Re: When should you clean??
The best thing for removing barnacles is a checkbook.
I could see that kind of build-up in less than a year around here. The fact that he left the motor down is consistent with his level of care.
Around here, it's not unusual to see an old or low-end boat, once it has a major engine problem, just sit there b/c the owner doesn't have the money or the heart in it to fix it up, but can't give it away--and certainly can't sell it. The old wooden hulls, the 20 year old 25-30' cruisers, and "bayliner" I/O bowriders, are everywhere like that.
