Darnacles! We've Got Barnacles!

They are sharp, hard, and hurt when you accidentally scrape yourself on them.  They aren't very attractive, growing in grotesque clumps of what looks like mold if mold were made of concrete.  They are parasitic, neutral at best (on whales) and murderous at worst (mussels and oysters).

Called commensal ectoparasites when they plant themselves on whales, barnacles are believed to neither benefit nor harm the whales.  The barnacles themselves receive a home from the whale and are able to feed without effort as the whale's movement causes current to flow over the barnacles, bringing food to them.  When barnacles attach themselves to mussels or oysters, they are more injurious, taking food away from the molluscs, and sometimes growing completely over them until they have smothered.

There is a particularly evil species of barnacle that is a parasitic castrator (this is a real biology term that refers to when a parasite blocks the reproduction of its host) of a crab.

The barnacle redeems itself a little by holding the prized title of having the longest penis relative to body size in the animal kingdom.   Since barnacles permanently attach themselves to a substrate once they are adults, this particular trait is useful, allowing barnacles to mate with their neighbors while still hanging out at home.

Scientists have recently found one thing that humans and barnacles have in common.  No, it's not what men hope it would be with the long reproductive organ thing. It has been found that the "glue" that barnacles use to bind themselves to a hard surface contains the same enzymes that human blood uses to clot and produce scabs.  The barnacle adhesive contains a substance incredibly similar to Factor VIII, an agent considered essential for humans to clot blood.

Does that mean we can use an anticoagulant as bottom paint?

Bottom paint, also known as anti-fouling paint, helps to keep those darn barnacles from growing on your boat.  Some bottom paints work by slow release of toxic compounds and chemicals, some work by creating a too slick surface for barnacles to stick, and some work by using small mobile fibers that move to prevent attachment.

We had barnacles.  Jamey had noticed them when he dove down to check the prop one day.  The barnacles were on the prop and were lightly scattered across the hull.   Barnacles growing on a boat cause drag and decreased maneuverability.  C. Spirit had gotten a new coat of bottom paint at the start of this season, but there was suspicion that the particular brand of paint that was used was maybe not up to par, as Jamey's parents had noticed barnacles already growing on the boat earlier in the summer.  Jamey had noticed that C. Spirit was moving slower than he thought she should. 


Though we had not planned to reapply bottom paint to C. Spirit during our visit to The Oyster House (see posts from October 20 and 21), when our awesome host Andy heard that it was something that Jamey wished to do, he quickly arranged to have C. Spirit hauled and set Jamey up with everything needed to get the job done. 

The boat was hauled yesterday morning. Jamey painted yesterday afternoon and buffed it up today.  It was back in the water by late afternoon.  Totally amazing that we were able to do this having just decided to do so two days ago.  Thank you, Faith, Andy, Janet, and Gary! 

The travel lift hauls boats out by lowering straps under the boat while it is in the water.  The straps are then winched up, and the boat is lifted. 

Bottom paint can also prevent build-up of algae and other slime. 

 

It's always cool to see the bottom of your home. 

These stands secure the boat when it is on land.  Many boats were being hauled out for the season today. 

 

 

 

Barnacles on a prop.  This was on a boat next to ours in the boatyard. 

Gary and Andy provided tremendous help and support for this project. 

Jamey buffs the boat.

I got to go halfway up the mast to fix one of the lights.  I was also able to totally "spring clean" the inside as Faith, Janet, Gary and Andy took turns babysitting the girls all day back at The Oyster House. 

Sunset on the Great Wicomico River

Andy greeted Janet and Gary (returning from the boatyard with C.Spirit) with a cannon salute.