Bottom buildup on boat

[dunn782]

Thanks for the feedback. Phatphil I would be too nervous to use HCl on an aluminum boat. I worked 30+ years for a company that makes HCl so know a lot about it. It's hard to make it stronger than about 38% and it will flat out dissolve aluminum. Drop a piece of aluminum it 30% HCl and it will fizz like Alka-Seltzer and gives off hydrogen gas. If you dilute it to 25% or less it won't fume but is still pretty potent. Any little imperfections in the paint may let the acid contact the bare aluminum and probably pit it so be careful.

I think if I go the dock route I'd probably have to pull it after a week and see what I got. I've had it in the water a week at a time but always cleaner water like the St. Clair river or a clear lake. Never had anything on the hull after that but Erie is a lot different. My old boat had a lot of white on it and in lakes with tannin stained water it would stain the white areas after a week but it would wash off after a while once I was in different water or washed it.

[Phatphil]

Dunn...Coincidence, I too worked in a lab for BP. I was worried about the consequences of using HCL on my aluminum hull but after 5 years of spraying it twice a year I am noticing no pitting. One of the large marinas in our area uses muiratic acid on fiberglass hulls but they do dilute it to keep the fuming down. I may try that this year just to reduce the fumes, it does an amazing job and I don't know anything else that comes even remotely close to keeping my hull this clean. My buddy has barrier coated and antifouling paint on his aluminum hulled Crestliner and it has prevented buildup on his boat as another option.