I'm thinking of purchasing an '86- Hunter 23. The current owner has had the boat for 10 years. He's told me that it has 10-15 dime size blisters that it had when he purchased the boat from the first owner. He says that they have not gotten any worse since he's had the boat. Is this a serious problem? Or is it something I'm going to find on most boats this age? Can they be repaired? I'm going to look at the boat tomorrow but won't be making any decisions without a little more investigation. Thanks Mike Knight
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Crazy Dave Condon
blisters
Blisters is nothing new. You will need to grind them out and clean with acetone. Depending on the size, you may need to glass. If big, you will not be able to glass all at once but in stages. Generally, once is enough. If you can get your hands on vinylester resin to use versus polyester resin, that is better dealing with the hull that will be under water. Sand and then fill the tinsy samll cracks with a filler. Sand smooth. At this point, you can add gelcoat back but I cover with epoxy barrier coats and then repaint over. Not a big deal but a little work involved. Crazy Dave Condon
Blisters is nothing new. You will need to grind them out and clean with acetone. Depending on the size, you may need to glass. If big, you will not be able to glass all at once but in stages. Generally, once is enough. If you can get your hands on vinylester resin to use versus polyester resin, that is better dealing with the hull that will be under water. Sand and then fill the tinsy samll cracks with a filler. Sand smooth. At this point, you can add gelcoat back but I cover with epoxy barrier coats and then repaint over. Not a big deal but a little work involved. Crazy Dave Condon
You can always leave them alone!
Michael: One option is to leave them alone and just see what happens. There is a good site that has some good perspective on this subject. You can find it at (http://www.osmosisinfo.com/index2.html). If you really want this boat and that is the only show stopper, have a yard give you/seller a quote on the repairs. Then you have a place to start negotiating. Sometimes they will discount the price by the estimate or sometimes the buy & seller split the cost. But before you do anything check out the website above.
Michael: One option is to leave them alone and just see what happens. There is a good site that has some good perspective on this subject. You can find it at (http://www.osmosisinfo.com/index2.html). If you really want this boat and that is the only show stopper, have a yard give you/seller a quote on the repairs. Then you have a place to start negotiating. Sometimes they will discount the price by the estimate or sometimes the buy & seller split the cost. But before you do anything check out the website above.
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Bryan C.
Agree with Steve
A few blisters on a 14 year old boat is not a problem. Many other things will fail before you have to worry about blisters being a problem worth messing with. I bought an '88 35 with about a dozen quarter sized blisters (and a scattering of dime sized ones) two years ago. I have left them alone so far, and there has been no noticeable change. Furthermore, if the repair is not done properly it can make things worse. If this was a one year old boat, I'd be concerned. But on a 14 year old boat I would just keep an eye on them. Another good source of info on blisters is at yachtsurvey.com
A few blisters on a 14 year old boat is not a problem. Many other things will fail before you have to worry about blisters being a problem worth messing with. I bought an '88 35 with about a dozen quarter sized blisters (and a scattering of dime sized ones) two years ago. I have left them alone so far, and there has been no noticeable change. Furthermore, if the repair is not done properly it can make things worse. If this was a one year old boat, I'd be concerned. But on a 14 year old boat I would just keep an eye on them. Another good source of info on blisters is at yachtsurvey.com
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R.W.Landau
I would be concerned
Not to the point of not buying the boat, but with repair in mind. Those blisters are caused by water. Though the gelcoat looks waterproof, it is not. Water can and does enter the hull. When it finds uncured resin it creates a blister. These blisters have pressure and have a solution of acid in them. If left alone the acid attacks the material around it and sometimes deeper into the lay-up. I would break them open so that you can find them later, then grind them out. Get all the loose area. Make sure the hull dries out so that you don't trap moisture inside. Wipe with acetone to clear the impurities and acid residue. I would then use epoxy putty to fill them. Epoxy has better bonding qualities with the cured polyester resin than polyester or vinylester resin. If you over fill slightly, you can fair it with sand paper later. Don't bother with gelcoat, apply a barrier coat then repaint with bottom paint. I have left alot of detail on prep. Make sure you read up abit and prep and apply the products properly. When you barrier coat, take it to the top of the waterline strip, and repaint the strip also. A dozen dime size blisters is not a reason not to buy the boat. If this is going to be a boat to hold you over to the next boat, I may not mess with it. If you want to protect your investment, I would repair them. If the rigging and sails look good, go for it. The info I just gave you comes from the "West System" Brochure titled "GELCOAT BLISTERS" and is available at most boat stores. r.w.landau
Not to the point of not buying the boat, but with repair in mind. Those blisters are caused by water. Though the gelcoat looks waterproof, it is not. Water can and does enter the hull. When it finds uncured resin it creates a blister. These blisters have pressure and have a solution of acid in them. If left alone the acid attacks the material around it and sometimes deeper into the lay-up. I would break them open so that you can find them later, then grind them out. Get all the loose area. Make sure the hull dries out so that you don't trap moisture inside. Wipe with acetone to clear the impurities and acid residue. I would then use epoxy putty to fill them. Epoxy has better bonding qualities with the cured polyester resin than polyester or vinylester resin. If you over fill slightly, you can fair it with sand paper later. Don't bother with gelcoat, apply a barrier coat then repaint with bottom paint. I have left alot of detail on prep. Make sure you read up abit and prep and apply the products properly. When you barrier coat, take it to the top of the waterline strip, and repaint the strip also. A dozen dime size blisters is not a reason not to buy the boat. If this is going to be a boat to hold you over to the next boat, I may not mess with it. If you want to protect your investment, I would repair them. If the rigging and sails look good, go for it. The info I just gave you comes from the "West System" Brochure titled "GELCOAT BLISTERS" and is available at most boat stores. r.w.landau
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Ike Cook
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Pat Spino
Blisters
Ten is not anything to really worry about. The rerpair is not overwhelming and I would not let it stop me from buying the boat if it is everything you are looking for and in good condition. I would, however, get a marine surveor to go over the hull carefully. If the boat is out of the water for any length of time blisters tend to loose moisture and sort of dry out, making it very difficult to see them. The repair process is relatively easy and was outlined by R.W. You would want to grind them out and let them sit for as long as possible to dry the glass out before repairing. Ideally, grind at haul out and let sit all winter before making repairs. Interlux recommends using a sealer BEFORE filling the "holes" to prevent the patch plug from popping out. Check with them for their new product designed for this purpose. PAT
Ten is not anything to really worry about. The rerpair is not overwhelming and I would not let it stop me from buying the boat if it is everything you are looking for and in good condition. I would, however, get a marine surveor to go over the hull carefully. If the boat is out of the water for any length of time blisters tend to loose moisture and sort of dry out, making it very difficult to see them. The repair process is relatively easy and was outlined by R.W. You would want to grind them out and let them sit for as long as possible to dry the glass out before repairing. Ideally, grind at haul out and let sit all winter before making repairs. Interlux recommends using a sealer BEFORE filling the "holes" to prevent the patch plug from popping out. Check with them for their new product designed for this purpose. PAT
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Michael Knight
Blisters
THanks for all the replies, I didn't realize that hull blisters were such an issue in glass boats. I've visited some of the suggested web sites and am a bit more knowledgable about this condition. Thanks Mike
THanks for all the replies, I didn't realize that hull blisters were such an issue in glass boats. I've visited some of the suggested web sites and am a bit more knowledgable about this condition. Thanks Mike
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