Barrier Coat Blisters

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Steve

Have a two year old Catalina which received dealer installed barier coat and bottom paint prior to new delivery. When pulling boat last fall (after second season of sailing) bottom was covered with blisters which dealer claimed were caused by water collecting between the barrier coat and gel coat (result of poor paint adhesion). Boat bottom was soda blasted this Spring to remove all paint and discovered that bottom is now dimpled like a golf ball. Most dimples are 1/4 inch diameter and 1/16-1/8 inch deep. Some of the dimples are larger (size of a quarter) and are much deeper, approaching the surface of the fiberglass hull. Soda Blaster says there is a problem with the gel coat and dealer says there was a problem with the soda blaster. From my perspective the dimples are consistent in size and location to the blisters which were noted last fall. Dealer wants to sand the dimples and fill the few that are especially deep and follow up with bottom paint only. No barrier coat this time.... Is this a reasonble procedure? Should something other than sanding be accomplished? Will I have a high likelyhood of future gel coat blsiters? Question for legal experts reading this... Since I have a large investment with significant problems NOT caused by me do I have grounds for legal recourse? There was no specific warranty tied to the dealer installed barrier coat and bottom paint application. I sure would appreciate some "unbiased" expert advise! THANKS!!!!
 
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tbarnby

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Mar 24, 2005
39
Catalina 27 Overland Park, KS.
Steve, this happens a lot. While the dealer probably did not follow a decent procedure to remove the mold release wax prior to installing the barrier coat, this should not have happened with a two year old boat. If the blisters are that deep, there may be a problem with the initial polyester resin and chopped strand saturation. There is a good article on this at yachtsurvey.com. On the other hand, last year, one of the sailors on my lake bought a brand new Hunter 30. That's nearly a $100,000.00 boat! After the boat was in the water for about three months, he pulled it to find that all of the bottom paint was coming of in huge sheets. And NO BARRIER COAT whatsoever, which he paid extra for. Dealers come in different flavors.
 
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Tim C350 April IV

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Dec 2, 2003
392
Catalina 350 Seattle
New Catalinas carry 5 year hull warranty!

To my knowledge, new Catalina sailboats carry a 5 year hull warranty. Contact Catalina immediately! It's also my understanding that Catalina recommends that barrier coating NOT be applied to their new hulls - and their dealers should know that. Contact Catalina immediately! Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 Seattle
 
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Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
2,958
Catalina 320 Dana Point
STOP EVERYTHING and call Catalina

right away ! Sounds like the "soda blasting" pitted the gel coat, they should really like to know. This is so not right on a boat that's been in the water so little.
 
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Tim McCarty

I had the same experience!

EXACTLY...due to bad prep work, I need to take my boat 8 hours back across Lake Erie, so my dealer can strip, prep and re-paint my hull. Last year when the boat came out of the water, I noticed air blisters all over the hull, rudder and keel. Also noted delamination on the part of the hull that they did not paint (the area under one of the cradle pads that they "forgot" to paint). At that time, the dealer promised to re-do the hull this season. NOTE: the dealer told me that the only area now that CAtalina barrier coats is the keel. After reading your thread and some of the responses...some of my questions have been answered.
 
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Tim McCarty

PS...Catalina's response

Frank Butler said that is was a dealer issue, and not their responsibility...although I am upset with their hands-off approach, I do tend to agree.
 
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