| Any boater would love to have a smooth sail and do | | | | ensure minimal fuel consumption. Small boats are not |
| this without using a lot of fuel. But this can only be | | | | the only ones requiring constant underwater hull |
| achieved if there are no barnacles that stick to the | | | | cleaning. Even big vessels like cruise ship lines and |
| bottom of the boat. Barnacles are sea creatures | | | | cargo vessels are prone to barnacle build up. |
| which belong to the shellfish group which also includes | | | | Since large ships have to reach a certain destination |
| shrimps and crabs. But unlike shrimps and crabs, | | | | on time, these vessels have no recourse but to |
| barnacles pose as a hindrance to boats especially in | | | | increase their fuel consumption in order to maintain an |
| acceleration. Barnacles thrive in warm waters and | | | | ideal speed level. This also results to increased |
| they can build up easily. | | | | pressure on the engines of these large ships, causing |
| They increase the boat's resistance against the | | | | early breakdown not just of engines but other moving |
| waters, so boats have to use more fuel in | | | | parts as well. Regular underwater hull cleaning is |
| accelerating. It is thus very important that boaters | | | | indeed very critical since it will spare boats the added |
| remove barnacles from the bottom of their boats so | | | | weight of barnacles. Boats which are regularly cleaned |
| they can achieve a smooth sail without using a lot of | | | | of barnacles usually accelerate without using too much |
| fuel. There have been many studies that have shown | | | | fuel. The underwater hull cleaning business is also a |
| how much barnacles cause boats to consume more | | | | thriving industry given the need for boats to regularly |
| fuel. The US Navy, for instance, say that boats with | | | | clean their hulls. |
| light buildup of barnacles have to consume about 15% | | | | There are numerous businesses that offer affordable |
| more fuel in order to accelerate. | | | | underwater boat cleaning services. This bodes well for |
| Imagine how much fuel consumption a small boat with | | | | small boaters who only have a small budget for this |
| a lot of barnacles on its bottom would have to deal | | | | type of service. The Internet is teeming with resource |
| with? Thus owners of small boats would really have | | | | on affordable yet quality underwater hull cleaning |
| to prioritize underwater boat cleaning so they can | | | | services. |