Blister Scenerio.....Seeking Your Thoughts :(

[jay kent]

In March, when the boat was on the hard, I received a call from the marina about my rudder. Seems the rudder had water in it, and had frozen over the winter. It was recommended that they remove it, repair it and prepare it for reattachment. All of this was to be done, in a timely manner, for my scheduled launch in mid to late April. Additionally, this was to be done at the same time they were sandblasting my entire bottom (and they assurred me that the rudder would be done, too). The boat was to receive a complete sandblasting to eliminate blisters from the bottom and the rudder. Then, painting, etc was to be done and everything corrected for the Spring Commissioning. My scheduled launch was pushed back a couple of weeks due to problems with personnel on their staff. Finally, on my pushed back launch day the rudder had been installed and all had new VC-17 bottom paint completed. The launch took place and I never saw the bottom again until today - haul out day.When the boat was lifted and power washed, the blisters on the rudder were incredible!! They were on both sides, and more predominate than ever before. Also, their are several blisters showing on the "new" bottom and the caulking around the keel has opened up.Now, my question for all the "quality thinkers": having paid a lot of money for all the bottom and rudder repairs, plus having my scheduled launch pushed back to accommodate their labor issues, what do you think the marina's responsibility to me (and my boat) should be? Please advise soon, as I have my thoughts and I plan to pursue this early next week. As of tonight, I have not said anything to anyone at the marina about my concerns. I look forward to hearing from several of the regular contributors about your thoughts, experiences, etc. Thanks, in advance!

 

[Jeff D]

Question

It is unclear as to whether or not you saw the completed work prior to launching in the spring. If not, I would be concerned if the work was even done. Regardless, you should have asked about warranty on the bottom job and what it entailed. Most operations have a warranty and perhaps the products themselves have warranties. The idea of sandblasting to remove hull blisters sounds a little vague. They should be ground out, left to dry, filled etc. The rudder is whole different problem although they are both called blisters. If you never discussed it with them, it is time get sneaky and ask around to see if others who had bottom jobs from them received a warranty. Do your homework before discussing the problems with them. Keep a good thought that it is a reputable outfit they will stand by their work. Bottom jobs can be tricky but yours sounds as though it should be covered under some sort of warranty. Hope you get it resolved without a lot of hassel.

 

[Don Berger]

Doesn't make sense

What they did (to correct the blister problem) doesn't make sense. To do it properly, they would have had to thoroughly dry the hull after, depending upon the extent of blistering, either grinding out the individual spots or stripping the entire hull. What it sounds like is they simply went through some frivilous motions and sealed moisture in an already wet hull.I'm not sure where the boat is but in March/April in the northeast last spring, it would have been far too cold and wet to allow a proper drying and I infer it was immediately launched.I'd tell them to do correctly what you (already)paid them to do last year - assuming they know how to do it correctly.Don

 

[jay kent]

I did see the bottom on launch day........

but it was all ready painted. Prior to that, I saw it after it had been sandblasted, and I spoke to the service manager about my disappointment in how the bottom looked "after sandblasting". He told me that they would get the guy to go back over the bottom before they finished it in prep for the launch. Whether that was done, I have no way of knowing. Then, they were going to fill in the blisters (after they dried out)and then do the painting. I live three and half hours from the marina, which is on the South Shore (in Ohio) of Lake Erie. Therefore, I never went back until launch day. Hope this answer some questions. I do, always, appreciate everyone's input.

 

[IslandJack]

A couple of thoughts

When there are blisters the fiberglass is eating itself up using the external moisture to react below the skin and form some nasty chemical combination, that is pretty much like rust. After you pierce the skin and drain the 'pus' you gotta dry the hull. This could take up to a year unless you use drying equipment! Epoxying the 'zit' hole just means the pus is gonna find another spot to beat to the surface, unless the hull is thoroughly dry.The blisters you saw the first time were just the first ones you saw. Didn't mean your hull moisture wasn't producing a new crop ten times bigger. Paint over the hull does nothing...ths action is coming from the other side of the skin.I don't see how you can fairly call it a bottom job warranty issue, but I don't see that I would use the guy again. He shoulda told you when he popped the first zit and found water that the hull needed drying. Just another illustration of why doing things yourself is often superior...IJ

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Island Jack says the water is coming from the

other side and he is correct. Dry your bilge and seal the inside. Paint should do it. It's a myth that the water comes from the outside. Yards and barrier coating companies propagate the myth because it's going to cost you MORE MONEY. But I'm not an expert. Ok experts, let's hear it.