Im looking at a C 30 for purchase, its hull is being redone, ie gel coat being removed, and all neccessary repairs for a blistering problem, Given that it is being redone by an expert my questions are 1. Can it be repaired to the standard that a reocurrence is unlikely, or will it always be more prone than other hulls to blister again, 2. Is this repair a bad history for the boat to have for future resale. 3. Can a surveyor tell whether or not a good job has been done on the repair. I'd appreciate all the feed back I can get, Ive read blistering is your worst nightmare with a fibre glass hull. Thank you for your help, Mike.
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Good Expert
There are blister repair jobs being done all the time now and I haven't heard of any recurring problems. I'm no expert on this but I can give you the name of someone who is acknowledged to have good track record with regard to blister repair work. Phil Riise, owner of Seaview East (and Seaview West) Boatyard in Seattle and Bellingham.
There are blister repair jobs being done all the time now and I haven't heard of any recurring problems. I'm no expert on this but I can give you the name of someone who is acknowledged to have good track record with regard to blister repair work. Phil Riise, owner of Seaview East (and Seaview West) Boatyard in Seattle and Bellingham.
No Guarantee
Mike: The one thing I CAN tell you is that there is NO guarantee that you will not get blisters again. Ask the place that is doing the work and see what they say.
Mike: The one thing I CAN tell you is that there is NO guarantee that you will not get blisters again. Ask the place that is doing the work and see what they say.
blister your bottom II
Mike; A complete blister job of removing the gell coat is a waste of time and money. I know of two owners who went for them and were disappointed in the results. I'v had blisters on two boats. I have them ground and filled. They are NOT your worst nightmare and they won't sink your boat.
Mike; A complete blister job of removing the gell coat is a waste of time and money. I know of two owners who went for them and were disappointed in the results. I'v had blisters on two boats. I have them ground and filled. They are NOT your worst nightmare and they won't sink your boat.
more cosmetic than anything
Mike, blisters are really more cosmetic than anything. They form between the gel coat and the outermost layer of fiberglass cloth on the boat, the skinout layer, in 99.999% of the cases if the blisters are smaller than a half dollar. Neither of these layers provide any structural support whatsoever to the hull. Rather, they are present to provide a smooth outer surface. The thick structural layers are deep to the skinout mat and several surveyors have told me that they have never seen water intrusion into these layers. I had about twenty on my boat 2 years ago, had them ground out and filled with epoxy filler and no problems since. Also, I have seen blisters recur on boats that have been stripped and then had a new epoxy "barrier" coat. The problem is not in the gel or epoxy coat but goes all the way back to when the hull was being laid up. The conventional thinking is that either poor quality resins were used or that not enough resin makes it into the skinout mat during manufacture resulting in millions of little "wicks". One surveyor states that the only way to get rid of blisters on a blistering hull forever is to remove the skin out mat completely---wouldn't want to foot that bill. Anyway, If you have a few blisters each time you pull her to do the bottom, so what. Grind them, fill them, and have fun with your boat
Mike, blisters are really more cosmetic than anything. They form between the gel coat and the outermost layer of fiberglass cloth on the boat, the skinout layer, in 99.999% of the cases if the blisters are smaller than a half dollar. Neither of these layers provide any structural support whatsoever to the hull. Rather, they are present to provide a smooth outer surface. The thick structural layers are deep to the skinout mat and several surveyors have told me that they have never seen water intrusion into these layers. I had about twenty on my boat 2 years ago, had them ground out and filled with epoxy filler and no problems since. Also, I have seen blisters recur on boats that have been stripped and then had a new epoxy "barrier" coat. The problem is not in the gel or epoxy coat but goes all the way back to when the hull was being laid up. The conventional thinking is that either poor quality resins were used or that not enough resin makes it into the skinout mat during manufacture resulting in millions of little "wicks". One surveyor states that the only way to get rid of blisters on a blistering hull forever is to remove the skin out mat completely---wouldn't want to foot that bill. Anyway, If you have a few blisters each time you pull her to do the bottom, so what. Grind them, fill them, and have fun with your boat
Don't Worry
Mike, I'll further what Ken had to say. Most surveyor's will now tell you that blisters unless large and causing delamination are cosmetic. My buddy re-did his boat 2 times and the last time he hauled blister's again. The yard told him to just fix the big one's and go out and have fun. My old boat I had about a dozen dime sized blister's and the surveyor had no problem with them when I sold it. Goo out and have fun, if the boat fits wear it.
Mike, I'll further what Ken had to say. Most surveyor's will now tell you that blisters unless large and causing delamination are cosmetic. My buddy re-did his boat 2 times and the last time he hauled blister's again. The yard told him to just fix the big one's and go out and have fun. My old boat I had about a dozen dime sized blister's and the surveyor had no problem with them when I sold it. Goo out and have fun, if the boat fits wear it.
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