it to clean the walls or waterline as well as the floor.
buy it if the mess in your pool settles on the floor and you want something simple to empty. If you want walls and the waterline done, the SharkVac XL Pilot adds both, and the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus has three independent reviews behind it.
The SharkVac is the simplest robot in Hayward's electric range. It plugs into the mains and cleans the floor of an in-ground pool on a two-hour cycle, plus the curved bottom of the walls in the US version. Two fine cartridge filters sit under a lid on top, so you empty it without flipping it over. It does not clean the waterline and there is no app.
We found one video showing it in use. Pool professional David Van Brunt ran the US version in a fibreglass pool for Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) in 2016 and found it picked up dirt and debris well. That is a single video, not a finished test, and owners disagree about whether it copes with walls and steps at all. Everything else comes from Hayward's specifications.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
It's mainly a floor cleaner. The US version cleans floors and coves, per the specifications, and Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) saw it climb about three feet before turning back. It doesn't clean the waterline, and owners on Sunplay customer reviews disagree about whether it manages the walls at all.
Can it cope with steps and a deep end?
Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) found it had no trouble with the steps in a fibreglass pool and it didn't flip over. One owner on Sunplay customer reviews says it cleans their stairs; another says it doesn't and gets stuck on small ridges. Expect results to depend on the shape of your pool.
How do I clean the filter?
Open the lid on top, lift out the debris chamber with its two fine cartridge filters and hose them down, per the specifications. There's no need to turn the robot over, which Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) rated one of its best features.
Does it handle leaves as well as fine dirt?
Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning) says the filters catch particles down to 5 microns, and an owner on Sunplay customer reviews saw it pick up sand near the drain. None of the sources we found cover heavy leaf loads; one owner with no hardwood trees nearby said they couldn't comment.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
No. Hayward lists it for in-ground pools, per the specifications, and the European version for pools up to 6 × 12 metres, per Hayward (UK). For an above-ground pool, look for a lighter robot built for flat floors.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
AquaVac 650
Why consider it: A tested corded Hayward with Wi-Fi control and a filterless canister, and both testers praised its cleaning.
The compromise: Neither tester could make its tug-the-cable recall work.
Nautilus CC Plus
Why consider it: Three independent testers found this corded Dolphin cleans floors and walls quickly, with filters that are easy to empty.
The compromise: It sometimes sticks on steps, and testers disagree about whether it cleans the waterline.
Premier
Why consider it: A long-running corded Dolphin with a choice of filters, including a big leaf bag, and testers rate its waterline scrubbing highly.
The compromise: It has no app, and it's heavy to lift out.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the SharkVac?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Sources
- Sunplay customer reviews: Hayward SharkVAC W3RC9740CUB owner reviews ↗15 reviews, 12 at 5 starsOwner thread
- Hayward (US): SharkVac automatic robotic pool cleaner (RC9740CUB) ↗Manufacturer
- Hayward (UK): SharkVac cleaner product page ↗Manufacturer
- Hayward (UK): SharkVac technical data sheet ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Pool Man Dave (Swimming Pool Learning): Hayward SharkVac robotic pool cleaner review ↗Video · Filmed in a fibreglass pool; US standard SharkVac · A short demo video that mostly walks through the feature list, so we don't count it as a review. (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Myks Garage: Hayward SharkVac Pool Robot Vacuum Cleaner 3 Year Review | How Has This Held Up Over Three Years? ↗
- Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To - SPL: Hayward SharkVac Robotic Pool Cleaner - Review ↗
- Search YouTube for Hayward SharkVac ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.