Could anyone tell how prone a hunter yacht is to fiberglass blistering, and maybe some ideas about fixing them ?
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Hunter Blisters
There are a lot of variables and theories about blisters. In the seventies there were fire retardant chemicals blamed for blisters. The humidity is a factory when the hull is laid up. Boats kept in warm water year round are more likely to have blister problems. There is a lot written about this issue and can easily be researched on line. My h34 never had a blister after twenty years. I have been told that some of the worst blister ever seen were on a late 70's h30. Making a general statement about Hunter vessel and blisters is difficult. Like many others I put an epoxy barrier coat for extra protection. West epoxy has good information about blister repair. Open them up with a grinder, flush them out, dry them and fill them with two part epoxy. Drying the hull is important before sealing up the fiberglass. I stripped mine in the fall and let it dry for several months before the barrier coat was put on.
There are a lot of variables and theories about blisters. In the seventies there were fire retardant chemicals blamed for blisters. The humidity is a factory when the hull is laid up. Boats kept in warm water year round are more likely to have blister problems. There is a lot written about this issue and can easily be researched on line. My h34 never had a blister after twenty years. I have been told that some of the worst blister ever seen were on a late 70's h30. Making a general statement about Hunter vessel and blisters is difficult. Like many others I put an epoxy barrier coat for extra protection. West epoxy has good information about blister repair. Open them up with a grinder, flush them out, dry them and fill them with two part epoxy. Drying the hull is important before sealing up the fiberglass. I stripped mine in the fall and let it dry for several months before the barrier coat was put on.
Blisters happen
My Rhodes Meridian never had a blister in all it's 39 years (and counting); my 1992 Hunter 28 had about 30 (repaired this year), none of them larger than a quarter, most smaller. My friend's 1989 Hunter 28 developed hundreds, many the the size of softballs. In the mid-1970's and '80's many boat manufacturers - Hunter included - experimented with various resin formulations in a response to the rising cost crude oil. In most cases, it was the wrong decision. By the late '80s Hunter recognized it had a problem with osmotic blistering. By 1992, when my boat was built, Hunter offered a 5-year warranty against hull blistering. None-the-less, blistering is probably present below the waterline if your boat was built after the mid-70s, but take heart - it ain't fatal (just time-consuming and moderately expensive). Essentially, pockets of acetic acid acid (vinegar) form when water finds its way into the fiberglass beneath the gel-coat layer. Volumes have been written on this subject. The repair is simple: strip the bottom paint; look for the blisters; pop 'em; grind 'em; fill 'em; barrier-coat 'em. Check the Interlux web site for blister repair, or refer to Don Casey's "This Old Boat" among others.
My Rhodes Meridian never had a blister in all it's 39 years (and counting); my 1992 Hunter 28 had about 30 (repaired this year), none of them larger than a quarter, most smaller. My friend's 1989 Hunter 28 developed hundreds, many the the size of softballs. In the mid-1970's and '80's many boat manufacturers - Hunter included - experimented with various resin formulations in a response to the rising cost crude oil. In most cases, it was the wrong decision. By the late '80s Hunter recognized it had a problem with osmotic blistering. By 1992, when my boat was built, Hunter offered a 5-year warranty against hull blistering. None-the-less, blistering is probably present below the waterline if your boat was built after the mid-70s, but take heart - it ain't fatal (just time-consuming and moderately expensive). Essentially, pockets of acetic acid acid (vinegar) form when water finds its way into the fiberglass beneath the gel-coat layer. Volumes have been written on this subject. The repair is simple: strip the bottom paint; look for the blisters; pop 'em; grind 'em; fill 'em; barrier-coat 'em. Check the Interlux web site for blister repair, or refer to Don Casey's "This Old Boat" among others.
No more than other brands.
Glyn: We have had our H'31 since it was new. We have never had a single blister. It is berthed in warm fresh water (relative term)since it was new. We had an epoxy job done (pre-delivery)and have had bottom paint about every 2-4 years. One of my fellow sailors has a '79 H'30 that has had a few large ones. Grind them and fill with Marine Bondo. Paint it an put it back in the water. Another friend with a late 70's early 80's Catalina 30 had to have the bottom peeled. Go to a boat yard and see what type of boats have blisters (most every brand).
Glyn: We have had our H'31 since it was new. We have never had a single blister. It is berthed in warm fresh water (relative term)since it was new. We had an epoxy job done (pre-delivery)and have had bottom paint about every 2-4 years. One of my fellow sailors has a '79 H'30 that has had a few large ones. Grind them and fill with Marine Bondo. Paint it an put it back in the water. Another friend with a late 70's early 80's Catalina 30 had to have the bottom peeled. Go to a boat yard and see what type of boats have blisters (most every brand).
No Problems Here on my '88
My '88 HL-35 has had a barrier coat since new and I've never had a single blister so no problems here. Haul, sand, paint, wax, splash! No problemo!
My '88 HL-35 has had a barrier coat since new and I've never had a single blister so no problems here. Haul, sand, paint, wax, splash! No problemo!
340 blisters
My 2000 340 developed a string of small blisters at the waterline in year three starboard side. All smaller than a dime Hunter stood for the repair Last year had a string of same port side. Hunter stepped up again No blisters anywhere else Regular bottom maintenance by yard Boat pulled every winter t
My 2000 340 developed a string of small blisters at the waterline in year three starboard side. All smaller than a dime Hunter stood for the repair Last year had a string of same port side. Hunter stepped up again No blisters anywhere else Regular bottom maintenance by yard Boat pulled every winter t
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