What Does Underwater Yacht Maintenance Include?

It covers everything a dive team does below the waterline to keep your vessel running properly. It's not a single service but a collection of tasks performed at your slip on a regular schedule, without hauling the yacht out.

Barnacle Busters provides full underwater yacht maintenance across Palm Beach, Broward, and Martin Counties. Every dive visit covers a standard checklist, and any additional issues get flagged and reported.

Hull Cleaning

The diver works section by section from the waterline down, removing algae, slime, and barnacles using tools matched to the antifouling paint system. On powerboats, the waterline and running gear foul faster than the lower hull. Sailboats need the entire hull cleaned every visit, including the keel and rudder. The goal is to remove growth while it's soft enough for gentle tools, which preserves the coating.

Running Gear and Through-Hulls

Running gear, including propellers, shafts, struts, rudders, and trim tabs, gets cleaned and inspected individually. The diver checks for dings on the prop, wear on the shaft, and debris like fishing line. Through-hull fittings get cleared of growth and checked for corrosion or weeping. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission includes proper vessel maintenance among its boating safety recommendations.

Zinc Anodes

Zinc anodes get checked on every visit. If any are at or past the 50% replacement threshold, they're swapped on the spot. The diver also watches for unusual depletion patterns that could indicate stray current or bonding issues.

Condition Reporting

After every dive, the owner or captain receives a report covering hull condition, paint state, zinc levels, running gear status, and through-hull findings. Over time, these reports build a documented history valuable for insurance, resale, and surveys. The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors expects vessels to demonstrate consistent maintenance records during pre-purchase inspections.

Contact Barnacle Busters to set up a monthly program or schedule a one-time inspection.