Barnacles

[irwin28]

I was wondering if a boat that is cruising and constantly on the move is less prone to barnacles than if in the marina all the time, being that is if there were no bottom paint etc. I know marinas are nests for larvea but wast sure if it would make a difference or not.

[cdennyb]

some friends of mine headed down to the Marquesis islands in April and they ocassionally drug a long cargo net under the 46' boat from the bow to sweep away the growth and they were averaging 6k under sail. I would say, yep. it grows if it's wet. Even at anchor when they got there, every 3-4 days Allan would hit the water with a soft terry cloth towel to keep it off.

[James S]

Seems like I've seen barnacles on whales on NG channel.

[Hudson Force]

You're bottom growth can be reduced by frequent movement, but it not likely due to the motion of the boat. Many forms of bottom growth are sensitive to changes in salinity or subject to being eaten by other critters. Any of the southbound vessels that carry barnacles into the Lake Worth Inlet at Palm Beach are immeditely swarmed by reef fish that will crush the barnacles and eat them. Unfortunately they will not remove the scale. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[irwin28]

just curious....got some bare spots where i reefed my boat and i catch myself rubbing off the growth in those spots, would like to make one more trip before i would have to haul it out again and i see myself doing this in a daily basis till i get it repainted, but the imput is well appreciated folks!!!

[Knowazark]

As a marine biologist I can give you a technical explanation if you want.

Barnacles release larvae into the water column whereby the offspring develop while floating about at sea. Once the larvae get to a certain stage of development they start looking for something to attach to so that they can metamorphose into a barnacle and go about their regular daily barnacly business, like all the other barnacles do. There are generally way more larvae looking for somewhere to settle than there are spots to settle and these larvae are in coastal and oceanic waters, just hanging about trying to find some suitable substrate.

When your boat is in the water it will come in contact with barnacle larvae and if there are unprotected or inadequately protected areas that larvae can settle and attach to, they will.

Although your boat may be your pride and joy, your home, etc unless its covered in chemical deterants, to a barnacle larvae it just looks like a great place to set up shop and go about the business of filtering plankton.

[svHyLyte]

I've seen tiny barnacles form on the spinning line of a Walker Patent Log after a while at sea. I thought it was my imagination until I read "Around the World in Wanderer III" by Susan and Eric Hiscock where they describe the same thing happening during their voyage.