How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

[dvpeterson916]

I would like to use my SCUBA gear and scrape the barnacles off the bottom of my boat while it is still in the water. The plan is to try to do preventative maintenance. I would like to scrape the barnacles off the boat once a month. I want to make sure not to scrape the paint off the boat. Does anyone have any experience and or words of advice?

 

[marine4003]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

Yea...get ready for one hell of a workout,especially if theres a current where your berthed,did it for one summer in Charleston SC. I'm still wore out, we used 5-in-one's,in tight places and 3" scrapers everywhere else.Just make sure you have a decent coat of Bottom Paint,or you can scrape right down to the fiberglass or wood depending on hull.Also its easyer if boat is in shallow enough water to allow you to stand on the bottom while scraping,too deep & everytime you scrape....you push away from hull,causing you to have to flutter-kick all the while...Whew. Good Luck.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

we use to take ours to a sand bar where we could stand.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

Short haul and repaint as your going to dammage the paint if it was not scrubed while they were soft

 

[Zero Balance]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

we use to take ours to a sand bar where we could stand.

This "sand bar" is a great idea! Get hammered while you sand your hull. Who woulda thunk it.

 

[marine4003]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

No, sand bars are not a good idea for a larger boat,first off you have no access to the very bottom,only the sides,second unless your in water 6 feet or more ,wave action causing the boat to rise & fall can result in a major headache,then theres the issue of anchoring while doing the scraping,hopefully theres not alot of traffic ,the old round bottom trawlers used to beach there boats with a severe lean to port or starboard to get to the bottom,but unless your willing to sacrifice your boat or yourself to clean off bottom junk...the best way is to haul it.and "getting hammered" while working around a floating mass weighing at least 3K LBS isnt a smart idea either.

 

[dvpeterson916]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

Good point about deep water were you can?t touch bottom, a friend suggested to use a suction cup to avoid pushing off the hull every time you scrape. I?m going to give it a whirl. Thanks for the help.

 

[tommays]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

As i keep a Sailboat bottom clean for racing you need to clean with a soft brush pretty offen while it is still at the slime point


If you have reached barnacle stage there "glue" is going to going to dammage the paint and then your going to end up with barnacles dirrectly on the gelcoat

 

[gstanton]

Re: How to scrape barnacles off my boat while still in the water?

I made a wedge out of pressure treated wood and used those edges to scrape. Worked pretty well... but I will never do it again. Used pressure treated since it seemed harder. Used several wedges, as they soon lost their edge. Also, wear heavy gloves - there will be blood!!!!!!