Yacht life: Busting barnacles and more to keep her looking good

Yachts by their very nature are big investments.

Beyond price, is the issue of maintenance. A good crew is needed to keep vessels in ship shape.

But time spent in the water takes its toll on a yacht's exterior. When that happens, it's time to call in the barnacle busters.

Visual journalist Damon Higgins recently caught up with such a crew working on a luxury yacht Aug. 13 at the Town of Palm Beach Marina. The team, from Riviera Beach-based Atlantic Underwater Diving Services, spent about an hour and 15 minutes removing barnacles and other growth from the vessel's hull.

"The growths create drag on the bottom of the boats that prohibit them from performing the way they are supposed to," said diver Robin Reed.

What are barnacles?

Barnacles ( Balanus glandula ) are tiny crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimps.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) : "Of the more than 1,400 species of barnacles found in the world’s waterways, the most common ones are called acorn barnacles. As anyone who’s ever maintained a vessel knows, removing barnacles requires some elbow grease (or a pressure washer). That's why some boaters call them by their slang name: 'crusty foulers.'

"How do barnacles stick to the undersides of vessels, to other sea life, to each other, and to pretty much anything they come in contact with? They secrete a fast-curing cement that is among the most powerful natural glues known — the glue is so strong that researchers are trying to figure out how it can be used commercially."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Yacht life: Busting barnacles and more to keep her looking good