Hull blistering "pimples" : Would you buy or run?

[TomatoDave]

I'm considering buying a mid-80's Ericson 26' sailboat. The CO said there are "a few" small blisters in one area that remained unchanged in the 10 years he's owned the boat. My surveyor now says there are hundreds, if not thousands, of small pimples all around the hull near the water line and down six inches below (though in some areas they extend 20 inches). But he also says they are not structurally significant, just cosmetic. Given the asking price of the boat (substantially below NADA value) and the age, I cannot economically justify doing a complete repair that cost more than the purchase price of the boat. I'm getting back in sailing after a few years off, and I'd appreciate current wisdom on whether you would accept a boat covered with small "cosmetic" pimples. (After reading about this extensively, I'm not sure if there are any 20+ year boats without some blisters.) I expect the performance of the boat will suffer, but I'm mostly buying for cruising. One of the many articles I read said that small blisters in a 20+ year old boat should not concern a buyer nearly as much blistering in a fairly new boat.

 

[tommays]

I know of a lot of older boats were there at least in a much better current state of control

I think the big issue would be if you want to sell it

 

[Steve Dion]

It should be determined if these are gelcoat or paint blisters, but running is really not a bad idea either.

Paint blisters are common and no big deal. Gelcoat blisters can be very expensive.

 

[jepomer]

I bought my CD25 knowing it had a very bad case of blisters. The price was VERY good and I planned on doing the work myself. She will be in the water around the first of May.

Of course, I had another sailboat all set to go in the water. So I had a working boat and a project. Double the pleasure, double the ...

 

[TomatoDave]

Does fresh water make saltwater blisters worse?

Steve, the surveyor says that the blisters are not into gelcoat, only paint. Tommays, I think you're right that resale is the issue, and that's what I'm trying to figure out, how much of problem. But there is also another concern - I would be moving the boat from saltwater to fresh water. Some experienced sailors I respect have said that fresh water is worse on blisters than salt because the less dense fresh water encourages osmosis. So I wonder if the pressure differential would result in a pox of blisters popping.

Here's a picture showing the blisters.

 

[RichH]

Cosmetic blisters .... blisters that are in only the Gelcoat in all actuality are of no consequence. Blisters that penetrate down into the matting layer are also of minimum consequence. Only when blisters are into the structural or 'roving' layers are blisters serious enough to take severe action.

A lot of 'hype' is attached to osmotic blistering especially when the blistering is only into the 'cosmetic' or non-structural layers of the laminate structure.

go to: www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters (probably the most referenced website re: 'blisters' ...) and scroll down to: "To Buy or Not to Buy... A Blistered Boat, That is". If you plan to keep such a boat for the long term, then such an article from even such a 'controversial' but renown 'authoritative' surveyor should help in your decision. Also scroll down to the other articles ... especially looking for the articles that indicate that probably more hulls have been ruined by DIY blister repair then those that sank by leaving the structural layer un-remedied.

hope this helps.

 

[sailaway78]

Blisters

First bottom job I did, had a gazillion tiny blisters, about the size of a pencil lead. These were all on the port side, from the center forward. Sanded, and filled them with epoxy paste. Sanded everything down and applied bottom paint. Redid the bottom after the oil spill, and all is well. I don't think that the small pimple like blisters are any big deal. Not an expensive fix, but it does take more labor. If you are doing it yourself, add two days to the job.

 

[RichH]

Here's a picture showing the blisters.

Id opine that those blisters are beyond the gelcoat and into the matting layer. Paint doesnt 'blister' like that .... and on three (maybe 11) of the 'pimples' it looks like white gelcoat is showing through, meaning the blisters are UNDER the gelcoat.

 

[KD3PC]

TD,

if what you say is correct, "the blisters are not into gelcoat, only paint."

they are of no consequence. Likely years worth of paint accumulation of mismatched paints...

if the gelcoat is clear...you have no problem

enjoy the boat.

 

[TomatoDave]

TD,

if what you say is correct, "the blisters are not into gelcoat, only paint."

they are of no consequence. Likely years worth of paint accumulation of mismatched paints...

if the gelcoat is clear...you have no problem

enjoy the boat.

Well, that's what the surveyor says, but Rich raises a good point, if its only the paint, what is the white protruding from several blisters. I will ask the surveyor on that one.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Steve Dion]

If they are into the gelcoat I would stay away from the boat unless it is such a good deal that you are willing to take on the job to do it yourself.

If/when you decide to sell the boat the next owner will be in the same boat as you and wonder if they should purchase it. It will limit the market that is willing to purchase it without a substancial discount.

While I agree that it may only be cosmetic you WILL have a problem if this is not fixed before you try to resell the boat.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

My $.02 worth...

A 25 year old boat has already gotten every blister it's ever likely to get, in salt water OR in fresh. Based on everything you've said, buy the boat.

If the blisters can be a problem when you sell the boat, fix 'em. It's not hard, even if some of 'em are into the gelcoat: just drill 'em out...let the boat sit on the hard long enough to dry 'em out--a couple of weeks in dry fall sunshine oughta do it (it did on my own boat), then fill with epoxy, fair the whole bottom and bottom paint it.

And btw, you will need bottom paint in fresh water...without it, you grow a "vegetable garden" that only pressure washing with muriatic acid will remove. The good news is, bottom paint lasts 4-5 years in fresh water.

 

[TomatoDave]

Bottom paint for fresh water

A 25 year old boat has already gotten every blister it's ever likely to get, in salt water OR in fresh. Based on everything you've said, buy the boat.

If the blisters can be a problem when you sell the boat, fix 'em. It's not hard, even if some of 'em are into the gelcoat: just drill 'em out...let the boat sit on the hard long enough to dry 'em out--a couple of weeks in dry fall sunshine oughta do it (it did on my own boat), then fill with epoxy, fair the whole bottom and bottom paint it.

And btw, you will need bottom paint in fresh water...without it, you grow a "vegetable garden" that only pressure washing with muriatic acid will remove. The good news is, bottom paint lasts 4-5 years in fresh water.

Hi, Peggy, I'm in LR also. The prospect of popping a thousand blisters sounds daunting. I read one of the articles cited above that bad DIY repairs are source of many problems, so I'd want to be sure I'm making it better not worse.

The boat had West Marine bottom paint applied last year. Do you know if the formulation would work in fresh water, or should a different paint be applied. And salt water can result in dirt, if not growth. See pics. (The boat was wintered at a slip in NY and not used most of last season.)

Peggy, do recommend anyone locally for firberglass repairs? (You can private mail me if you prefer.) The boat has a non-structural cracks by the anchor locker that need to be repaired. I'd like to get a rough estimate if possible in negotiating price. Thanks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Got your email...

And I do know someone. Stand by for incoming as soon as I can remember his name!

As for whether the existing bottom paint will work...no way to know without knowing which WM knockoff it is. But judging from the amount growth that's attached to the hull, it seems to be about worn off anyway.

 

[mel22]

TomatoDavd There is a man in NLR right on the river who works on some very large boats, mostly power that I have seen, He may be able to help you. Sorry I do not reamember his name, I found him on my auto gps under marinas so he is probably in the phone book.

 

[Prime Time]

Bottom Job

I did a bottom job on my old Mirage 27. The price of the boat was very cheap. There were about a half dozen large blisters into the laminate. I did the fiberglass work and epoxy bottom job myself with the help of my kids.

Given the enormous numbers of used boats on the market, don't go here unless you can do the job yourself. Figure in the time and material involved. It can take quite a while to dry out a hull.

It is a buyers market out there!

 

[Prime Time]

Regarding your question if there are 20 plus yr old boats without blisters, absolutely!!
My 1988 Bristol 43.3 has none.
My dad's Bristol 40 1972 has never had one.
I know many people with many boats that never had a blister.

 

[TomatoDave]

DIY?

Given the enormous numbers of used boats on the market, don't go here unless you can do the job yourself. Figure in the time and material involved. It can take quite a while to dry out a hull.

It is a buyers market out there!

After studying the pictures, I don't think my pride of ownership would let me simply live with them, even if only cosmetic, so unless I can do it myself, it's probably a "no go." But I'm not clear on what prep is necessary for "cosmetic" blisters to resolve the issue - if the prep is easier and a reasonable DIY v. boat yard task.. I need to study that issue some more. Thanks for your response.

 

[Ray Bowles]

TDave, Why purchase an unknown problem? If you are asking this forum for a solid answer about your chances on making a good deal, on a suspect boat, then this is simply a pluralistic guess. Without looking at more than about 2 square feet there is no way a person can make anything more that a guess. Another factor is your ability to make these repairs or the cost of the yards to do it for you.
Why not have the current owner make such repairs and then buy it for the repaired price. Then there are no unknows.
I'm not trying to shoot you down, I just don't want you to risk your sailing adventure on someones very encouraging guess.
If you can't do this repair yourself, or even answer the question about what kind of blisters you have, then run! Run like the Gingerbread Man because you are about to step up onto the wolfs head.
Ray

 

[Snotter]

All those blisters is a sign that something went askew at the factory when they were laminating. It could be that they quit laminating on a Friday and started back up on a Monday, resulting in a secondary bond; or, perhaps, they didn't mix the resin right. I would recommend you wouldn't buy it, no matter how cheap you may think you are getting it. There is no shortage of project boats in the world.