I've been surfing the internet lately finding all poosible maintenance that needs to be completed before spring. I stumbled on the blistering problem fiberglass boats have. I purchased a 1987 26.5 last summer. The boat did not come with a trailer. The previous owner states that the boat has never left the water since she arrived 20 years ago. There was substational algea growth below the waterline. I planned on removing the algea this spring using diving equipment and burber carpet. I've got blistering of the mind now because everything I read about it states that if the boat has been in the water for a long period of time, fresh or salt, blisters will occur. There is not a marina to accomidate sailboats at this lake. I am about to join a sailing club that has a universal trailer that my boat will fit on. Should I wait to spend anymore money on cosmetic boat projects until I can check the underside? Or am I just worrying over nothing. The marina owner who sold me the boat stated that I should not worry about blistering due to the undercoat. This being my first boat purchase I think I might of made a mistake due to lack of research, investigation, and overall fiberglass boat maintenance knowledge. Any ideas?
BLISTERS
- Thread starter Joseph6508
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Check the archives Joseph
There is a recent discussion/quiz concerning blisters and how owners have or have not repaired them. Search the archives; there is a wealth of information available for the taking. Dan H. aka - wrenchbender Homer NY S/V garinion Hunter 240
There is a recent discussion/quiz concerning blisters and how owners have or have not repaired them. Search the archives; there is a wealth of information available for the taking. Dan H. aka - wrenchbender Homer NY S/V garinion Hunter 240
I wouldn't worry about blister until you actually discover you have some. I pull my boat from the salt water about every three years and have only experienced a handfull of dime-sized blisters each time. The fix is rather simple, and you should have no problem making these repairs on the trailer. However, you will need the trailer for a few days, as you need to allow the blisters to dry out. First, you'll need to identify the blisters and mark them while the boat is still wet. I use a china marker for this. The blisters are most puffy when still full of water, and will shrink and sometimes disappear after the hull has dried, making them difficult to spot. Remember, these blister contain acid, and sometimes under pressure, so be sure to protect you eyes before messing with them. My repair process is rather simple. Grind them out, making sure you've eliminated all the loose layers so that you've got solid fiberglass all around. Scrub vigorously with a soapy water solution. All a couple of days for drying. If you're rushed, you might be able to dab these spots with alcohol to evaporate the water, but I wouldn't go this route unless you absolutely have too. I then coat the bared/ground fiberglass with a water barrier, let dry, then sand to a rough surface. Fill with an epoxy filler made just for this type of repair, and let dry. Make sure you over-fill these ground out depressions, as you'll sand them even later. Once the epoxy has dried, sand, paint, dry and splash. A much worst case senario would be where you discover huge baseball or even golfball sized blisters covering the entire bottom. The fix for that smallpox condition is much more involved. Scott S/V Rubicon Key West
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