Gelcoat

I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Can anyone explain to me, why sitting in warm tropical waters (15
years in Florida and the Bahamas) would "wear out" the gelcoat?.
This is what I was told recently as I was putting Cin Cin back in the
water. The only thing I can figure, is that I "overprepped"
(sanding) the keel, prior to bottom painting. At any rate, I was told
if I put her in the water I risk the possibility of incurring a lot
of blisters (and of course they want to prevent that through the
judicious use of lots of $$$$$). So far there isn't a single blister
below the water line. Frank Gallardo V-2184
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
Hi Frank;

I can't tell you much about the gelcoat (my boat is a lot older than
yours, but I've never
seen any- yet). The reason I'm answering your e-mail.... aren't you the
skipper in the
Miami area and we tried some time back to meet? (like at Pumpkin Key?)
Like to hear from you;
Wilhelm, V-257

Frank Gallardo Jr wrote:
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Frank

What they are talking about is the possabi;lity of OSMOSIS. It is more likely
in warm waters and is more common in places like the Med and Carriabean. The
gelcoat will not wear out or become thinner just more prone to OSMOSIS. I have
only seen one example of OSMOSIS on a Vega and that had been kept in the Med
for fifteen years without being taken out of the water. It was a pacth of
about
one metre square and was easily fixed. If you are in any worry then epoxy the
bottom with any well known brand osuch as Blakes or International (in the UK).

Hope to see you in Marstrand next year at the IFR and dont forget your tent
and
beret!!

Kind Regards

Steve Birch

At 11:12 12/06/03 +0000, you wrote:
 
I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Hi Wilhelm,
We did meet but for only a few minutes last July at Jew Fish creek, I was in a great hurry to get the boat to Ft Lauderdale, so she could be loaded and shipped to the Netherlands. (wish I was back in the Keys, ha ha , just kidding) FrankWL vega257@... wrote:
 
I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the info. The marina people here (Germany) quoted me 2 to 3 thousand Euro's to completely redo the bottom, hell you can buy a Vega in the states for not much more than that, so I guess I'll give it a go myself. I'll be there next year with Cin Cin, and beret, but no tent !!
Looking forward to it already. The plan is tentatively up the west coast of Denmark and Skagerrak into Sweden, or the Nord-Ostsee Kanal and island hop to Sweden. What do you think (I've got to purchase the charts)
Frank V-2184Stephen Birch steve@... wrote:
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
Hi Frank;
it's my age! I start forgetting! Of course I remember now- thanks for
reminding me. So where
are you now? Here or in the Netherlands?
Wilhelm, V-257

imbissfrank@... wrote:
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
Hi Frank- again.
This e-mail answered my question about your where-abouts. I wish you good
sailing (und immer eine Handspanne Wasser unter dem Kiel!) (remember I
speak,
besides English, German, Dutch, Malay, Thai and Chinese (TaeChew Dialect).
Wilhelm, V-257

imbissfrank@... wrote:
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Frank

Best bet is to go through the Kiel Canal and then spend a pleasant sail up the
Little Belt. Beautiful area. Only need one set of chart folio. May be an idea
to go around the east side of Sealand via Copenhagan and up to Sweden that
way,
again a beautiful route. I sailed a Vega back from just North of Mastrand and
the area is the most beautiful I have seen yet.

Doing the epoxy yourself will take about £200 of paint (needs four to five
coats) and lots of time. Needs to be dry. Unless you need to do it dont worry.
The epoxy needs 10 degrees celcius to use so usually a spring or summer job in
this part of the world.

Nice to hear from you again. Frank


Kind Regards

Steve birch Vega "SOuthern Comfort" V1703
At 08:46 12/06/03 -0400, you wrote:
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
Stephen- no I can't- so sorry :)
by the way- I'm busy building new mosquito coverings for the boat; I don't
want you to be bitten by those nasty creatures should you come and stay on
my boat (I hope to go on an overnight cruise with you).
Wilhelm, V-257

Stephen Birch wrote:
 
I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Wilhelm,
I am on the island of Foehr, Wyk auf Foehr, about 5 miles (if that) south of Sylt on the Danish border (North Sea). I understand you might be planning a trip to Europe, if so, I have a small apartment in Berlin (great city), completely furnished with everything drum und Dran, that you are welcome to use anytime you please. I actually live here on the island. Frank V-2184

WL vega257@... wrote:
 
I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Also, koennen wir gut kommunizieren, denn ich spreche ausser englisch; franzoesisch, deutsch, spanisch und ein bisschen polnisch, aber leider
keine asiatischen sprachen. A handspan of water under the keel can often be a problem here in Wattenmeer. Frank V-2184WL vega257@... wrote:
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
Hi Frank; I guess you know the waters in the Florida Keys, and to some
extend in the Bahamas,
where it's always a good idea to have the sun from behind- to see those
nasty coral heads. They
can be quite hard- not a good idea to hit them. That's why I think it's
always a good omen to
have a handspan of water under the keel.
Thanks for the invitation (Berlin). At this time my itinerary is still open.
Wilhelm, V-257

imbissfrank@... wrote:
 
M

mphalv

.
Sep 29, 2001
195
Frank,

Unless you sanded off all the Gel-Coat this should not be a problem.
Supposedly hulls kept in warm water for prolonged periods of time have a higher
incidence of "boat-pox". However the type of fiberglass gel used on the Vega is
more prone to resist the "pox". I have never heard of a single incident of
"pox" on a Vega.

Paul H.
Double Fantasy
Bangor Me.
 
V

vega1860

.
Apr 28, 2000
691
Hi Frank,

I doubt that sitting in warm water has anything to do with it. Lealea (V1860) has been out of the water a total of fifteen days in the thirteen years I've owned her and she has been kept in a slip or on a mooring, here in Hawaii (warm enough water I think) since she was new, almost thirty years. Of course there have been no problems with the gelcoat below the waterline of any kind. I have never sanded the bottom down to the gelcoat though. If you sand the bottom right down to the gelcoat it might be a good idea to apply a barrier coat of one of those modern high-tech sealers designed to prevent osmosis, before applying bottom paint. following the advice of the previous owner, I always just scrape off any loose bottom paint and do a little light sanding, never all the way down to the gelcoat, before applying fresh bottom paint (Pettit Trinidad Blue).

Works for me.

Aloha,

Chuck

"Frank Gallardo Jr" imbissfrank@... wrote:
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Wihelm

That sounds great as I hate mozzies.... A bit of cockney rhyming slang

Butcher's Hook - Look
Trouble & strife - wife
Bees & Honey - money

Have fun

Steve B
 
I

imbissfrank

.
Mar 28, 2011
261
Wilhelm,
Just out of curiosity, what is the cheapest I could lay up a Vega in
the Miami area, say between Dinner Key ($$$$$$), and Boot Key
Harbor. Either in the water or out. Maybe a private canal, how safe
are they? I am getting depressed (I miss the Keys !!!) Frank V-2184
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom