to clean barnacles from boat? HCl ?

I had to leave a boat in the water without bottom paint for a month or two, bottom is fouled with barnacles. I have strong HCl but I need a windy day to use it. I'm not sure it is the right substance. Any suggestions?

Reply to
wblakesx
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Hire a turbo nutter pressure washer 200 bar/3000 psi.

Dave

Reply to
David Lang

Why wait for a windy day? I'd have thought spraying it on still overcast day would be a better bet - if you spray it with a garden sprayer you can stand further away, if it's still the spray will be fairly controlled as long as you adjust it not to form a fine mist, and if it's not warm and bright it won't dry out too quickly. But do wear protective gloves, overalls and goggles.

Reply to
Rob Morley

Hi,

Plenty of info on Google Groups:

cheers, Pete.

Reply to
Pete C

And don't tell them why it doesn't work afterwards :)

Reply to
Ian Stirling

Good point - I meant use it instead of the HCL :-)

Dave

Reply to
David Lang

thanks guys. The fact that barny bases are harder than gel coat makes me leary of mechanical means, perhaps I'll try repeated passes with pool cleaner to rot those bases then chase them with a blade or 80 grit.

Reply to
wblakesx

Try some formic acid based kettle descaler on a sample as well as HCl, if it works much better then you could do with a bulk source :)

AFAIK 'brick acid' is HCl so that would be a cheaper supply than barnacle remover.

Holding paper towel against the hull and pouring/spraying stuff onto it may be a good way to ensure it doesn't all run off straight away.

Let us know how it goes.

cheers, Pete.

Reply to
Pete C

Or mix brick acid with wallpaper paste?

Reply to
Rob Morley

Ah, wallpaper paste... I was tryimg to think of a thickener.

Reply to
wblakesx

Ah, wallpaper paste... I was tryimg to think of a thickener.

Reply to
wblakesx

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