I pulled and cleaned my boat for the winter, and for the first time I spotted some Hull Fiberglass problems, on the starboard side just below the cove stripe there was a viod in the fiberglass that has started to break-out, 18 inches long and about 1/8 inch wide, 1/16 inch deep. I also had one blister in the bottom, about four inches from the transum, slightly to port. This blister was about 1 1/2 inch round, near the serface, I punched it with my knife to let is start draining. I am going to call Hunter today. The boat is a 1995 Hunter 26. Anyone else seeing this type of problems?
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Dave Condon
Blisters
There is much on this issue as to causes and fixes. The first one you described without looking at it would tend to make me think this is not a blister but the other one would appear to be one. Simply, a blister is water that gets between the gel coat and fiberglass and causes a chemical reaction which breaks down the fiberglass over a period of time. The smaller of the two you described would fit. The other whiich is 18 inches long, 1/8 inch wide and 1/16 inch deep would sound like a scrape against the side of the boat. If that one did not penetrate all the way through the gel, then I would tend to believe this is a scrape of some sort. Color matching gel is difficult. The long one may just need gel in it. The other which would be a blister needs to grinded out and cleaned with acetone. Put in new fiverglass and if below the water line, use vinyl ester resin. Sand and then spray with gel and sand smooth again. Then compound and wax
There is much on this issue as to causes and fixes. The first one you described without looking at it would tend to make me think this is not a blister but the other one would appear to be one. Simply, a blister is water that gets between the gel coat and fiberglass and causes a chemical reaction which breaks down the fiberglass over a period of time. The smaller of the two you described would fit. The other whiich is 18 inches long, 1/8 inch wide and 1/16 inch deep would sound like a scrape against the side of the boat. If that one did not penetrate all the way through the gel, then I would tend to believe this is a scrape of some sort. Color matching gel is difficult. The long one may just need gel in it. The other which would be a blister needs to grinded out and cleaned with acetone. Put in new fiverglass and if below the water line, use vinyl ester resin. Sand and then spray with gel and sand smooth again. Then compound and wax
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Steve Wright
Dave it is a void in the "Lay-up"
Dave, the long flaw that I was describing was a void just below the surface in the lay-up, a manufacturing flaw. I detected it when power washing the boat, and it broke out in a small area, further probing found the total length. I have talked to Hunter and I am sending pictures of both items to them. They have indicated that both items should be covered. I was interested if any other owners have had similar problems, what they did. Steve
Dave, the long flaw that I was describing was a void just below the surface in the lay-up, a manufacturing flaw. I detected it when power washing the boat, and it broke out in a small area, further probing found the total length. I have talked to Hunter and I am sending pictures of both items to them. They have indicated that both items should be covered. I was interested if any other owners have had similar problems, what they did. Steve
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Elaine
same thing here
We had the same problem as you described with the long narrow void. Hope you got my e-mail on the subject.
We had the same problem as you described with the long narrow void. Hope you got my e-mail on the subject.
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Dave Condon
void
Steve It is hard for me to comment but I stand corrected as you have indicated it was a void for the long one. I am not there to see what is going on.
Steve It is hard for me to comment but I stand corrected as you have indicated it was a void for the long one. I am not there to see what is going on.
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Michael Bell
Mine too
Pulled our ’98 H26 out last weekend. Had been in fresh water for 2 Summers (about 10 months in all). Small blisters on the Starboard side middle section just below the waterline. Blisters are less than ¼ inch. About 50 of them in an area about 4 to 6 square feet. The area around the blisters looks as though it too will blister (there is a discoloration with the actual blister, and the area around has some discolorations developing). My Hunter dealer said to take pictures that he will send to Hunter. My question to them will be – what will they do to stop further blisters from developing.
Pulled our ’98 H26 out last weekend. Had been in fresh water for 2 Summers (about 10 months in all). Small blisters on the Starboard side middle section just below the waterline. Blisters are less than ¼ inch. About 50 of them in an area about 4 to 6 square feet. The area around the blisters looks as though it too will blister (there is a discoloration with the actual blister, and the area around has some discolorations developing). My Hunter dealer said to take pictures that he will send to Hunter. My question to them will be – what will they do to stop further blisters from developing.
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Dave Condon
Mike Bell
Vinyl ester resin is used between the fiberglass and gelcoat as it in a sense is a barrier coating. Normally, I do not see much blistering but it does occur. What caused your problem is hard to figure. I wonder if they got up far enough with the resin mentioned but it sounds that your problem is localized. When repairin, I use the vinyl ester resin with the fiberglass on repairs below the water line and/or epoxy fillers if that is all is needed. Sand smooth and I would recommend an epoxy barrier coatings on top of the repaired area and repaint. If you did not paint the bottom of your boat, then put gelcoat back and your Hunter dealer should have that. Hopefully, that is all but if the worst happemend, removing all the paint, reparing the hull is a major undertaking which I recommend your delaer doing. Again, I believe your problem is localized and you should not worry. Remember, there is a 5 year warranty against blistering and that is good as Eddie, Gregg and Joe with Hunter warranty will take care of you.
Vinyl ester resin is used between the fiberglass and gelcoat as it in a sense is a barrier coating. Normally, I do not see much blistering but it does occur. What caused your problem is hard to figure. I wonder if they got up far enough with the resin mentioned but it sounds that your problem is localized. When repairin, I use the vinyl ester resin with the fiberglass on repairs below the water line and/or epoxy fillers if that is all is needed. Sand smooth and I would recommend an epoxy barrier coatings on top of the repaired area and repaint. If you did not paint the bottom of your boat, then put gelcoat back and your Hunter dealer should have that. Hopefully, that is all but if the worst happemend, removing all the paint, reparing the hull is a major undertaking which I recommend your delaer doing. Again, I believe your problem is localized and you should not worry. Remember, there is a 5 year warranty against blistering and that is good as Eddie, Gregg and Joe with Hunter warranty will take care of you.
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Michael Bell
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