Barnacle Rings and Inflatable Boat Bottoms

[Frank LaBrake]

Any suggestions for cleaning barnacle rings from the tubes and floor bottom of an inflatable dink?Anybody know of a bottom treatment for inflatables?Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[Pete]

You won't believe it

but the answer is Desitin. The stuff you used to put on your baby's bottom. Not only will it keep the bottom growth off for a few weeks at a time, but it will eventually soften up the barnacle rings. It worked on the seagull you-know-what and rings that had been there for years on my dinghy.

 

[Chris McLoughlin]

inflatable bottom growth. . .

I paint my inflatable bottom with bottom paint made for inflatables ( available at West)My inflatable (Zodiac 10.5 non-RIB) has been in the water 24/7since 3/17/2001. I took a peek at it this past weekend and the bottom is clean (a lot cleaner then my Hunter).The hardest part is the first time you paint it determining where the water line is. Each season after that is a snap, I clean it wellwhen I put it away for the winter, then paint over the old paint in the spring. 2 coats. Chris S/V Tidesong

 

[Mark Johnson]

Easy solution!!

Just buy a new inflatable every year. Let the guy who buys your old one worry about the barnacle rings. Seems simple enough, doesn't it?