Boat Hull Cleaning: Restore Performance and Protect Your Investment
Marine growth steals your boat's speed and fuel efficiency. Deep South Marine Restoration's professional hull cleaning removes barnacles, algae, and biofouling without damaging your hull coating.
Have you noticed your boat is using more fuel lately? Is your mighty water steed not running quite as quickly as she did when you first bought her? If so, this is a clear sign your boat could use a thorough hull cleaning.
Boat hull cleaning is one of the most important preventative maintenance services you can do to extend the life of your boat. This service will provide you with both better fuel efficiency on the water and faster speeds. However, this should only be done by an experienced diver. Our hull cleaning service at Deep South Dock, Piling & Marine Restoration is done properly to avoid any possible damage to the finish or protective coating of your boat. A poor cleaning job will actually do more harm than good. When having your boat's underside inspected, make sure to contact the professionals at Deep South Marine Restoration.
Why Hull Cleaning Matters on the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast waters are warm, nutrient-rich, and biologically active — perfect conditions for rapid marine growth on boat hulls. Barnacles, algae, and slime build up faster in these waters than in colder northern climates, making regular hull maintenance essential for any vessel kept in Gulf Coast waters.
The performance impact of hull fouling is substantial: even a light slime coat reduces fuel efficiency measurably, and heavy barnacle growth can increase fuel consumption by 30% or more and cut top speed significantly. Regular hull cleaning is one of the most cost-effective maintenance investments a boat owner can make — the fuel savings alone often pay for the cleaning over the course of a season.
Important: In-water hull cleaning should only be performed by experienced divers who understand the risks of working in confined spaces around running gear and intake systems. Our hull cleaning is performed exclusively by experienced divers trained in boat hull maintenance — not dock hands. Proper technique is essential to avoid damaging antifouling coatings and gelcoat.
Our Hull Cleaning Services
- In-water diver hull cleaning for berthed vessels
- Haul-out hull cleaning for thorough marine growth removal
- Barnacle scraping and removal without hull surface damage
- Slime and algae removal
- Hull surface inspection and condition report
- Antifouling bottom paint application
- Running gear cleaning (props, rudders, trim tabs)
Protecting Your Hull Coating
Improper barnacle removal is a common cause of hull damage. Aggressive scraping can cut through antifouling paint layers and damage gelcoat or fiberglass. Our crews are trained to remove marine growth using techniques that preserve your hull coating, extending the life of your paint job and protecting the underlying substrate.
Service Area
We provide boat hull cleaning services throughout coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Contact us to discuss your vessel and location.
Ready to Stop the Damage Before It Gets Worse?
Our team is standing by for free on-site inspections across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about dock piling repair, protection, and restoration.
In Gulf Coast saltwater environments, hull cleaning frequency depends on how the boat is stored (in water vs. dry storage), how often it is used, and the type of antifouling paint applied. Boats kept in the water year-round may need cleaning every 1–3 months. Boats used occasionally may need attention every season. We inspect hull condition and recommend a cleaning schedule based on your specific situation.
Gulf Coast boat hulls accumulate barnacles, algae, slime biofilm, bryozoans, and other marine growth. Barnacles are the most damaging to performance and hull surfaces — they attach firmly and can cause paint and gelcoat damage when removed improperly. Our professional cleaning removes marine growth without damaging your hull coating.
Significantly. Even a light slime coat can reduce fuel efficiency by 5–10%. Heavy barnacle fouling can cut top speed by 30% or more and dramatically increase fuel consumption. Regular hull cleaning is one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain boat performance and reduce operating costs.
We offer both in-water hull cleaning (divers) and haul-out cleaning for more thorough work. In-water cleaning is convenient and can be scheduled without a haul-out, but has limitations on the aggressiveness of the cleaning that can be performed. For heavy fouling or antifouling paint application, haul-out is recommended.
Yes. After hull cleaning, we can apply antifouling bottom paint to slow future marine growth accumulation. We recommend antifouling paint for vessels kept in the water long-term. Paint type and application method depend on your hull material, current coating system, and how the vessel is used.
Have More Questions? We're Here to Help.
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