Calling all chemists/limescale solution

Yes, we do cook chips on board! We have over 5' from the hob to the headlining and it is nowhere near a problem temperature-wise. Pain to dispose of the oil, later, tho', --- other than down the loo!
 
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... ... Pain to dispose of the oil, later, tho', --- other than down the loo!

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Here in Gran Canaria and I believe in the Spanish mainland the solution to use and available in large supermarkets such as Spar is called Aqua Fuerte in 1 litre bottles. In my experience vinegar does not seem to have any great effect on pipe limescale. Although using it every couple of weeks we still bunged up after 1 year in the main discharge pipe. Aqua Fuerte poured into the system and left to do its work cleared out all the gunge. Its quite a sight to watch it bubbling away.
A number of the Spanish sailers swear by it.
 
HCl in Spain, in the supermarket for 10% is less than €1 per litre, and in Italy for 5% is typically €0.60 per litre but you can get it for €0.39 on offer. It is also suitable for descaling kettles. I make up a dilute solution for general descaling which is used in the kitchen in the same way that Viakell is used (at a fraction of the price!).
 
I've just bought some Brick cleaner, (16% HCL), to get the remnants of Syracusa harbour off my prop. Makes the barnacle and worm type things bubble away briefly, but it has taken about 4 copious sprayings to get near to being able to sand the balance.

I would guess it could be good enough to keep scale at bay in a discharge pipe, but I dont think it would break it down once it has reached a certain thickness.
 
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I would guess it could be good enough to keep scale at bay in a discharge pipe, but I dont think it would break it down once it has reached a certain thickness.

[/ QUOTE ]It's partly mechanical, I think. Some is dissolved and then a lot more flakes off inside and is pumped out. Try it. At 16% it should be fuming (the Spanish 10% fumes slightly) so if it isn't fuming it is not 16% (might be old stock, or out of spec). As I said earlier, with fuming, 1/4 litre in a full Jabsco bowl of HOT water and pump through slowly, and leave for a few hours. Repeat half a dozen times if you are in real trouble and you should get back into service again.
 
I know brick cleaner is available in the hardware store but haven't looked at the concentration. I use Hydrochloric Acid 32% as part of the "feeding" of my swimming pool here. Is it safe to dilute that with water on a 3:1 basis and use it in my boat heads in the same way as you and others are suggesting using HCI?
 
Yes, but always add acid to water and not water to acid. i.e. take 2/3 litre of water and THEN add 1/3 litre of acid to the water.
 
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