The term 'BARNACLES' Place' is a reference to the HULL of a boat, which is the outer covering of the vessel. The four-letter solution to this crossword clue is 'HULL'. The HULL of a boat is often covered in BARNACLES, which are small aquatic animals that attach themselves to the surface of the boat and feed on plankton and other organic matter. BARNACLES' Place is thus a metaphor for the HULL of a boat, which is the place where BARNACLES live.