What is this stuff

[Irish Rover]

Does anyone know what this stuff is? I found6 bottles of it on my recently purchased boat

 

[macd]

Probably hydrochloric acid, AKA muriatic acid. Useful for descaling loos (in moderation), propellors, etc.

Usually sold in a red bottle for obvious reasons.

Image isn't totally clear to me, but in Greek it should be something like: υδροχλωρικό οξύ = ΥΔΡΟΧΛΩΡΙΚΟ ΟΞΥ

P.S. Somewhere on the bottle it should state the concentration percentage. For domestic use, as your bottle seems to be, it's usually somewhere in the range 5 to 12%. Around 38% is as concentrated as HCl gets.

 

[KAL]

Translates as “Hydrochloric Acid Solution”. Mac beat me to it.

 

[Norman_E]

It says 14%, so its quite concentrated stuff. Should do a good job cleaning the propeller.

 

[sailaboutvic]

As Mac said it's H C A We use it a lot on the loo but bewhere it can harm the porcelain.

 

[Irish Rover]

THanks all. Consigned to a safe place ashore as I sometimes have nosey kids on the boat.

 

[Malish]

Note that full blown laboratory standard conc HCl is only about 37% HCl so 14% is quite frisky (as Norman flags)

 

[Irish Rover]

Thanks to all. How about this one? What’s it for and is it safe?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's all Greek to me.

 

[macd]

Thanks to all. How about this one? What’s it for and is it safe?

The main straplines translate (according to Google) as:
SOUZZ
LIQUID FOR GENERAL SETTING
OVERCOMING ECONOMIC PRACTICE

So beware of Greeks bearing gifs. (jpegs are presumably just as bad.)

 

[Norman_E]

As Mac said it's H C A We use it a lot on the loo but bewhere it can harm the porcelain.

Also avoid getting it on any aluminium parts.

 

[vas]

The main straplines translate (according to Google) as:
SOUZZ
LIQUID FOR GENERAL SETTING
OVERCOMING ECONOMIC PRACTICE

So beware of Greeks bearing gifs. (jpegs are presumably just as bad.)

not bad for google translate...

it's a super concentrated, general purpose cleaning liquid, whatever that means. Just use it carefully should be OK but doubt it's got any magic cleaning properties, just a cheapo no name local cleaner.
FWIW, never seen this brand before in my life!

the red one is indeed good for props, that's the main use in a boat down here.

BTW, not following the PBO regularly, if anyone has any greek text to translate, give me a shout I should be able to help.
Talking about modern greek here, my ancient greek is a bit rusty, but doubt you'll need that for a boat thinking about it, if you do have something in ancient greek, I'm afraid I'll have to call the ministry of culture and report you to the police

cheers

V.

 

[Irish Rover]

Thanks again.

 

[Irish Rover]

It says 14%, so its quite concentrated stuff. Should do a good job cleaning the propeller.

OK so I’m lifting the boat tomorrow for painting. The props are badly fouled with barnacles. I still have this 14% concentrate hydrochloric acid so how do I use it to clean the props. What precautions do I need to take. Also any suggestions for getting the little buggers off the sonar transducer without damaging it will be very welcome.

 

[lpdsn]

Also any suggestions for getting the little buggers off the sonar transducer without damaging it will be very welcome.

Ah, what you need is one of them ultrasonic anti-fouling things fitted to your sonar transducer. Erm...

 

[RichardS]

OK so I’m lifting the boat tomorrow for painting. The props are badly fouled with barnacles. I still have this 14% concentrate hydrochloric acid so how do I use it to clean the props. What precautions do I need to take. Also any suggestions for getting the little buggers off the sonar transducer without damaging it will be very welcome.

I just remove my prop and lay it in a shallow dish and pour a little HCL onto it. Use a paintbrush to keep painting the HCL onto the barnacles and they will all dissolve away. It stinks a bit though. I don't wear gloves for this but I do have a bucket of plain water at my side so if I do splash my skin I can wash it off. If you don't, it will start to sting in a few seconds so you will know to wash it off. :encouragement:

If you ignore the stinging and press on, your skin will be beached white on the spots where the acid fell ..... although the white spots do grow out in a couple of weeks.

For the transducer, just paint on the HCL.

I'm assuming your props are not aluminium alloy. If so, you can still use the acid but probably best to dilute it and don't leave it on for too long.

Richard

 

[Irish Rover]

I just remove my prop and lay it in a shallow dish and pour a little HCL onto it. Use a paintbrush to keep painting the HCL onto the barnacles and they will all dissolve away. It stinks a bit though. I don't wear gloves for this but I do have a bucket of plain water at my side so if I do splash my skin I can wash it off. If you don't, it will start to sting in a few seconds so you will know to wash it off. :encouragement:

If you ignore the stinging and press on, your skin will be beached white on the spots where the acid fell ..... although the white spots do grow out in a couple of weeks.

For the transducer, just paint on the HCL.

Richard

Thanks.

 

[vas]

fwiw, I found on a local shop a 33% HCL
bought 4lt of the thing and on the next couple of days I'll try and clean my props with it (but keep fresh water nearby to wash everything off)

and highjacking a bit the thread, should I do something after HCL cleaning before applying VELOX primer on the metals? Trying to have the thing stick to shafts and props if I'm lucky...

cheers

V.

 

[macd]

I found on a local shop a 33% HCL .

eek, indeed. That's strong stuff: 38% is as strong as HCl gets. At those concentrations, it produces an acidic mist which is itself hazardous. Use with care, although it's not exactly weapons-grade: the stuff you bought is routinely used for controlling pH in swimming pools.