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14-05-2012, 23:53
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Boat: 36' Magellan "Steady Beat"
Posts: 186
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Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Hello all, I left the dinghy in the water alongside too long and barnacles took hold. Took it out, scraped, but still have lots of very sharp remains stuck to the underside.
Any advice on how to remove these effectively with minimum damage to the vinyl (and my fingers)?
Thanks, BWS
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15-05-2012, 00:12
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,409
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
I used a piece of wood with a sharp edge
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15-05-2012, 02:25
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#3
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motion30
I used a piece of wood with a sharp edge
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And a lot of elbow grease.
I have had the same problem and it was a lot of effort to get off. I don't leave the dink in the water now and flip her over on the beach more frequently to give her bottom a scrub as well.
If anyone knows a better way I would love to hear it as well
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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15-05-2012, 02:31
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Boat: Canadian Sailcraft 40'
Posts: 7
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
A plastic scraper or an old bank card worked for us (and patience & time)
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15-05-2012, 02:56
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#5
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
try using pure bleach (chlorox),let it sit for a while before attemting to scrape it,and use rubber gloves
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15-05-2012, 03:44
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sant Carles, S Spain
Boat: 30ft Catalac 900 "Rubessa"
Posts: 876
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
If you have a pressure washer, thats the best way IMHO. I had the same problem with my last boat, left the dingy tied to the bow instead of pulling her out all the time and in just over a month it was covered!
The jet wash got all the barnicles off but the vinyl still had marks where they had been which I couldn't remove. At least there is no risk of scratching or even puncturing the dingy with water power.
__________________
Previous owner of a 1994 Catalac 900, now sadly SOLD
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15-05-2012, 03:50
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Poland, EU
Boat: crew on Bavaria 38 Cruiser
Posts: 654
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
In Spain I saw people using Aqua-Forte(sp?) (strong water) - which is 20% hydrochloric acid, diluted 1:1 with water, to get rid of barnacles from hulls and dinghies. Saw this both applied by shipyard professionals and boat owners. Seems to be quite popular method there and is definitely very effective. Gloves and eye protection were used as a rule.
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15-05-2012, 03:58
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrm
In Spain I saw people using Aqua-Forte(sp?) (strong water) - which is 20% hydrochloric acid, diluted 1:1 with water, to get rid of barnacles from hulls and dinghies. Saw this both applied by shipyard professionals and boat owners. Seems to be quite popular method there and is definitely very effective. Gloves and eye protection were used as a rule.
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that definetly works as well as sulfuric acid,though will melt the concrete floor around the dinghy as well
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15-05-2012, 04:14
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sant Carles, S Spain
Boat: 30ft Catalac 900 "Rubessa"
Posts: 876
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Yes, it's commonly used to remove the little buggers from props, rudders, etc. I'm sure it would make short work of them on a dingy, just be ready to wash it all off with plenty of fresh water to stop the dingy dissapearing as well!
__________________
Previous owner of a 1994 Catalac 900, now sadly SOLD
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15-05-2012, 10:16
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 803
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
I used a paint scraper, something like this: 3 in. Flexible Scraper-PT30F at The Home Depot as other stuff, including bleach, didn't work well. Hold it parallel to PVC and scrape gently. Almost no traces left except for some stains here and there. The biggest problem that I noticed after was that PVC in barnacle spots became a bit thinner, not because of scraping but because of barnacles.
Didn't know about sulfuric acid.
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15-05-2012, 10:24
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,453
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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15-05-2012, 10:47
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Vancouver, Wash.
Boat: no longer on my Cabo Rico 38 Sanderling
Posts: 1,810
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
In Trinidad you're pushing your luck if you leave your dink in the water for two weeks.
I used a metal putty knife and a product called On and Off. Many cruisers paint the bottom to the waterline with anti-fouling paint.
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15-05-2012, 11:16
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 329
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Quote:
Originally Posted by John A
In Trinidad you're pushing your luck if you leave your dink in the water for two weeks.
I used a metal putty knife and a product called On and Off. Many cruisers paint the bottom to the waterline with anti-fouling paint.
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Marykate On & Off is a lot like Ospho.
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15-05-2012, 11:23
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Boat: Leopard Catamaran
Posts: 2,572
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Quote:
Originally Posted by atoll
try using pure bleach (chlorox),let it sit for a while before attemting to scrape it,and use rubber gloves
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Bleach and the other chemicals suggested can harm the plastic the dinghy is made of. I assume you want the dinghy left after the barnacles removed?
Vinigar and gently scraping with a soft tool, IE wood, works the best followed by a good washing.
PVC has fair resistance to most mineral acids, like HCL, but I would use dilute, and wash/neutralize after. Vinigar is safer.
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15-05-2012, 12:45
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#15
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: Barnacled soft-bottomed Zodiac
Quote:
Originally Posted by capn_billl
Bleach and the other chemicals suggested can harm the plastic the dinghy is made of. I assume you want the dinghy left after the barnacles removed?
Vinigar and gently scraping with a soft tool, IE wood, works the best followed by a good washing.
PVC has fair resistance to most mineral acids, like HCL, but I would use dilute, and wash/neutralize after. Vinigar is safer.
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i will report back after waging war on the fairly large mussels that must be growing by now
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