How to Remove Barnacles

Remove your boat from the water., Use a handheld, stainless steel scrubber to scrub gently until all barnacles are removed and all you see is the ship's hull. , Remove larger barnacles with a plastic putty knife., Remove remaining barnacles with a...

12 Steps 1 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Remove your boat from the water.

    Barnacles can only be removed when the boat is still moored if you have the proper diving equipment.
  2. Step 2: Use a handheld

    , Start with a plastic knife so there is less chance of gouging or scraping the hull of your boat.

    If it is ineffective against the barnacles, move up to a metal knife with dull edges. ,, Allow your boat several weeks to dry, if possible, before pressure washing. , You want to get underneath the edge of each barnacle.

    Focus on small patches until you've pressure washed the entirety of the boat.

    This pressure washing process will likely remove some of the paint on your boat.

    You should be prepared, therefore, to repaint after a thorough pressure washing. , After applying, scrape off remaining barnacle plates with your plastic or dull-edged metal knife. ,,, This will make cleaning barnacles off your boat that much easier in the future. ,
  3. Step 3: stainless steel scrubber to scrub gently until all barnacles are removed and all you see is the ship's hull.

  4. Step 4: Remove larger barnacles with a plastic putty knife.

  5. Step 5: Remove remaining barnacles with a stainless steel scrubber.

  6. Step 6: Purchase a pressure washer to remove large colonies of barnacles.

  7. Step 7: Spray parallel to the boat hull rather than directly at the barnacles.

  8. Step 8: Apply a small amount of hydrochloric acid to any barnacle remnants after pressure washing.

  9. Step 9: Apply a lime remover after applying the acid.

  10. Step 10: Wash the boat's hull thoroughly.

  11. Step 11: Apply a product designed to make the hull of your boat slick.

  12. Step 12: Finished.

Detailed Guide

Barnacles can only be removed when the boat is still moored if you have the proper diving equipment.

, Start with a plastic knife so there is less chance of gouging or scraping the hull of your boat.

If it is ineffective against the barnacles, move up to a metal knife with dull edges. ,, Allow your boat several weeks to dry, if possible, before pressure washing. , You want to get underneath the edge of each barnacle.

Focus on small patches until you've pressure washed the entirety of the boat.

This pressure washing process will likely remove some of the paint on your boat.

You should be prepared, therefore, to repaint after a thorough pressure washing. , After applying, scrape off remaining barnacle plates with your plastic or dull-edged metal knife. ,,, This will make cleaning barnacles off your boat that much easier in the future. ,

About the Author

J

Joan Parker

Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in crafts and beyond.

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