Are Barnacles and Zebra Mussels Related.

Mar 14, 2024

It all starts out so simply – I was researching an article on bottom paints and since these two pests are problems in different parts of the country the question entered my mind. Among the many gaps in my resume, I have no depth in marine biology, so I decided to look it up.

But I got sidetracked in a discussion of the relative durability of Westerbeke and Yanmar diesels, and decided to look that up. Just then, I got a press release from Furuno and realized I would need to really need to brush up on my chartplotter understanding to continue reading.

In summary, it was suddenly apparent in less than a quarter hour of innocent reading of emails that I know very little about not very much.  It’s not surprising perhaps, but I have been a boat owner for decades, powered and sailed here and there with a boatload of experienced people, yet there is so much more.  You don’t know what you don’t know until you suddenly discover that you just don’t know.

That presents an opportunity. Many opportunities to expand and grow your boating knowledge. It’s a pretty good idea; at least there’s a chance of getting a handle on some aspects of boating versus trying to understand the world outside, politics, human nature etc.

I have a few leads. First of all, these publications; in the course of reading Canadian Boating magazine, these OnBoard and Sailing in Canada free online digests and our cruise guides you can get a substantial grip on quite a wide range of subject matter. That in turn, can lead you to in-depth study (diesel mechanics and navigation are two good examples), Power Squadron and other courses and a perhaps degree in marine biology. There’s a lot to cover.

BTW, from what I can see based on their Latin names, barnacles and mussels are different species.

John Morris, Online Editor