An interesting comment on Yachtworld

[Brian D]

While looking at some C34s on Yachtworld, I ran across this statement under the description of the boat:

Note she is from Catalina's blister years and does have bottom blisters, which is reflected in the asking price. That said, if your afraid of blisters this might not be the boat for you.

So now one has to ask... was there a "blister year" for Catalinas? And if so, what are they?

 

[Old Skool Neil]

I can offer part of an answer. My dates might not be exact but they're close.
It wasn't just Catalina, it was everybody. In boats built prior to 1974, osmotic blisters were unheard of. There was a mandated change in the formulation of polystyrene resin at that time due to EPA concerns (if I recall correctly) and the aftermath is blister history. I left the boatbuilding industry in 1977 so I can't accurately comment on what remedies occurred after that time.

The problem wasn't limited to boats either. I installed an 8 foot round fiberglass Jacuzzi tub in 1976 and within 2 years it was totally blistered below the waterline, worse than I'd ever seen.

There ain't nuthin' like a good ole carcinogenic toxic chemical to get the job done right.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Basically it's a buncha bull.

The C34 started production in 1986. I outghta know, I have one.

There were a few hulls that were reported to have some blisters, but not one that I know of was structural. Many have reported on dime sized blisters (I have some) which they drilled out, and simply epoxied over.

Earlier Catalina boats, from early 1980 to 1983 reportedly had some blister issues. Then Catalina started using an epoxy barrier coat. The initial barriers were pretty flimsy, but did a reasonable job.

After 1,800 hulls, over 700 members in the C34IA, and twelve years of reporting on them as secretary of the C34IA and a daily contributor to our message board, I woulda heard of any issues like this.

And the C36 guys, whose boats began production earlier than ours, didn't seem to have any endemic problems either.

So? Hogwash.

 

[Brian D]

Here is the listing for the boat in question.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1986/Catalina--2262520/San-Diego/CA/United-States

It is an '86. I don't know the number or the size of the blisters. But that was a blanket statement of "blister years".

I have been doing a lot of reading on blisters just because of this comment. So I have a pretty good idea of what is going on and why. Yes, the boats prior to the mid 70's did not suffer like the boats after. However, I am sure by now someone would have come up with a better solution to the problem. They've had 30 years.

So there really is no "blister years" for C34s. Wonder why the broker said that.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Wonder why the broker said that.

Gee, maybe ya think he wants to sell the boat, and use a made-up excuse?

 

[Jack - La Paz Mx]

We have a Cat 30, 1983 version. It has been in the water in Mexico since 1995. It has been pulled out of the water, bottom painted, and put back in the water only 4 times. The boat was out of the water two days each time for the painting We have no blisters, but do have a thick barrier coat. We do also use Interlux Ultra (76% copper), a hard epoxy bottom paint. Sadly this paint has been discontinued.

 

[sinnettc]

Is that a bargain price? I saw an 84 Pearson 34 listed on the Portland OR Craigslist for $39999. Seems comparable.