I’ve been thinking about buying a 1988 Catalina 30, so I hired a surveyor to inspect the boat. The boat was hauled out this morning, and I noticed about 100 dime-sized blisters. None of them exposes fiberglass. They are solid, hard blisters. Are they acceptable, or should I back out of purchasing this boat? I know that the blister repair is expensive.
1988 Catalina 30 with blisters
- Thread starter madmax
- Start date
Depends…. Blisters scare people and sometimes that fear is justified. Before you write this one off which might be a good idea, ask the seller to strip the hull and dry out the FRP. Likely most buyers would walk away in the future unless he fixes the problem.
We have had a 1986 Catalina 27 for about 6 years now. When I was looking to buy the boat, the surveyor said the same thing ”about a 100 dime sized blisters”. I did a lot of reading about blisters, really couldn’t find anyone whose boat sank from them, and decided to go ahead and buy the boat (which I’m really glad I did).
The boat had sat in fresh water for 5 years before we bought it and I don’t think it had been hauled out or bottom painted during that time. Someone (before the owner we bought it from) had put Interlux Regatta Baltoplate (a pricier hard paint) on it which really helped keep down bottom growth. It’s due for another haul out and bottom pain job but the past two times, the blisters didn’t seem to have increased in size at an alarming rate. Biggest ones were on the keel (see attached photo). I just patched the ones that broke open when sanding down before painting.
My philosophy is function before form & performance before appearance but I get that for others it may be the other way around. I don’t let the warts or blisters on my feet stop me from hiking and running nor the blisters on the boat stop me from sailing.
You have to decide what you are comfortable with. Cheers.
The boat had sat in fresh water for 5 years before we bought it and I don’t think it had been hauled out or bottom painted during that time. Someone (before the owner we bought it from) had put Interlux Regatta Baltoplate (a pricier hard paint) on it which really helped keep down bottom growth. It’s due for another haul out and bottom pain job but the past two times, the blisters didn’t seem to have increased in size at an alarming rate. Biggest ones were on the keel (see attached photo). I just patched the ones that broke open when sanding down before painting.
My philosophy is function before form & performance before appearance but I get that for others it may be the other way around. I don’t let the warts or blisters on my feet stop me from hiking and running nor the blisters on the boat stop me from sailing.
You have to decide what you are comfortable with. Cheers.
Attachments
How is the rest of the bottom? After five years in fresh water I'm not surprised there are some blisters. 100 dime sized doesn't seem that bad to me if the rest of the bottom is smooth. I would say that's DIY territory. If the rest of the bottom is gnarly I would pass or offer a way reduced price because that boat needs a bottom job which is thousands of dollars.
Some may say so what if the bottom is rough. But the boat will sail poorly in light wind, it will not go to weather well and general not be a pleasure to sail.
Some may say so what if the bottom is rough. But the boat will sail poorly in light wind, it will not go to weather well and general not be a pleasure to sail.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,671
Eloquently stated.
MY boat has blisters. There, I said it. First splashed in 1974, she probably has a few warts as well. My boat was built with a thick hull.
I tried to learn all I could about the problem.
The following materials helped me address the issue.
- David Pascoe: Hull Blisters on Boats and Yachts - by David Pascoe, Marine Surveyor
- and the works of Steve D'Antonio
Lots of good points here. If nothing else, the blisters reduce the boat's resale value when you're looking to sell and should be factored into its value now, i.e. you probably have some negotiating power.
Catalina 30's are everywhere. Don't let yourself get hung up on this particular boat and definitely don't overpay.
Catalina 30's are everywhere. Don't let yourself get hung up on this particular boat and definitely don't overpay.
Blisters are the most over-worried-about issue with fiberglass. Mostly, people just don't like the idea of them, but they are typically only cosmetic. Depth matters. In the case of dime-sized blisters, these are not deep enough to matter, structurally. They are very unlikely to develop into something that is ever more than a cosmetic issue.
It is true that a complete and permanent repair is either expensive or time-consuming. But, it also doesn't need repair. It is relatively rare for a blister to extend into the laminate layers and, even then, is rarely a safety issue.
Does it affect resale value?
Well, it might if the blisters are not factored into the price you pay. That is, if the seller prices accordingly, then you should be able to sell accordingly. But honestly, if you buy a 1988 Catalina with the expectation that there will be no blistering, you narrow your search by quite a bit. They are a pretty normal thing - most boats of that age have some. However, Catalina 30s are increasingly being consider entry-level boats - meaning first-time buyers. First-time buyers will, in general, worry more about blisters than a more seasoned boat owner.
So, there's that. You didn't say, but I am inferring that this is your first boat. And, the blisters are giving you pause. So, they are likely to give the next buyer pause too.
A surveyor will look at the blisters and tell you that they are not a structural concern and not something that even needs repair - possibly ever. But, first-time buyers are often more influenced by gut-feelings and emotions.
When I bought my current boat (a 1975) we hauled her out for inspection. I assumed there would be some blistering, and that it might be fairly extensive. As long as there were none that appeared to run deep (which would be unusual), the blistering that you described would not have affected my purchase decision one bit. I had already assumed it was there, just due to the age of the boat. As it happens, there was none at all. I mention this only because everyone (me, the surveyors, and the previous owner) was surprised by the absence of blistering - which says something about how common blisters are.
It is true that a complete and permanent repair is either expensive or time-consuming. But, it also doesn't need repair. It is relatively rare for a blister to extend into the laminate layers and, even then, is rarely a safety issue.
Does it affect resale value?
Well, it might if the blisters are not factored into the price you pay. That is, if the seller prices accordingly, then you should be able to sell accordingly. But honestly, if you buy a 1988 Catalina with the expectation that there will be no blistering, you narrow your search by quite a bit. They are a pretty normal thing - most boats of that age have some. However, Catalina 30s are increasingly being consider entry-level boats - meaning first-time buyers. First-time buyers will, in general, worry more about blisters than a more seasoned boat owner.
So, there's that. You didn't say, but I am inferring that this is your first boat. And, the blisters are giving you pause. So, they are likely to give the next buyer pause too.
A surveyor will look at the blisters and tell you that they are not a structural concern and not something that even needs repair - possibly ever. But, first-time buyers are often more influenced by gut-feelings and emotions.
When I bought my current boat (a 1975) we hauled her out for inspection. I assumed there would be some blistering, and that it might be fairly extensive. As long as there were none that appeared to run deep (which would be unusual), the blistering that you described would not have affected my purchase decision one bit. I had already assumed it was there, just due to the age of the boat. As it happens, there was none at all. I mention this only because everyone (me, the surveyors, and the previous owner) was surprised by the absence of blistering - which says something about how common blisters are.
Several years ago, based on my estimated cost of blister mitigation, I offered a reduced price for a boat. The seller declined my offer and insisted that she was worth the asked for price. I wasn't looking to flip the boat but rather, to make her my own and that involved, the cost of re-rigging, correcting any other unknown issues and blister remediation.
As someone else posted, there are other sailboats to choose from. Blisters can go two ways, they can be there without consequence out of sight and mind for the length of time you own the boat or, they can fester and turn into a nightmare repair scenario. Either way as also pointed out, unless you spend the money to fix them, they can as the boat ages, reduce your ability to sell and recoup your investment to its full potential.
George
As someone else posted, there are other sailboats to choose from. Blisters can go two ways, they can be there without consequence out of sight and mind for the length of time you own the boat or, they can fester and turn into a nightmare repair scenario. Either way as also pointed out, unless you spend the money to fix them, they can as the boat ages, reduce your ability to sell and recoup your investment to its full potential.
George
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So what can the OP (or anyone else) learn from these diverse opinions:
1 resale value jeopardy and diminished market potential,
2. blisters can sometimes get worse if unaddressed,
3. some people consider blisters insignificant unless “deep” ( whatever “deep” means), and
4. repair can be time consuming and expensive.
no epiphany here.
1 resale value jeopardy and diminished market potential,
2. blisters can sometimes get worse if unaddressed,
3. some people consider blisters insignificant unless “deep” ( whatever “deep” means), and
4. repair can be time consuming and expensive.
no epiphany here.
Another point regarding this sale: If you get the current owner to do the repair at his expense, you could well get lipstick on a pig. So I think it's better to negotiate a lower price and supervise the repair - if you are going to repair it at all.
And, mark the blisters when the boat is recently pulled because they will be difficult to see once the hull dries some.
And, mark the blisters when the boat is recently pulled because they will be difficult to see once the hull dries some.
Don't let this get lost in the discussion. This is really solid advice.
Around 25 years ago had a boat show 4 quarter size blisters in various areas, well below waterline during survey. Had yard manager give me an estimate of $800 for repair while still hanging. Had seller give me a check for $800 to cover repair to close sale. Yard later found another blister but that was on my dime for not finding it sooner.
Another boat, dim in memory developed 100's of very small "blisters" near waterline on south side of docked boat. They were just in the bottom paint and sanded out with the next bottom job.
What did your surveyor advise and did you get a repair estimate, ideally, you'd like seller to pay but repair performed under YOUR supervision.
Another boat, dim in memory developed 100's of very small "blisters" near waterline on south side of docked boat. They were just in the bottom paint and sanded out with the next bottom job.
What did your surveyor advise and did you get a repair estimate, ideally, you'd like seller to pay but repair performed under YOUR supervision.
I am not buying this boat. I am eyeing a Catalina 320.
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First time my C30 owning friend sailed my boat he said "I can't believe this boat is only 2' longer than mine". I told him it's a foot wider and carries more beam aft also. I found the hull history valuable while shopping for my boat. My hull is a 2002 model year with a stainless propshaft, common to hulls after #880. Made in California mostly fin keels and conventional full batten mains until about 2006 when production in Florida with a lot of wing keels and in-mast mains.
Hull History - Catalina 320 International Association
Hull History - Catalina 320 International Association
There is a lot of talk about the blisters affecting your potential re-sale value. I'm sure that's true, but if you are a typical purchaser and subsequent owner of a 40-year old Catalina, during the next five years, you may be likely to spend at least 3 times the boat's value in necessary and unnecessary improvements (not including slip fees, registration, insurance and winter storage). None of those expenses are going to improve your boat's value either.
I wouldn't be worried about the blisters (if they are readily fixable) or the re-sale value. Fix the blisters, or don't. Walk away from the deal and look around some more. If you don't find a better option, come back or wait until you find a better candidate. It's really just your judgement call. You could make an offer contingent on the owner repairing the blisters, thus opening it up for negotiation.
I wouldn't be worried about the blisters (if they are readily fixable) or the re-sale value. Fix the blisters, or don't. Walk away from the deal and look around some more. If you don't find a better option, come back or wait until you find a better candidate. It's really just your judgement call. You could make an offer contingent on the owner repairing the blisters, thus opening it up for negotiation.