Bilge-water blistering
Years ago I bought a ComPac 16 that had been kept on a trailer, never in a slip. It was neglected for several years and rain water pooled in the bilges. This water rotted out the compression-post step inside, and produced many score of small blisters beneath the gel coat. I punctured each with a Dremel burr (some of the bigger ones needed two holes), drained them and flushed with acetone. After about two weeks, all the blistered places had flattened out, so I plugged the holes with epoxy putty, wiped them fair and kept the boat in the water. After several months, I could wipe off the slime and see the repairs because of the tiny white epoxy spots. None of the blisters ever reappeared, and no new ones formed; I was scrupulous, however, about keeping a bone dry bilge!
Years ago I bought a ComPac 16 that had been kept on a trailer, never in a slip. It was neglected for several years and rain water pooled in the bilges. This water rotted out the compression-post step inside, and produced many score of small blisters beneath the gel coat. I punctured each with a Dremel burr (some of the bigger ones needed two holes), drained them and flushed with acetone. After about two weeks, all the blistered places had flattened out, so I plugged the holes with epoxy putty, wiped them fair and kept the boat in the water. After several months, I could wipe off the slime and see the repairs because of the tiny white epoxy spots. None of the blisters ever reappeared, and no new ones formed; I was scrupulous, however, about keeping a bone dry bilge!