Blisters

[Bill T.]

Has anyone stripped all the gel coat below the waterline. I've got about 12 hours in sanding on my 1987 26.5 and I'm still not even half done. Can only go about three hours at a time after work or weekends, with a lot of rest in between. Not easy working overhead under the boat. There has to be a better way! I've got four base ball size blisters and probably hundreds of dime sized blisters that cracked through the gelcoat. Any advice, suggestions, or help? Planning on using Interlux epoxy, filler and barrier coat to repair.

 

[have it cut off.]

this is not the best way to do it.

Most yards have a cutter designed to plan off the gel coat. it takes someone who knows what they are doing but they can cut it off, fast!It may be worth havin a pro cut the gelcoat off with a planner. these tools can regulate the depth of the cut which will keep you from going thur the boat, and will make the bottom pretty fair. the way you are going it will be full of high and low spots and make finishing it a real b ugger.then it will need to dry out for quite some time. I dont know how humid it is where you are but the laminate has to be dry. really dry. here we make up a sheet plastic barrier and put heat lights in 24 hrs a day for as long as 6 months. then they check it with a moisture meter to determine how dry it is. then you worry about what to put back on.the moisture wicks up into the glass fibers and you can grind thru the boat chasing it. so its a good way to go to try to dry it.If its humid there it could take longer. you could do the rebuild back your self but it wont be easy to get it really fair.

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Neverthless...

... to look at the photo, you're doing a hell of a good job. At least you've saved yourself the labor cost so far. Way to go.

 

[Carter Leary]

Bill. The bottom of my boat was covered with blisters as was the rudder. I bought a hand planner from Lowes ( abt $100.00) which helped a bunch,it's quick BUT you must be careful.I would always test my depth setting on a board before starting. Good Luck