Blisters, to Epiglass or not to Epiglass

[Rod]

I bought a beautiful 35.5 Legend last November and had it shipped to Ohio with a clean bill of health from the "surveyor". Had the bottom sand blasted and discovered hundreds of small blisters, about 1/4 inch in dia. A few larger. Some had water in them but most didn't. I opened them up and drummeled them out to dry. I have read everything on repairing blisters and have decided to use the interlux interprotect system. They recommend ¨wetting out¨ the blisters with Epiglass before and after applying the filler. Most people I talk to including the repair community tell me not to waste my time with the Epiglass step. Just fill and sand, clean off hull then put 4 to 6 coats of interlux 2000. Please share your experience with either method.

 

[Skipper (Eric)]

Trust your instincts...Don't buy the product

I agree with them. You are wasting your time with the product you speak of. It is just more stuff to sell to people that have never done the job before. Trust your instincts. cut them open, let them dry out. Fill them with semi jelled fiberglass resin. Sand smooth (Better yet, cut them smooth with a razor blade before the resin cures completely), then cover with foul paint. Try it a season and you will see.Skipper from Ohio ...Eric Stanson

 

[David]

When you

fill the blister cavity, after washing with fresh water and drying, use only an epoxy paste mixture. After sanding apply the barrier coats of resin before painting.

 

[Jim willis]

Main features of blister repair

are permanently posted in the gelcoat and plastics forumThanksJim W

 

[Rich Wallace]

I Fixed A Mac 25 Hull

that had 1000's of blisters the size of a grain of rice. None were over a 1/16th of an inch deep. I drilled them out with a Dremel with a 1/8th inch bit and then used the Interlux epoxy putty (200/201 maybe) and filled every one of the pits. Then I sanded and put on six coats of 2000/2001. The one thing that I can tell you is that you don't have to have a perfect sanding job. The barrier coat is thick and it will cover any possible sanding marks.The only trick is to have the boat blocked or hung in a way that you can get to the whole bottom at one time. Once you start the barrier coat process, you have to finish it because the next coat has to be put on before the previous coat fully dries.