I keep my boat at the head of Middle River. I thought I was having ethanol problems because I couldn't get the boat over 2500 rpms. Added the Startron and changed the filters on Saturday, brought her out and hit the throttles - 2500 rpms again. I pulled into Sue Creek, tossed the anchor and got mask and fins and went under to check the hull. The hull was clean, but the running gear was absolutely crusted with barnacles. There wasn't any surface left uncovered on the shafts, cutlass bearings, propellers, rudders and trim tabs! I spent 2 hours with a good scraper and got them off. Took the boat back out and she popped up on plane as it should.
I spoke with a crabber on Sunday and he was saying he is having to haul his boat out every 4 weeks to scrape barnacles off his running gear too, so it isn't a useage thing. Mine had been sitting for 4 weeks.
So, if you are having performance problems, check out your running gear - it may be coated with barnacles.
I spoke with a crabber on Sunday and he was saying he is having to haul his boat out every 4 weeks to scrape barnacles off his running gear too, so it isn't a useage thing. Mine had been sitting for 4 weeks.
So, if you are having performance problems, check out your running gear - it may be coated with barnacles.