new to me FREE boat - 1997 caravelle 1750. Need advise!

[Triangleboater]

Ok so friends of my family just gave me a boat. I know, first thoughts are it must be a POS. Well cosmetically this one really is.

Story is, it sat in salt water for 6 months without moving after onwers got a new toy. The sun and dirt took its toll on the vinyl and the barnacles and scum did the hull under.

So, I started a thread in the mercrusier section and I wanted to start one here to get some advise on cleaning the thing.

To start with, I have done a complete resto on my skiff, so I knew first off I didn't want a POS that wasn't structurally sound, this one is. Stringers, transom, deck, all solid as a rock. I have been down that road.

Now, how do I get six months worth of barnacles off?????? I don't want to mess the gel coat. I have heard scrapper, or pressure washer. But won't that peel the gel off with the barnacles? Is there a chemical I can let these sit in to dissolve what these critters use to attach themselves to the hull?

Also, for the saltwater brown staining. What do you suggest to deal with that?

Staining on the vinyl, have any product suggestions for this?

Will post pictures very soon!

 

[tpenfield]

The most effective way that I have removed barnacles from a hull (or an outdrive) is to let them die over the winter. In the Spring, they will pop off fairly easily.

If you cannot wait that long, then there are acid chemicals that you can buy at marine stores that will loosen them up, bit still a lot of work. You also run the risk of damaging the gelcoat by having to scape them off.

you can also try pressure washing, as that may be able to get some of them off, but probably will leave the base of them still attached to the hull, requiring the chemical to fully remove the residuals.

for brown staining on the hull . . . 'Iron Out' from the hardware store.

 

[Scott Danforth]

toilet cleaner works, however takes a bit of time.

 

[Triangleboater]

The boat has been out of the water for almost a year, so I do believe the barnacles are dead, and if i scrape them off the residue where it was attached is still there.

Can you recommend any specific brand of acid cleaner?

 

[DeepBlue2010]

what is the nature of this residue, is just discoloration or its parts of the barnacles still attached? If it is the former, try giving the hull a wash with oxalic acid. This is the best product you can use for brown stains. Most of toilet cleaners like snow bowl and the likes are nothing more than oxalic acid in a fancy package. This is what I use on my boat multiple times per season for few seasons now with no problem at all.

 

[tpenfield]

Right here on iBoats.com

http://www.iboats.com/Barnacle-Bust...5257473--session_id.896698058--view_id.964343

 

[Triangleboater]

I do like the product you listed above, but on the manufactures website it only mentions it as a flush to internal parts.

Do you think it would work well for the hull of the boat? I might give it a try and report back.

 

[tpenfield]

I do like the product you listed above, but on the manufactures website it only mentions it as a flush to internal parts.

Do you think it would work well for the hull of the boat? I might give it a try and report back.

Ooops, my bad. Star Brite Boat Bottom Cleaner was the stuff that I was thinking about. The other stuff may work as well . . .

 

[Triangleboater]

just a little update,
So i went and got so Up & Up toilet bowl cleaner from target. Works pretty good! I spray and let soak on the hull and on that barnacles. It foams up when it touches them, I let it sit for 15 minutes or so and then take a plastic scraper to um. After 3 or 4 applications it is looking pretty clean. May try some other stuff and report back.

 

[Triangleboater]

No Title

Well the toilet bowl cleaner working pretty well. Attached some photos of a spot I have worked pretty hard to clean vs. the rest of the hull.

I have also have lifted the boat off the trailer a bit and put on blocks that rest on the mounting points on the bunks so I can clean under the bunks.

I believe I need to get my hands on a good pressure washer, I think I i let the cleaner rest on the barnacles for a while and then wash, it's the way to go. Scrapping is just too much damn work.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[kcassells]

Well the toilet bowl cleaner working pretty well.
Heads up cause I love this:
Ha ha lol a lot! The crapper bowl cleaner got rid of the barnacles. Actually that is also a great pc. of info.
On another note from me a plumber. @98% of toilet problems begin when the owner places that pretty blue stuff into the tank so everything looks clean, smells nice and helps to get rid of the big brown bowl rings.
The best part is it JUST KILLS EVERY PC. OF PLASTIC, BRASS AND RUBBER INSIDE THE TANK IN SHORT TIME.

Even better...I end up going back a year later for the same repair cause no-one listens.

Tri, Work looks clean. Tough stuff to remove that's for sure.

 

[Triangleboater]

Hey, keeps you in business. Yeah, I use the crapper cleaner on the boat and not on the toiler, go figure.

Yeah, barnacles suck, bad. Note to self, saltwater blows.

 

[Triangleboater]

well, the barnacle removal has been coming along, I bought the cheapo powerwasher that is 1650 psi and it has been working wonders. What I noticed from the previous owner is he tried using a gas powered very powerful washer and it did a ton of damage to the gel coat. This little guy just takes off the loose barnacles and doesn't damage the gel.

To get the rest off I have been doing the toilet bowl cleaner, let it sit and the scrape method. It takes several several applications but it works pretty well.

I just ordered from iboats the starbrite bottom cleaner to see if I get better results. I will update then.
This one is to the right power washed no scrubbing yet.
This is just where I did a quick powerwash vs. not washing yet.


This one has been washed and toilet bowl cleaned twice. Needs probably 3 or 4 more applications and then a good sanding with heavy grit progress to fine grit.


Basically, never do like the PO did and leave a boat in salt without a good bottom paint. If this boat didn't have good bones and a running engine (and was free). I don't know it would be worth it.