Favorite Barnacle tool?

[Gallivanters]

If you're berthed in water where extreme growth is a problem - jump over the side with a heavy duty trash bag and a plastic zip tie and "bag" the prop.

Carefully pull the bag around the prop and then zip it around the shaft.

This will absolutely prevent fouling from marine growth.

Obviously - you'll want to remove the bag before casting your lines. Duh.

I use heavy duty black lawn & garden bags and attach a reminder note to my key.

Use "parot nose" wire cutters to cut the zip tie and remove the bag.

It takes about a minute and two breaths of air to install... and half that to remove.

Capt Kirk ~~~_/) ~~~ s/v GALLIVANTER ~~~ St Thomas

PS - People have suggested I pour a cup of bleach into the bag for long term storage and Aye suppose it couldn't hurt...

[Tropic Cat]

I usually have a least 1 manatee lounging between my hulls. They're big (600 lbs +)and slimey. I'd prefer to take a dip once a month and scrape a bit rather than play with them every time I go sailing.

Rick in florida

[Gallivanters]

Rick in Florida

Yes - thats the tool.

It's the best I've found for general underwater scraping & cleaning.

Thanks,

Kirk

[Seafarer24]

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

I hope you mean "vegetable oil" and not 10W30? We've used air tools underwater servicing docks, boats & buoys for years and we've used vegetable oil on them. Makes the lil' sea creatures happier than dumping the ole' 10W30 in their environment.

Yes, veggie oil. Specifically used veggie oil from McDonalds or Burger King, thoroughly strained through coffee filters. He kept a couple 5-gallon paint-buckets aboard for the various tools

[Brent Swain]

I once found a plastic gerry can in the dumpster with barnacles growing inside. Nobody wanted it because they couldn't figure out how to remove the barnacles . I put a cup of muriatic acid in , screwed the lid on , swished it around, and left it overnight . By morning the barnacles and their bases were totally gone. I've used it ever since.Acid disolves everything including the bases. It's only calcium.
A putty spreader works well.
Brent