Do barnacles have "roots"?

[mike]

Since moving our boat to saltwater (was previously in a brackish bayou), I've noticed some barnacle growth, primary in the transom area. The bottom was painted over a year and a half ago, so I suppose it's time to repaint. Anyway, I was talking to someone today, and he mentioned that barnacles can cause big problems because they attach themselves with "roots" burrowing through the gelcoat into the fiberglass. Is there any truth to this? I always thought they secreted some sort of glue to hold themselves in place.

--Mike

[craiglaforce]

I think you are right that it is some kind of crazy glue. Not roots.

[Graham Carr]

Check this site out: National Geographic News

[richandlori]

No roots, just a bio-glue that would rival some of the best industrial strength adhesives.

Rich

[Mark Prouty]

THE DEVIANTS
A few barnacle species have a different lifestyle and live as soft-bodied parasites, forming branching roots within the tissues of crabs. They eventually produce a pale yellow bulge under the crab's tail, distinguishable from an egg mass because it is smooth rather than granular. Parasitised crabs are prevented from moulting and often have heavy encrusting growth on their carapaces.

The barnacle file

Fortunatly, it would seem the deviants don't go after Macs.

[moonie]

Does anybody remember the Polyestermite rumour that was started in the UK. People fell for it all over the world. The "mite" that ate plastics including fibreglass boats.