I recently bought a used Hunter 23.5 and when I started sanding down the old bottom paint I noticed a significant amount of gelcoat blisters. The previous owner kept it in the water most of the time. However, I will be trailering this boat, ocassionaly going out for a long weekend or so. My question is.... how much work should I put into these blisters. Everything I've read indicates it's a significant problem, but I'm not sure what I've read has always been in the context of an in water boat versus a trailered boat. Is it reasonable for me to cosmetically treat the blisters since I'm not going to keep it in the water full time? I would appreciate others thoughts? Kevin
Gelcoat Blisters on boat to trailer
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me too
Kevin, I too have one or two small blisters at the water line on my '94 23.5. One is smaller than my pinkie nail and the other is even smaller. The previous two owners kept the boat in the water for the sailing season and trailered in the winter. I now keep it on a trailer. I have had my boat two years and have not noticed any increase in the number of blisters nor the size of the existing ones. As a result I have not done anything with them. Maybe I shouldn't take a wait and see attitude like I am currently doing. I also would be interested in hearing what others have to say.
Kevin, I too have one or two small blisters at the water line on my '94 23.5. One is smaller than my pinkie nail and the other is even smaller. The previous two owners kept the boat in the water for the sailing season and trailered in the winter. I now keep it on a trailer. I have had my boat two years and have not noticed any increase in the number of blisters nor the size of the existing ones. As a result I have not done anything with them. Maybe I shouldn't take a wait and see attitude like I am currently doing. I also would be interested in hearing what others have to say.
Use Marinetex
Check this stuff out. I too was worried about how far to dig into such a problem on my 25.5 that had some small blisters. My local dealer suggested the link below. This stuff works great. Simply cut out blister with razor blade. You'll remove all loose material down to the inner fiberglass. Fill in with Marinetex, sand and coat with bottom paint of your choice. Blisters cut out easily and application process is simple. Check out the link.
Check this stuff out. I too was worried about how far to dig into such a problem on my 25.5 that had some small blisters. My local dealer suggested the link below. This stuff works great. Simply cut out blister with razor blade. You'll remove all loose material down to the inner fiberglass. Fill in with Marinetex, sand and coat with bottom paint of your choice. Blisters cut out easily and application process is simple. Check out the link.
Marinetex
Tim, Would this Marinetex work on a rudder. Last fall coming into a weekend slip I caught an out of place dock cable with my rudder. Before I realized what was happening I made some small gouges into my rudder. I've put off fixing them but have the rudder in my basement to work on it over the winter Jason
Tim, Would this Marinetex work on a rudder. Last fall coming into a weekend slip I caught an out of place dock cable with my rudder. Before I realized what was happening I made some small gouges into my rudder. I've put off fixing them but have the rudder in my basement to work on it over the winter Jason
Marinetex
Marinetex is wonderful stuff. I always have some on board. I've used it to seal cracked water jackets on engine blocks, leaking automotive gas tanks (while full), radiators and rusty leaking oil pans. The only place it ever failed for me was on a very hot exhaust manifold. The stuff has it's limitations but is great for emergeny repairs. It's basically epoxy filler. I'm told you can actually drill and tap it like metal. I have found it brittle in application at the edge of the hull transom. It has chipped and needed repeated repairs, I've also had it chip at the joint between the cast iron keel and hull and determined that 5200 is better for that application
Marinetex is wonderful stuff. I always have some on board. I've used it to seal cracked water jackets on engine blocks, leaking automotive gas tanks (while full), radiators and rusty leaking oil pans. The only place it ever failed for me was on a very hot exhaust manifold. The stuff has it's limitations but is great for emergeny repairs. It's basically epoxy filler. I'm told you can actually drill and tap it like metal. I have found it brittle in application at the edge of the hull transom. It has chipped and needed repeated repairs, I've also had it chip at the joint between the cast iron keel and hull and determined that 5200 is better for that application
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