Cleaned the waterline

[HeaveToo]

Getting ready to paint the bottom this coming month.  I decided to clean the waterline.  I went back to an old faithful remedy that I was told called the Works.  The Works is a toilet cleaner.

Pretty much you put it on and rub it in slightly.  Let it set for a few minutes and then wash it off.  The waterline is perfect.  I will wax the hull, maybe, if I have time. 

If you want an easy and quick clean try it out!

[BruceW]

I use a thing called Barkeeper's friend, but like your the Works hint also.

Last week, I hauled out after basically neglecting the hull. River mussels and barnacles several inches deep. Scraped them away, powerwashed, and now the advice is to let it dry for awhile (weeks?) and spray with muriatic acid which will dissolve the embedded shells of the barnacles. I think any acid will work, just some are more potent than others. I also have lime away that might even do the trick.

So after I spray that acid on, I am to wait for that to dry and scrape it off. Then, I will know what I need to do. Since I am drysailing, what I am going to do is to ignore the paint issue until I decide to go back to a wet slip, when I will need to sand & prep, etc.

[relamb]

I've tried muratic acid on barnacles, it will dissolve the shell, but does nothing for the adhesive layer they use to glue themselves to things.  Could not get that off with anything, except scraping and sandpaper.  Any ideas for what could remove that?

[HeaveToo]

Power washing your ablative paint.  You just wear off the beasties 

[BruceW]

Rick, I am about to find out. I don't really know what kind of paint I have, or what will be left. I am supposed to scrape again after the muriatic acid dries. Guess I will learn next steps.

[wes]

Boy, be careful with the muriatic, especially if you are spraying. That is some seriously wicked stuff; I used it for years to adjust the pH of my swimming pool. One good whiff of the fumes and you'll be done for the day. Respirator, eye protection and gloves are mandatory.

If you have time to wait a few weeks or better yet months for the barnacles to dry, getting them off including the adhesive layer with a scraper is tedious but not very hard. Safer too.

Wes

[HeaveToo]

Heck....wear gloves with the works too!!!  That stuff will burn your skin as well.

[BruceW]

It will have been a week drying by the time I go down to see the boat. I will need to launch and get the bottom of the keel scraped, because the thickness of the mussels on there is such that the keel is wobbly.

After that, I will see how long between wettings, and what is needed. I will absolutely agree on the safety goggles, gloves, and respiration equipment. Other products might work also, like lime away. Not sure it's chemical makeup, so I'll have to check that out also.