Hi All, I've got my boat on the hard for the next 4 or 5 months to do lots of projects. She's a 1975 Pearson 10M and the hull is in very good condition - there are two blisters and they're smaller than a dime. I know those are too small to worry about. Since I won't have her out of the water for an extended time again for a few years, I'm wondering if I should add a barrier coat. Clearly the hull is still in good shape, and I want to keep it that way. On the other hand, I don't want to waste my time doing work that will provide little if any benefit. By the way, I'm also changing, and in some case relocating, all the thru-hulls and seacocks. So here's a few specific questions: 1. Should I sand the remnants of the (sloughing) bottom paint off now, and let it dry out for the next few months until I get closer to splash time? 2. How can I see if a barrier coat has already been applied? (Maybe that's why it's in good shape?) 3. Is there generally any value in applying a barrier coat as preventative maintenance? Thanks for any help. Craig
Do I put on an epoxy barrier coat
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Why mess with success
Fix the blisters with epoxy and filler, do your work, paint the hull and splash her. You could paint the reworked areas with a few coats of thinned epoxy but I wonder why you would sand the entire bottom. I use gell stripper or just power wash if using the same paint. The Pearson 10M is a beautiful boat. Good luck with her.
Fix the blisters with epoxy and filler, do your work, paint the hull and splash her. You could paint the reworked areas with a few coats of thinned epoxy but I wonder why you would sand the entire bottom. I use gell stripper or just power wash if using the same paint. The Pearson 10M is a beautiful boat. Good luck with her.
barrier coat
If you remove the existing paint trust me you will know if there is a barrier coat applied! I used a chemical stripper to remove existing ablative it didn't touch the barrier coat, if sanding off existing paint again you will know just as soon as you get to the barrier coat. Oh and if you want to remove it buy plenty of sand paper, its tough stuff! Mine was gray but it could just as easy be white if its Interlux 2000
If you remove the existing paint trust me you will know if there is a barrier coat applied! I used a chemical stripper to remove existing ablative it didn't touch the barrier coat, if sanding off existing paint again you will know just as soon as you get to the barrier coat. Oh and if you want to remove it buy plenty of sand paper, its tough stuff! Mine was gray but it could just as easy be white if its Interlux 2000
Conventional wisdom?
Patrick and Ken gave you the stock answer, "if there are no blisters by now then there likely never will be". But you don't say how the boat spent the first thirty years of her life. Was it always in fresh water, hauled every winter, almost never in water, etc.? My 1979 Hunter H37C was always in fresh water and without blisters. I felt I would someday venture into salt water. Even if I stayed in Lake Erie I would have barrier-coated just for peace of mind. As they said, you will know if there is a barrier-coat. The anti-fouling will come off easily down to the gelcoat if not. It is not terribly expensive if you DIY. But it is a tremendous amount of work to get the bottom clean and apply five to seven coats of epoxy paint. Regardless you will want to do that in a six inch area around the new thru-hulls. And also epoxy the holes.
Patrick and Ken gave you the stock answer, "if there are no blisters by now then there likely never will be". But you don't say how the boat spent the first thirty years of her life. Was it always in fresh water, hauled every winter, almost never in water, etc.? My 1979 Hunter H37C was always in fresh water and without blisters. I felt I would someday venture into salt water. Even if I stayed in Lake Erie I would have barrier-coated just for peace of mind. As they said, you will know if there is a barrier-coat. The anti-fouling will come off easily down to the gelcoat if not. It is not terribly expensive if you DIY. But it is a tremendous amount of work to get the bottom clean and apply five to seven coats of epoxy paint. Regardless you will want to do that in a six inch area around the new thru-hulls. And also epoxy the holes.
Pearsons of that vintage are notorious for .....
'pimple' blisters -- only penetrating the gelcoat and rarely into the matting layer. These do not need to be repaired. DIY blister repair usually makes the condition MUCH worse and has led to 'destruction' of the hull. If you are not planning to race this boat, probably the best advice is leave well enough alone. For a comprehensive and detailed work on 'osmotic blisters' and their remedy go to: www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm I hope that these 'articles' will convince you that MOST 'blisters' are nothing more than HYPE that promotes very expensive and unneeded 'remedies'. For a Pearson .... just sail it until it sinks, they are THAT good! hope this helps
'pimple' blisters -- only penetrating the gelcoat and rarely into the matting layer. These do not need to be repaired. DIY blister repair usually makes the condition MUCH worse and has led to 'destruction' of the hull. If you are not planning to race this boat, probably the best advice is leave well enough alone. For a comprehensive and detailed work on 'osmotic blisters' and their remedy go to: www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm I hope that these 'articles' will convince you that MOST 'blisters' are nothing more than HYPE that promotes very expensive and unneeded 'remedies'. For a Pearson .... just sail it until it sinks, they are THAT good! hope this helps
I'm guessing salt water
Ed, I don't know how she spent the first 30 years of her life - I've only been in the picture for the last 7 months!
But your point about fresh vs. salt water is well taken. I'm suspicious she's always been in salt water since the transom says "Rock Port, CT" and I bought her in Anacortes, WA. I love the quick action on this forum. Thanks for all the input thus far, and keep it coming! Thanks, Craig
Ed, I don't know how she spent the first 30 years of her life - I've only been in the picture for the last 7 months!
But your point about fresh vs. salt water is well taken. I'm suspicious she's always been in salt water since the transom says "Rock Port, CT" and I bought her in Anacortes, WA. I love the quick action on this forum. Thanks for all the input thus far, and keep it coming! Thanks, CraigAbsolutely
Pearsons blister and the cost for a professional repair is high. Fix those 2 blisters now. Do not minimize your situation. They will not get smaller. Then strip the bottom, let the hull dry out over the winter and in the spring apply the barrier coat and bottom paint. A wise investment of time that you won't regret. To strip the present bottom paint 3M has strips that you apply to the hull; let it bond, then pull off. it pulls off the bottom paint. if you cann't find the 3M product, West Marine carries a competing product. If you want your deck and topsides to look good, check out newglass2.com. Not cheap but a beautiful job that lasts & is impervious to uv.
Pearsons blister and the cost for a professional repair is high. Fix those 2 blisters now. Do not minimize your situation. They will not get smaller. Then strip the bottom, let the hull dry out over the winter and in the spring apply the barrier coat and bottom paint. A wise investment of time that you won't regret. To strip the present bottom paint 3M has strips that you apply to the hull; let it bond, then pull off. it pulls off the bottom paint. if you cann't find the 3M product, West Marine carries a competing product. If you want your deck and topsides to look good, check out newglass2.com. Not cheap but a beautiful job that lasts & is impervious to uv.
Don't worry - be happy
Don't let two dime-sized blisters worry you. If you want some peace of mind, photograph the blisters then check for blisters again next fall when you haul the boat. If you still see the same two blisters you know you don't have blsitering problem, as long as your sailing habits remain the same. If you see more blisters next year you'll have an idea of how fast the blisters develop and severe the problem is. That should help you decide whether to address the problem or not. Been there myself. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Don't let two dime-sized blisters worry you. If you want some peace of mind, photograph the blisters then check for blisters again next fall when you haul the boat. If you still see the same two blisters you know you don't have blsitering problem, as long as your sailing habits remain the same. If you see more blisters next year you'll have an idea of how fast the blisters develop and severe the problem is. That should help you decide whether to address the problem or not. Been there myself. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
That boat will out live you
the blister are probability cosmetic. Keep your eye on them if they get bigger then worry. You can get a moisture meter for $350 and see if the are wet. The good thing about buying the meter you can look for water other places like the keel. Blisters, Blisters the sky is falling!
the blister are probability cosmetic. Keep your eye on them if they get bigger then worry. You can get a moisture meter for $350 and see if the are wet. The good thing about buying the meter you can look for water other places like the keel. Blisters, Blisters the sky is falling!
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