Barnable Remover/Raising Waterline

[Warren Milberg]

Barnacle Remover/Raising Waterline

Just spent too many hours scraping barnacle rings off the stern of my boat. The hard growth appeared above the bottom-painted hull. I used a bendy metal putty knife and eventually resorted to chemical warfare (Mary Kate "On and Off"). While this worked, it was far too much work. Does anyone have a suggestion for a better product to use to remove barnacle rings?

Secondly, it seems my boat is not sitting at its designed waterline and I'll probably raise the waterline next spring. Does anyone have any useful references for how to do this?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Warren
Be careful what you wish for - most of the effective barnacle ring removers are a dilute form of either hydrochloric or sulfuric acid and although they work well, can create porosity in the gelcoat where it didn't previously exist regardless of how well you flush the acid. Abrasives cause the same consequence. The weaker acids will also work without effecting the gelcoat but take much longer to eat through the ring glue.
Assuming you are going to raise the waterline to this level and thereby "hide" the remnants of the barnacles, I'm wondering if it's worth the chance.

 

[Mike B]

Warren, try Lime Away or any similiar product designed to remove lime scale and build up around faucets, etc.
Mike

 

[MoonSailer]

The easiset way to raise the waterline is to dig all of the crap that you never use out of the boat!!! Raised my waterline a good 2" using this method. Amazing all of the stuff that finds it's way into a boats storage spaces.

 

[BobM]

I highly recommend raising the waterline as a means to end this issue. I did it on my last boat. However, I wasn't concerned all that much about cosmetics. Take a compass with a grease pencil or washable marker in it and scribe around your boat based on the existing water line, assuming you are happy with it.

 

[jaysweet]

We had the same problem on our 2004 H306: barnacles above the waterline, mostly b/c of a list to starboard. After removing them with muriatic acid, we just painted the (maybe 2") white area between the old waterline and the dark blue bootstripe. We used no-sand primer, followed by anti-fouling. So far, no problems, and the new waterline is high enough to keep the slime on anti-fouling rather than on the gelcoat.

Jay

 

[sailaway78]

It's pretty easy

Both of these problems are pretty easy to solve. The barnacle rings are pretty easy to remove with a small orbital sander. Or a big one if you have a lot of them. To raise the water line 2", just run 2" masking tape around the existing waterline, run another piece of masking tape at the top of this piece, and peel of the origional. Or of course, you can buy yourself a laser level.

 

[Prime Time]

Chemicals

Last season I used a product from Star Brite, Star brite Barnacle and Zebra Mussel Remover. I sprayed it on, waited about 5 minutes scrapped and repeated. It worked. Fairly noxious acid. Need to wear a respirator and googles.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Follow-up response: I did try using "Lime Away," but it really didn't seem to budge the hardened rings. Perhaps it would have over time. I also thought about using a sander, but since the problem rings were mostly on the molded-in waterline, I feared doing real damage to it. I believe in the Physician's Motto: "First, do no harm." I have also thought about using the two layers of tape method to raise the waterline, as suggested Nice N Easy above, but am not sure how well I would be able to bend tape around the compound curves of the waterline around the stern and to a point about 6 ft forward of it. I like the idea of using a compass with a washable marker in it and may give that a try.

Thanks for all your ideas and may you all have a barnacle-free merry and happy!

 

[gghost]

Instead of using regular painters tape or masking tape, I use vinyl electrical tape. It is stretchy so will conform to compound curves nicely and also leaves a nice line.

 

[Ian Mauro]

My Mariner is at the marina getting power washed today. I stopped by and the owner let me know that it was taking longer then expected...I think he wanted to change the pricing on me as I was staring at my boats broken tiller. hmm...

Anyway,

Barnacles were coming off so if you have a power washer try it with a scraper to help it out. Here is a pic of how bad. He may be using an acid but I don't think so.

I have used a sander and micro fiber successfully with minimal damage to the finish on the rudder and above the waterline in my Mac26S. MoonSailer, The Mac's Laz had so much storage in it I was always stern heavy, it sure did make a difference when a pulled all the water logged shelving and goods out.

How much could barnacles weigh? Not enough to change the waterline I guess.

Good Luck

 

[Joe Mullee]

Hey Warren,

Keep us up to date on what you do. I'll be hauling in April/May to do my bottom and have the same problem. In the past I just decided it wasn't worth the time to get those rings out because I really didn't have many of them to begin with. But I've been thinking about raising my waterline as well and would be interested in what you end up doing.

BTW: what row are you in this year?

Joe Mullee

 

[bffatcat]

raise water line

First as already talked about take the excess stuff your not using off the boat. Next I would avoid chemicals, scrape and sand . just be careful . Dont matter it there are a few scratches and dings at the waterline Your going to paint over it.

 

[BobM]

Warren...if you try the compass trick...I'd suggest a blue, not black, sharpie. We use them in the lab and the marking is water resistant and rub resistant, but removes easily with alcohol. Black sharpie is tougher to remove, but you may find that a washable marker is too easy. Whatever you use, try it in a safe location first as I haven't tried this myself on fiberglass. The compass just seemed like a good idea. You may find that you can't do a good enough job holding the line steady. Word to the wise, I looked at a boat where the owner repainted the stripe with a very unsteady hand...needless to say it looked like you know what. The boat, an S2, is on yachtworld still with no mention of the terrible rash of gelcoat blisters on her topsides that turned me away.