Boat Pox is this the END

RonRelyea · Jul 17, 2012

check out these articles ...

http://www.yachtworld.com/offshoreatlantic/offshoreatlantic_7.html

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm

DeniseO30 · Jul 17, 2012

Red Ryder said:
I own a 1984 O'Day 222... It has sever boat pox of the worst kind. I am not able to repair it myself. The cost will be prohibitive to repair... if she can be repaired. The expense of repair maybe more than her market value. She is currently resting on a trailer and I have noticed a soft spot on the starboard side of her hull. Do I invest more money in her or move on to a new venture? I would like to hear suggestions. Thanks...

Pox... what do you mean? Why can't you fix it yourself? Blisters are not the then end of a boat.. repaired... just about anything can be repaired... there is no "market value" for an old boat. Price and sale are mostly just luck. Invest... when did a boat ever become an investment?

suggestions .... How about some pictures?

HukilauMike · Jul 17, 2012

RonRelyea said:
check out these articles ...

http://www.yachtworld.com/offshoreatlantic/offshoreatlantic_7.html

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm

Excellent educational materials. Thanks.

Joe11688 · Jul 17, 2012

Red Ryder said:
I own a 1984 O'Day 222... It has sever boat pox of the worst kind. I am not able to repair it myself. The cost will be prohibitive to repair... if she can be repaired. The expense of repair maybe more than her market value. She is currently resting on a trailer and I have noticed a soft spot on the starboard side of her hull. Do I invest more money in her or move on to a new venture? I would like to hear suggestions. Thanks...

I know very little about blisters Red but to my way of thinking it really comes down to one thing and that is, do I love this boat enough to have it fixed?
Case in point; When I launched my boat in the spring I picked a terrible day for it. I didn't have time to get the mast up and I made the foolish decision of motoring down to a protective cove on the river where I thought that I could accomplish that task.
As I was motoring up the river into a stiff wind with waves I didn't realize the my outboard's water pump had stopped pumping or that something in the engine was blocking the water flow, probably the thermostat. She overheated and caused some damage to the engine. Luckily I was able to get back to my mooring under bare pole with my centerboard down.

Against my better judgment, I brought my outboard to a local marine dealer who has been noted for questionable business practices and as bad luck would have it, they got me for almost $400 and my engine came back running less than desirable.

I asked around about a good mechanic and found one in a nearby town who works out of his home. He's got the engine running beautiful but the water isn't circulating like it should and the last I knew, he was removing the power head.
This engine is a 1999 Johnson 2 stroke 8 hp long shaft and it's going to cost me more than what it's worth but I'm willing to put the money into it because I love this engine and I don't want a four stroke.
Consequently, I'm willing to spend the money to have it fixed and I would do the same for my 86 O'Day 222.

As for that marine dealer, there's no way that engine is going back to them and I'll never do business with them again. I bought that engine new off them so it isn't like I've never done business with them in the past.

I wish I could turn back the clock and make better decisions but I can't. The clock is still ticking for you right now Red. It's your call.
Good luck!
Joe

OdayDave · Jul 17, 2012

Red - Even if you can't do the work yourself, a potential buyer may be willing to do the work him or herself, and the discount that you have to give may be minimal if you decide to sell. I sold my 1985 O'Day 222 last year, and it sold quickly so I know that these boats have a following. The guy who bought mine was from Texas. The main point is that there aren't a lot of 222's out there so you may find that even a boat with some structural issues will sell at a decent price. I would get the problem diagnosed and see what a professional repair job would cost. A friend of mine had some softness in the hull of his Precision 23 and he had some fiberglass reinforcement done in the off-season. If my memory serves me correctly is that it was not too costly (I think it was around $1000 a few years back). You may find that it's worth getting it fixed professionally and holding onto it.

Good luck,

Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25

Shoaldrafter · Jul 18, 2012

Boat Pox

I presume you are referring to blisters.

Have you ever had a cold? Blisters are
as common as a cold.

Large number? Several ways to deal
with issue.

You stated you cannot deal with it yourself?
Even sailors with one arm can deal with issue.

The bigger issue is time and time of year.
Do you have electricity where boat is on
trailer? The process is what is called work.
Grind off the offending blisters and wash first
with soapy water then acetone. If no electricity
even battery power drills work, just takes
more than one battery...

Next step? Wait a week or two and wash
again as above.

Next step? Repeat above, maybe a week
or two longer.

Let Hull dry for a couple of months. You
can repeat washing steps occasionally. You
are only washing exterior surface and what
you are washing is acid residue from blisters.

After hull dry, go back with grinder [even if
it is only drill with sharp grinding bit] and grind
any damaged gel coat or polyester FRP. Does
not need to be deeper than damaged material.

After all grinding, repeat wash procedure and
let dry several days.

Then there are several approaches to refinishing
surface. First directly apply surface patching
material like vinyl ester resin past or matching
paste from West Marine which is a sticky
polyester paste. Fill holes and fair smooth. But
a rough smooth because you want final finish to
adhere.

Second approach is to paint all holes with penetrating
epoxy that is suitable for marine use. Before epoxy
cures completely, fill holes wiith epoxy paste after this
treatment cures fair as above.

Some holes may require additional layers of
paste as they cure. Keep applying layers until
surface above fair lines.

After above treatments, apply two part bottom
sealing paint to entire below water line hull and
immediately apply first coat of bottom paint.

Again, blisters are a common problem. Even the
best hulls get them contrary to what is said.

Fix the problem and go sailing...

Oh! It does require work and usually some sweat...
that is part of boating...

Ed K

Joe11688 · Jul 18, 2012

Red Ryder said:
Joe thanks for your insight and experience. Ron, I have read your very informative and useful... You both have given me alot to consider. While I am able to do minor maintaince and sail, my health prohibits me from undertaking any major repairs. My concern is it worth paying someone who probably will not get it right, sail her like she is with a new bottom coat or put the money on another boat. I do love my 222, but I probably would look for newer and larger Oday.

Red,
I'd think long and hard about getting a larger O'Day unless you can find a late model O'Day 23 in excellent shape. I say this because larger O'Days have too much free board for us old guys and I'm not knocking these boats because they are beautiful boats. If you know anyone who owns one, just step aboard it from the dock and you'll find out what I mean.

The 222 is more like a daysailer with adequate cabin accommodations for one of two people. They handle very easy and can be sailed right up to a dock. You can step right out of the boat and on to the dock without tripping. You can single hand this boat a lot easier than a 25, 26, or larger O'Days and the up keep and costs are more bearable.

Check out a marina and walk the docks. You may run into someone on a larger O'Day and strike up a conversation with them about their boat.
Find out some facts about these boats before you jump into something that you may be sorry for later on.

RonRelyea · Jul 18, 2012

you're welcome!

Boat Pox is this the END

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