Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
wijames
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:17 am
Location: Leesburg, FL
Contact:

Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#1 Post by wijames » Wed May 28, 2014 5:41 am

I'm looking at purchasing a 30' pontoon thats being kept in the water. It has been bottom painted but I'm seeing some build-up of barnicles. Since pontoons are so thin I'm wondering how you would get them off without damaging the pontoons. I assume that you cant scrape them like you would a fiberglass hull. Any ideas or experience?
Capt. Butch James - "Water and sunshine are the cures for all problems"

2015 Tracker Bass Buggy 16 w/ 40 hp Mercury four stroke

(old) 2000 Sylvan 20' Tritoon
(old) 1993 Tracker 30' Party Hut
(Old) 2011 Tracker Baby Bass Buggy 18

User avatar
GXPWeasel
Posts: 1276
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:37 am
Location: Topeka KS

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#2 Post by GXPWeasel » Wed May 28, 2014 5:52 am

If I remember correctly, a few on here actually did scrape, with a plastic putty knife, or they used a good pressure washer.

You may ask Badmoonrising. I think he's dealt with them before.
Last edited by GXPWeasel on Wed May 28, 2014 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Nauti Weasel"
2005 Beachcomber Islander 26

User avatar
badmoonrising
Site Admin
Posts: 10066
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 pm
Location: Chesapeake City, Maryland

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#3 Post by badmoonrising » Wed May 28, 2014 7:56 am

Yep, plastic scraper then let the boat sit out in the hot sun for a few days and then scrape again.
Ed, Cheryl, Ethan and Aspen.
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD

User avatar
wijames
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:17 am
Location: Leesburg, FL
Contact:

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#4 Post by wijames » Wed May 28, 2014 10:11 am

badmoonrising wrote:Yep, plastic scraper then let the boat sit out in the hot sun for a few days and then scrape again.
Did they come off pretty good & did you bottom paint after that?

Thanks
Capt. Butch James - "Water and sunshine are the cures for all problems"

2015 Tracker Bass Buggy 16 w/ 40 hp Mercury four stroke

(old) 2000 Sylvan 20' Tritoon
(old) 1993 Tracker 30' Party Hut
(Old) 2011 Tracker Baby Bass Buggy 18

User avatar
badmoonrising
Site Admin
Posts: 10066
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 pm
Location: Chesapeake City, Maryland

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#5 Post by badmoonrising » Wed May 28, 2014 9:52 pm

Yeah they do. Up here, we winterize so I'd scrape them off and by spring whatever remains of them flakes right off. I would repaint prior to launching.
Ed, Cheryl, Ethan and Aspen.
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD

User avatar
wijames
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:17 am
Location: Leesburg, FL
Contact:

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#6 Post by wijames » Thu May 29, 2014 5:22 am

badmoonrising wrote:Yeah they do. Up here, we winterize so I'd scrape them off and by spring whatever remains of them flakes right off. I would repaint prior to launching.
Thanks.
Capt. Butch James - "Water and sunshine are the cures for all problems"

2015 Tracker Bass Buggy 16 w/ 40 hp Mercury four stroke

(old) 2000 Sylvan 20' Tritoon
(old) 1993 Tracker 30' Party Hut
(Old) 2011 Tracker Baby Bass Buggy 18

User avatar
badmoonrising
Site Admin
Posts: 10066
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:04 pm
Location: Chesapeake City, Maryland

Re: Cleaning barnicles from pontoons?

#7 Post by badmoonrising » Thu May 29, 2014 12:06 pm

:thumbsup
Ed, Cheryl, Ethan and Aspen.
2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 22 w/90 HP Mercury, "Hellrhighwater 2"
2014 E-350 Extended XLT.
Chesapeake City ,MD

Post Reply