I pulled my Catalina 28 out a week or two ago and found a huge blister under the gelcoat. This baby is a good 3 inches in diameter. I drilled a couple of holes into it to let it drain. Question: I looked at the Casey "blister book" on how I can repair this bad boy. Casey implies that I should grind out the entire blister and do a fill and feather. Rather than that, can/should i simply inject resin into the drill holes, filling the void? In advance, thank you for your consideration and advice. steve!
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Consider having it done!
Steve: Consider having it done. Our yard does these for under $100. It needs to be ground out and flushed with water. They typically have a mild acid from the fiberglass. Once these are flushed and dry someone that knows what they are doing will have it finshed in short order. Then you can coat it with some epoxy and repaint it with bottom paint. Check out the interlux & West Systems website for more information.
Steve: Consider having it done. Our yard does these for under $100. It needs to be ground out and flushed with water. They typically have a mild acid from the fiberglass. Once these are flushed and dry someone that knows what they are doing will have it finshed in short order. Then you can coat it with some epoxy and repaint it with bottom paint. Check out the interlux & West Systems website for more information.
Steve, Just one? I would tap around .
Most blisters are from improperly mixed/uncured resin. You may find a few more close to this one. Grind it, let it drain, ( this could take a few months) flush it to remove residue, wipe down with acetone and a dewaxer. Then fill with a product that is made to patch blisters. A few years ago a major company pulled their product because it was not preforming below the the water line. I believe much of that was due to lack of prep work. Prep it right, fill, and apply an epoxy barrier. Polyester resin is much more porous than epoxy. This will help to prevent more uncured resin from blistering due to water penetration from this area. If you can find someone to do it for $100, with a guarantee, do it. The materials and time would cost you more. If there is not guarantee... do it yourself. You will save $20 buck and have the material to fix the next one or even sell your services to fix a friends problem. r.w.landau
Most blisters are from improperly mixed/uncured resin. You may find a few more close to this one. Grind it, let it drain, ( this could take a few months) flush it to remove residue, wipe down with acetone and a dewaxer. Then fill with a product that is made to patch blisters. A few years ago a major company pulled their product because it was not preforming below the the water line. I believe much of that was due to lack of prep work. Prep it right, fill, and apply an epoxy barrier. Polyester resin is much more porous than epoxy. This will help to prevent more uncured resin from blistering due to water penetration from this area. If you can find someone to do it for $100, with a guarantee, do it. The materials and time would cost you more. If there is not guarantee... do it yourself. You will save $20 buck and have the material to fix the next one or even sell your services to fix a friends problem. r.w.landau
Steve is right BUT
I would do it myself. The yard will charge around $500 around me plus put 15 year old kids on it.... It not that hard: 1. Take the bottom paint off aorund the area. 2. Grind it out. 2.a Flush with fresh water 2.b Let dry out for a couple of months 3. Fill it with two part mix... 4. Cover with Barrier coat 5. New Bottom paint
I would do it myself. The yard will charge around $500 around me plus put 15 year old kids on it.... It not that hard: 1. Take the bottom paint off aorund the area. 2. Grind it out. 2.a Flush with fresh water 2.b Let dry out for a couple of months 3. Fill it with two part mix... 4. Cover with Barrier coat 5. New Bottom paint
An Easy Fix
Blisters happen. Don't lose sleep since no boat ever sunk because of a blister. Dry it, grid it, clean it, fill it, sand and then undercoat. Nothing more to do then that. Cheers
Blisters happen. Don't lose sleep since no boat ever sunk because of a blister. Dry it, grid it, clean it, fill it, sand and then undercoat. Nothing more to do then that. Cheers
RW has it
my additions would be, stick with the same brand name product throught the whole process,,,if West stay with west, if Interlux stay with interlux, do not mix brand names. next Grind, the reason, is the blister probably extendes a little past the "Bubble" area, grind to solid fiberglass maybe another 3/8" around the perimeter of the Bulge. ( If you dont have a grinder, Home Depot $49.00) Flush with fresh water, and wait,,,,,depends where the blister is I would recomend keeping it dry for the winter, cover this area with plastic sheeting,,,,tape off the top let the sheet hang down and over the spot, tape the edges but not the bottom,maybe tape an empty tape core under the sheet to keep the sheet away from the blister, you want the water, snow exc to pass over the repair but not seal the whole sheet as condinsation will trap water in the sheeted area, keep it ventilated and dry. wait as long as possible to dry out, if you ask the yard to borrow a moisture meter thats great if not wait until spring that should do it as far as drying out., Next wipe with acetone, (or interlux HUll wash, nasty Stuff and eates latex gloves ) then fill with a fairing compond I used Watertite Interlux.(has the consitency of tooth paste) ( fair on with a spackle knife the larger the knife the better fairing result) then sand within 24hrs, dont wait too long or you will need a belt sander, this gets real hard, wipe again with acetone then epoxy, sand, (barriercoat if you want to go the extra step, but with 1 blister I wouldnt worry about it) then Bottom paint........If you can use a grinder and can spackle, you can do this job......just get some latex gloves old clothes and a mask the suff is not best to breath when in dust form. I did a HUGE blister job last year,,,,,,and so far it still looks good......but dont let anyone tell you its a gaurantee, I mean a yard may redo their job, but Blisters are like gremlins, just because you fixed one doesnt mean another wont pop up a half inch away..... One last thing, make sure your Bilge is completly dry.......no use drying the outside when moisture can migrate from the inside. Good Luck! Rob
my additions would be, stick with the same brand name product throught the whole process,,,if West stay with west, if Interlux stay with interlux, do not mix brand names. next Grind, the reason, is the blister probably extendes a little past the "Bubble" area, grind to solid fiberglass maybe another 3/8" around the perimeter of the Bulge. ( If you dont have a grinder, Home Depot $49.00) Flush with fresh water, and wait,,,,,depends where the blister is I would recomend keeping it dry for the winter, cover this area with plastic sheeting,,,,tape off the top let the sheet hang down and over the spot, tape the edges but not the bottom,maybe tape an empty tape core under the sheet to keep the sheet away from the blister, you want the water, snow exc to pass over the repair but not seal the whole sheet as condinsation will trap water in the sheeted area, keep it ventilated and dry. wait as long as possible to dry out, if you ask the yard to borrow a moisture meter thats great if not wait until spring that should do it as far as drying out., Next wipe with acetone, (or interlux HUll wash, nasty Stuff and eates latex gloves ) then fill with a fairing compond I used Watertite Interlux.(has the consitency of tooth paste) ( fair on with a spackle knife the larger the knife the better fairing result) then sand within 24hrs, dont wait too long or you will need a belt sander, this gets real hard, wipe again with acetone then epoxy, sand, (barriercoat if you want to go the extra step, but with 1 blister I wouldnt worry about it) then Bottom paint........If you can use a grinder and can spackle, you can do this job......just get some latex gloves old clothes and a mask the suff is not best to breath when in dust form. I did a HUGE blister job last year,,,,,,and so far it still looks good......but dont let anyone tell you its a gaurantee, I mean a yard may redo their job, but Blisters are like gremlins, just because you fixed one doesnt mean another wont pop up a half inch away..... One last thing, make sure your Bilge is completly dry.......no use drying the outside when moisture can migrate from the inside. Good Luck! Rob
be careful with the grinder....
... it's very easy to go too deep. I've use a sharp chisel to clear away the damaged gel coat. Don't be too aggressive. Even a disc sander can get out of control so be careful. Your best bet is to follow the instructions on the blister repair kit you purchase. I used the 3M system with very good success a number of years back to repair fifty or sixty quarter/dime size blisters. Here in San Diego we don't haul out for the season so I could only let them dry out for a few days. Nevertheless, I've not had any new ones, nor have those repairs failed.
... it's very easy to go too deep. I've use a sharp chisel to clear away the damaged gel coat. Don't be too aggressive. Even a disc sander can get out of control so be careful. Your best bet is to follow the instructions on the blister repair kit you purchase. I used the 3M system with very good success a number of years back to repair fifty or sixty quarter/dime size blisters. Here in San Diego we don't haul out for the season so I could only let them dry out for a few days. Nevertheless, I've not had any new ones, nor have those repairs failed.
Related: BOTTOM POX
Appreciate all the advice to Steve's question. Just pulled my 25 yr old US Yacht 18 out of Crab Orchard Lake in Southern IL ( really scummy) Cleaned it off and found LOTS of blisters in large areas, not just a few isolated big ones ( Acne vs. a few zits). Is this a DOIY job? I don't have garage space so if I do it, it'll be in my driveway. Don't want to get into something I can't finish. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Fair Winds to you.
Appreciate all the advice to Steve's question. Just pulled my 25 yr old US Yacht 18 out of Crab Orchard Lake in Southern IL ( really scummy) Cleaned it off and found LOTS of blisters in large areas, not just a few isolated big ones ( Acne vs. a few zits). Is this a DOIY job? I don't have garage space so if I do it, it'll be in my driveway. Don't want to get into something I can't finish. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Fair Winds to you.
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