Chemical remover for barnacles

[JimConlin]

One of the boats got left in the water too long without antifouling. We scraped off most of the wildlife but still have the remnants of the barnacles. They can be sanded off, but that removes a lot of paint. I remember there were acids that dissolve them but can’t remember product names.

[Peerie Maa]

One of the boats got left in the water too long without antifouling. We scraped off most of the wildlife but still have the remnants of the barnacles. They can be sanded off, but that removes a lot of paint. I remember there were acids that dissolve them but can’t remember product names.

Most acids will dissolve calcium carbonate. Some quicker than others. Try cheap white vinegar. If that does not work, you can pretend to be Scots and put it on your French fries.

[Rumars]

Muriatic acid. Other weaker acids like citric will also work if given sufficient time.

[Boatsbgood]

Muriatic works super-quick, bear in mind it reacts with the copper bottom pant as well, discolors it. If youre going to paint over, no worries.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

If you make up a wallpaper paste mix with either citric or acetic acid then it can be painted on and stays in place until you hose it off.

[sp_clark]

If you make up a wallpaper paste mix with either citric or acetic acid then it can be painted on and stays in place until you hose it off.

And either of those are far friendlier acids than muriatic / hydrochloric. My choice would be for citric, available in bulk quantities for a pretty cheap outlay.

I've used it to de-lime hot water tanks for decades. Or the off-the-shelf product LemiShine for taking hard water scale off cooking utensils that have been used to boil water.

[JimConlin]

I got the job done with judicious application of diluted muriatic acid.
Making a glop with wallpaper paste sounds like a good idea. I’ll file it away.