Hydrochloric acid on board

[Franco_oz]

What would be the reason to have hydrochloric acid on board? I am checking a vessel on a mooring in the Philippines. I found two 4lt bottles of acid. Hydrochloric can be used for several applications and I am aware of it but this amount kinda puzzles me. I asked the owner and he didn't answer. His wife said they have muriatic acid as well but couldn't tell me the reason.

[sailorboy1]

rust removal, descaling

I used to carry some

[thrill]

Muriatic acid is another name for hydrochloric acid. It's a strong cleaning agent.

[Franco_oz]

Yes I do use it for rust removal on bolts and parts but 8 lt sound a lot of acid. Thanks guys

[Jim Cate]

HCl is often used to remove salt scale deposits from the cooling system in raw water cooled engines, and those quantities suggest the PO may have been planning to do this routine thing.

jim

[Captain Bill]

It also does a great job of cleaning deposits out of black water hoses. Used well diluted it will clean almost any stain off of fiberglass. Detailers use it to get charter boats sparkling white.

[CarlF]

One of the most popular hull cleaners - On&Off by MaryKate - contains hydrochloric acid (and phosphoric acid for good measure!). You can use gallons of it cleaning a badly stained/fouled hull.

[MikeHoncho]

Muriatic Acid is low concentration HCL

[Franco_oz]

Thank you guys, I use it regularly to clean metal parts and hardware (properly diluted) but blown me the amount they had onboard. Also didn't know it can be used to clean fiberglass so it makes sense. Cheers

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by MikeHoncho

Muriatic Acid is low concentration HCL

Actually, Muriatic is just a different name for HCl. There is no difference in the chemistry at all, and the names apply equally no matter what the concentration may be.

Jim

[Fore and Aft]

Franco_oz sounds like you stumbled on an episode of Breaking Bad afloat.
Cheers

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

Franco_oz sounds like you stumbled on an episode of Breaking Bad afloat.
Cheers

Just thinking that. Disposing of a body perhaps? However, if that is the case the owner doesn't know that salt water will slowly dissolve bones.

Pete

[BlueH2Obound]

HCL is also good for cleaning blood off of concrete . . . . and destroying DNA evidence . . . . .
I once went into Lowes to buy two gallons of Muriatic acid, which we used for etching steel to patina it for metal sculptures. The salesman walked me to where it was located on the shelf in the paint department. I picked up two bottles, when he asked me what I was using it for, I told him (tongue in cheek) that it cleans blood off of concrete.

Then, just for fun, I asked him where the duct tape and shovels were in the store. He looked at me really peculiarly, told me, then proceeded to follow me around the store for the next 20 minutes while I did some other shopping . . . .

People of my vintage take their amusement where they can get it! My wife says I'm just weird.

[Wandering1]

We use it often to clean toilet pipes. It wouldn't worry me about having thst much inboard unless I had an aluminium boat. It dissolves aluminium very effectively!

[Nic Homan]

QUOTE=Franco_oz;3895317]What would be the reason to have hydrochloric acid on board? I am checking a vessel on a mooring in the Philippines. I found two 4lt bottles of acid. Hydrochloric can be used for several applications and I am aware of it but this amount kinda puzzles me. I asked the owner and he didn't answer. His wife said they have muriatic acid as well but couldn't tell me the reason.[/QUOTE]


Hydrochloride acid and muriatic acid are the same substance. Apart from cleaning one can use it for dissolving uric acid (urine) which form in the black water pipes. Eventually uric crystals can block the pipes
We use vinegar to dissolve these cristals which to us seems kinder to the environment