Hull Blisters - Any history with O'Day 222 or 192

[George]

Hello,Is there any history or incidences of hull blisters on ODay 222's or other ODays?Is the bottom solid fiberglass (or is there a core - balsa or other)?I am looking at both a 192 and a 222 - both great boats.However, the 222 appears many blisters ...../ - all are very small (less than 1/4 inch diameter) but many blisters on the bottom....the bottom is original gelcoat (no bottom paint), and the blisters can NOT be popped / opened under finger pressure. The blisters are all below the waterline, and thy consistently appear along the complete length of the hull (so there are a dozen or so blisters per each square foot of hull surface area).....basically looks like inverted dimples on a golf-ball with about 4 inches between blisters (and blisters are probably less then 0.180" high) The boat was moored in freshwater for about 10 years (summers only), but has not been sailed for the last 3 seasons - not much else info available (don't know if they were a recent issue or there for years).

 

[Chuck R]

renewed intrest in sailing,,

George,Not seen blisters on the O'days Ive seen but that is not that many either. By chance is you boat's Hull Number start with XDY ? or SUR ? Curious,,,

 

[Dave K.]

Hull blisters

My 192 was kept in the water year round by the previous owner. He lived in a houseboat and kept it tied up to his "back porch". The boat had fifty or so blisters about the size of a dime. I made some inquiries about having them fixed and one fellow, after learning I was going to keep the boat on a trailer told me to wait a year and see what happens before doing anything. This turned out to be great advice, since within a year all the blisters had simply disappeared.

 

[Chuck R]

Blisters disappears......

"I made some inquiries about having them fixed and one fellow, after learning I was going to keep the boat on a trailer told me to wait a year and see what happens before doing anything. This turned out to be great advice, since within a year all the blisters had simply disappeared." Dave, that is awesome!! I wonder how this can be? Do you have an explianation?

 

[Dave K.]

Osmosis?

My understandng is that the water gets through the gelcoat by osmosis and I imagine, once the boat is out of the water, that it can get out the same way given enough time.I think that one should only consider this to be practical if the blisters are small and have only lifted the gelcoat. The bigger type of blisters, that may have compromised the integrity of the laminate, should addressed by a professional.