ANY tips or suggestions for removing banacles from aluminum pontoons and what to do to keep new ones from attaching?
mvinci1@msn.com
Banacles
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Steve Alarcon
Re: Banacles
Richard,Richard Vinci wrote: ANY tips or suggestions for removing banacles from aluminum pontoons and what to do to keep new ones from attaching?
A high pressure washer (c. 1,200+ PSI) should do the trick if applied immediately after pulling the vessel from the water. Else, there are "cleaning" applications available from your friendly local marine supply store. I have heard that salt water growth will be killed by moving the boat to fresh water, but haven't tried that. Short of that, maybe a hammer and chisel??
Bottom Paint containing copper should prevent new ones.
Steve Alarcon
CD30 Temerity
Seattle
alarcon@internetmci.com
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Don S.
Re: Banacles
But don't use copper-based antifouling paints on bare aluminum. Barrier coat the hull first!!Steve Alarcon wrote:Richard,Richard Vinci wrote: ANY tips or suggestions for removing banacles from aluminum pontoons and what to do to keep new ones from attaching?
A high pressure washer (c. 1,200+ PSI) should do the trick if applied immediately after pulling the vessel from the water. Else, there are "cleaning" applications available from your friendly local marine supply store. I have heard that salt water growth will be killed by moving the boat to fresh water, but haven't tried that. Short of that, maybe a hammer and chisel??
Bottom Paint containing copper should prevent new ones.
Steve Alarcon
CD30 Temerity
Seattle
don@cliggott.com
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Matt Cawthorne
Re: Barnacles
Richard,
Practical Sailor tested some barnacle removing chemicals in their September issue. They recommended two products. One is called marsolve and can be purchased from Robert Louis associates, 85 shelter rock road, Danbury ct 06810, (203)790-0000. They recommed using a 2:1 dilution when working with aluminum and don't leave it on too long. Apparently a concentrate solution left on for a long time can mess the aluminum up. The second product was called Aqua-Chem. It can be purchased from Aqua-Chem international, 24101 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, Al 36561 (800)579-0786. It contains hydrochloric acid so be very careful and wear all of your safety gear!
Never tried this stuff myself, so I can't personally recommend either. My biggest suggestion is to get the barnicles off before they dry for the first time. After that the work is much harder.
Good luck de-barnicling
Matt
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
Practical Sailor tested some barnacle removing chemicals in their September issue. They recommended two products. One is called marsolve and can be purchased from Robert Louis associates, 85 shelter rock road, Danbury ct 06810, (203)790-0000. They recommed using a 2:1 dilution when working with aluminum and don't leave it on too long. Apparently a concentrate solution left on for a long time can mess the aluminum up. The second product was called Aqua-Chem. It can be purchased from Aqua-Chem international, 24101 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, Al 36561 (800)579-0786. It contains hydrochloric acid so be very careful and wear all of your safety gear!
Never tried this stuff myself, so I can't personally recommend either. My biggest suggestion is to get the barnicles off before they dry for the first time. After that the work is much harder.
Good luck de-barnicling
Matt
Richard Vinci wrote: ANY tips or suggestions for removing banacles from aluminum pontoons and what to do to keep new ones from attaching?
mcawthor@bellatlantic.net