Visit our Popular Forums

SmartMove · 07-09-2013, 12:36

Yes, it's true, our dirty little secret is out -- we have barnacles!

We have mostly been on the move, but sat for two week in St. Lucia. Since leaving St. Lucia we have never sat longer than four days because we need to get offshore and make water and dump tanks. We are usually sailing for 7-8 hours while we do this.

We have an abladive paint, Interlux's Micron 66. Should I be trying to get them off? If so what is the best way to minimize damage to the paint? They are not thick -- yet, and mostly just below the waterline on the back 2/3-1/2 of the boat.

Your trusty sidekick,
Robyn

Cheechako · 07-09-2013, 12:47

A good scraping with a spatula is in order! Especially check your prop.

MARC D · 07-09-2013, 13:34

I use my xtra long BBQ spatula. Don't have to put any pressure on the tool, sharp SS blade lift barnacles without removing any paint!

And with mask and snorkel, the long handle covers a lot of hull.

**Hud3** · 07-09-2013, 14:16

The sooner you scrape them the easier it will be. Wait, and they'll set themselves like concrete.

I used Micron 66 when we cruised down there, and it worked very well--I'd get a couple of years out of it. I did get a few crustaceans near the waterline at the aft section of the boat near the end of the cycle. I guess the ablative thinned out there due to turbulence when underway.

zeehag · 07-09-2013, 14:44

plastic scraper. works well. but ye gotta swim a little. under water, even.

MarkJ · 07-09-2013, 14:59

Scrape lightly!

There ain't no use in scraping off paint thats $300 per gallon.

SmartMove · 07-09-2013, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheechako

A good scraping with a spatula is in order! Especially check your prop.

Prop's got Prop Speed on it, no barnacles there -- too bad I can't use that for bottom paint, LOL.

SmartMove · 07-09-2013, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Scrape lightly!

There ain't no use in scraping off paint thats $300 per gallon.

+1 on that! I've got a great plastic spatial I will try tomorrow.

SmartMove · 07-09-2013, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeehag

plastic scraper. works well. but ye gotta swim a little. under water, even.

With my short little spatula my mask and snorkel will be required. I had a great full-sized one at home but thought the shorted would be better on the boat! I'm using the iPad version so insert 'banghead' emoticon here for me

rebel heart · 07-09-2013, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartMove

+1 on that! I've got a great plastic spatial I will try tomorrow.

I use a length of hardwood. Easier to grab and you can two hand it to get leverage if you really need to bust a bastard loose. You can make it "sharp" by cutting a 30-45 degree angle with a saw. Even at that sharpness, it really doesn't do much damage to the paint.

I have a "very-fine" grey scrub pad I'll go over with it after that to get all the other slime off.

When the paint is in the first 6-9 months I'm more gentle with it. By year one and certainly by 18 months, I get a lot less polite.

SmartMove · 07-09-2013, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I use a length of hardwood. Easier to grab and you can two hand it to get leverage if you really need to bust a bastard loose. You can make it "sharp" by cutting a 30-45 degree angle with a saw. Even at that sharpness, it really doesn't do much damage to the paint.

I have a "very-fine" grey scrub pad I'll go over with it after that to get all the other slime off.

When the paint is in the first 6-9 months I'm more gentle with it. By year one and certainly by 18 months, I get a lot less polite.

I'm still in the first year, so I'm treating it like a baby's bottom!

I was wondering about using my old kitchen sponge with the blue scrub pad on it to get the rest of the slime off. Do you think that is too abrasive? It's the one to use with Teflon.

I don't think we have a piece of wood on board that would be suitable, but we have the saw to shape it when we do. I will stick with the spatula for now.

rebel heart · 07-09-2013, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmartMove

I'm still in the first year, so I'm treating it like a baby's bottom!

I was wondering about using my old kitchen sponge with the blue scrub pad on it to get the rest of the slime off. Do you think that is too abrasive? It's the one to use with Teflon.

I don't think we have a piece of wood on board that would be suitable, but we have the saw to shape it when we do. I will stick with the spatula for now.

Most of the greenies won't survive a trip over the whole bottom but it's better than nothing. It's sort of why I like using it stick, it puts up with a lot of abuse and it floats. Plus it's a stick (a foot long piece of 1"x2" or something of the sort) of oak so it's great for anything else you need a stick for.

The guy on here Fast Bottoms hull cleans professionally so he's got a lot of input as well.

zeehag · 07-09-2013, 16:32

smart move--i was advised to use a piece of carpet to do my hull the first year. might give that method a try--didnt hurt the paint.

then--get out and sail more.....