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Tropic Cat · 19-04-2006, 13:03

I'm the proud owner of barnacles on my propellors and shafts (OK, not so proud). What kind of tool do people prefer to use to remove them? I was thinking of using a wood chisel.

I just know there must be some interesting techniques on here

Rick in Florida

**Alan Wheeler** · 19-04-2006, 13:26

Just ensure you don't miss and gouge the prop. Once you have most of the little fellows off, you are going to have to sand off the "glue" that attaches the shell of the little critters. You will not chip it off. Use a sanding disc on an angle grinder. A "flap disc" is best. Start coarse and come down till you polish the Bronze.

For a bit of useless trivia.....
The Barnicle is actually a close relative to the shrimp. The larvae attaches it's head to a surface useing a "glue" that as yet, no one understands. It is one of the strongest substances known and scientists are trying to understand what the heck it is. It is totally resistant to acids and Alkalines. One possible use for such a substance is in Dentistry.

19-04-2006, 17:21

I use an ab iron. It does not gouge things, and is heavy enough to work underwater between haul outs. Since I never seem to have time to go abalone diving, I need to get some use out of the darn thing

Tropic Cat · 19-04-2006, 19:14

Alan, she's in the water!!

delmarrey · 19-04-2006, 19:41

It's too bad you couldn't get one of those ultrasonic plaque removal instruments down there. I'll bet that would get off the li'l buggers.

**Alan Wheeler** · 20-04-2006, 02:15

Oohh, OK, make it challenging why don't you

Yeah I would go for the wood chisel. Maybe some wet & dry sand paper to take off the remaining. Smear some lanolin over the prop afterwards. Follow some of the other advice. But don't follow the guy suggesting an angle grinder. What WAS he thinking

**GordMay** · 20-04-2006, 02:34

I’ve successfully used a buffing flap disc on an angle grinder to clean props & shafts, after scraping. The disc shouldn’t be an aggressive sanding or grinding implement, but a “fine” “buffer”.

Tropic Cat · 20-04-2006, 02:45

Alan,

If I use the angle grinder underwater, I've been informed by SWMBO that my life insurance needs to be increased. Hmmm, I wonder if that's why she was thumbing through travel magazines last night!!

Rick in Florida

Tropic Cat · 20-04-2006, 02:51

knottybuoyz,

Thank you for your kind offer of sending your wife here for barnacle removal, however I have my hands full doing what one woman wants me to do. I think the quickest way to get the barnacles off my boat, if I send my lady up to see you for a while!! (grin)

Rick in Florida

Tropic Cat · 20-04-2006, 02:58

Kai Nui,

If an AB iron works, would a small wrecking bar work well?

Seafarer24 · 19-07-2006, 11:48

Air-powered angle-grinder should work underwater. Just rinse it with fresh water and toss it in a bucket of oil when done. I spoke to a guy that did underwater salvage, and he got a lot of use from air-powered tools (chisels and riciprocating saws, mostly).

**Alan Wheeler** · 19-07-2006, 13:26

How do you see with all the bubbles???

capt lar · 19-07-2006, 18:32

My new marina has given me a barnacle problem. My prop is covered and so is the bottom of my Zodiac. Will bleach kill these guys. Any other preferred method ? The Zodiac is soft bottom so scraping does not seem to be an option.

Larry

Gallivanters · 20-07-2006, 06:51

I'm certainly no expert, but...

I was a hardhat diver in the US Navy and spent many years working offshore oil platforms & drillships after that.

My personal favorite yacht tool for barnicle removal is a type of putty knife / scraper from Ace Hardware.

It has a flexible stainless steel blade with a rivited rubber handle and a hole for a wrist lanyard.

But the best part is the blade which is about 3" wide with one side formed into a pointed tool for getting into tight spots and the other side shaped with a simicircle which makes a quick job of cleaning shafts up to 2" dia.

The corners are rounded so it won't scratch and it's the best tool I've found for cleaning the slots on an external thru-hull strainer, as well.

The last one I purchased cost less than Five Bucks... but would be good value at twice the price.

Spend a half hour snorkeling with this and a ScotchBrite Greenie Pad and even a slightly fouled prop will reward you with at least a knot of speed... and optimum fuel economy.

Easiest way to remove a propeller in the water? "DetChord" - just be sure to attach a safety line or you run the risk of blowing the prop into the rudder, loosing it in the muck and then requiring a tow to the slings to repair the rudder and purchase a new prop! But that's another thread entirely.

Cheers!

Kirk