Barnacle removal advice

[Dave2]

This has probably been covered before but I have done a search and come up blank. I am a new boaty and my new pride and joy (a 1997 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer) has quite a cover of barnacles etc. The locals in my area (Egypt) are somewhat primitive when it comes to these things so I do not want their advice. Rather than an expensive phone call, could my fellow boaties provide some advice here for all to see on the best methods to remove barnacles and other fouling from a fibreglass hull?
Thanks.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

What wont come off with a high pressure washer, you're going to have scrape off by hand. For the sterngear, in the South of France, I've seen them use hydrochloric acid which works brill

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[tcm]

Re: hydrochloric acid - remember the filters

If you are in a high barnacle area, don't forget the filters. I did, nearly, and they flippin fur up quite badly. There need an acid bath perhaps twice a year to ensure decent flow. The acid is cheap as chips in Castorama, bosh a couple of inches in a bucket downwind and spin it round wiv a stick.

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[chippie]

My boat had a healthy covering of barnacles when I hauled her out.
I had made up a scraper fastened to a length of old broomhandle about 4' long overall, the blade was made out of a steel 2kn nail plate about 6" wide and four inches high by about1.5- 2mm thick.I radiused the corners so there would be no gouging and attacked the hull in a diagonal direction which presented a flatter surface to the scraper. The broomstick was tapered flat on the working end.
The two handed operation and the wideish blade makes short work of shaving the barnacles if it is done immediately the boat is taken out of the water. I pressure washed her after that which made the job as easy as it was ever going to be. Dont let the little beggars dry out!

I hope this is of some assistance, Good Luck.

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[chippie]

My boat had a healthy covering of barnacles when I hauled her out.
I had made up a scraper fastened to a length of old broomhandle about 4' long overall, the blade was made out of a steel 2kn nail plate about 6" wide and four inches high by about1.5- 2mm thick.I radiused the corners so there would be no gouging and attacked the hull in a diagonal direction which presented a flatter surface to the scraper. The broomstick was tapered flat on the working end.
The two handed operation and the wideish blade makes short work of shaving the barnacles if it is done immediately the boat is taken out of the water. I pressure washed her after that which made the job as easy as it was ever going to be. Dont let the little beggars dry out!

I hope this is of some assistance, Good Luck.

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[Artie]

Bleach in a spray bottle. Spray - leave for 10 mins and scrape of easily what doesn't drop off.

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[Dave2]

Thanks everyone for the input. I assumed that it would probably get down to scraping at some stage. I will try the high pressure washer (if I can find one here - unlikely) and then scrape. I wasnt sure whether a metal scraper used carefully, or a strong plastic scraper should be used but it seems that a carefully used metal scraper will be ok. I will test the bleach theory on a small part to see how it goes.
Thanks again.

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[pt8]

As soon as she is lifted, tackle the barnacles with the back of a garden hoe - it works a treat. But don't apply too much pressure as you could damage the gelcoat.

Rose

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[tcm]

Re: are you serious?

ooer it sounds as though you leave the boat in the water where there are barnacles and then hack away at the gelcoat: this is def not recommended. Paint the gelcoat with antifoul, which you can hack at a bit with the garden hoe. use eroding antifould and they may drop off of their own accord (but they may not)

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