Hull Condition on a 1980 22 ft sailboat

[Dnea]

Hello, please have a look...I am considering a 1980 project boat that I have not seen in person yet - only seen a handful of pics that were sent to me.
The bottom has a number of blemishes (not sure of the cause). It has been stored in freshwater on a lake and on a trailer. Does this look like a serious issue or could just be sanded/prepped for a repaint? Thanks!!!

 

[dlochner]

Is the name of the boat reflective of the price you are paying for it?

Welcome to SBO, where you will find wit and helpful suggestions.

Those blemishes look like osmotic blisters, which can be repaired. Though, it is not inexpensive and it means lots of time on the business end of a sander. Do a search for osmotic blisters and you will find many references. Is it a deal killer? Not necessarily, but it does mean a lot of work and expensive. If you love the boat, are willing to put in the time and effort, and this is reflected in the price, then it may be worth it for you. You could also far ninete, at this age the blisters probably won't get much worse.

Certainly there must be a boat for you near Annapolis. This boat is from NC or is has it been moved to the Annapolis area.

BTW, had a nice time in Naptown this weekend at the show. I always enjoy the city, even when crazy with sailors.

 

[PaulK]

The blemishes don't look like they stick out (or in), so it may be something different from osmosis. Perhaps marks from aquatic growth that has been scraped off, or from antifouling chipping off and being repainted? From the photos it is hard to tell how much of a project this boat is. If it checks all your boxes it might be worth a look-see, though as dlochner suggests there are probably other boats like this one that are closer to Annapolis too.

 

[Dnea]

Thank you!!! I wasn’t familiar w/ that term but looking online found lots of material on osmotic
blistering. See attached. In the diagram they show several layers before the Fiberglass hull (Anti Fouling, Barrier, Gel Coat). Im not sure to what level these particular blisters go down to??? I’m guessing the hull has been protected with these protective layers that have the deficiencies

Looking at the front pic of the lower hull there must be 50 and they seem to lessen moving toward the stern.

My wife and I are very much into this particular boat (Rhodes 22) which we saw at the Annapolis show last Thursday, Friday (didn’t go on the wkend to avoid crowds but lots of great stuff there). So I’m considering putting in the work on this one bc it seems to be a great trailer sailor which is what works for us now. But I could spend a few thousand more and get something less needy too.
Again thank you!

 

[dlochner]

Without looking at the boat in person, it is hard to say what's going on. Blistering may not be uniform along the hull, there may be areas with little or no blistering and areas with lots of blistering. It could be something else or it could be a poor repair on a blistered hull. if the boat was relatively nearby it would definitely be worth a short drive. On the other hand if you and your wife are looking for an excuse for a weekend get-a-way, this would be a good one.

The knowledge here on SBO is good, but a bit generic as many different types and builders are represented. For more specific to the Rhodes 22 you should check out the Rhodes 22 Owners Forum.

Friday afternoon and Sunday were fairly quiet at the show and a lot dryer than Thursday. Saturday was pretty crowded. I left early afternoon.

 

[Dnea]

The owner says that it is where barnacles were scraped off so to me that sounds better than blisters but stiil is work.

 

[jssailem]

Welcome to the SBO forum.
It sounds like you have been bitten by the sailing bug. Ready to jump into the deep end, buying a boat.

There are a variety of options taken to treat the boat pox known as blisters. One of the experts I first found, who explained the problem and offered rational ideas to address them, was Steve D’Antonio. He posted this attached linked article about blisters that may help you.

https://stevedmarineconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Blistology-Pt-1-PMM-Jul_Aug-06.pdf

It is a two part article posted in Passage Maker back in 2014.

I would encourage you to temper your enthusiasm about boat ownership, building and repair with a healthy amount of water sailing time. It is easy to get wrapped up in repairs. Never lose sight of the joy of sailing. Even if that means joining with friends on their boat. Sailing on the water is like a shot of adrenaline to help you manage the frustration that is boat repair.

Good luck with your boating.

 

[dlochner]

The owner says that it is where barnacles were scraped off so to me that sounds better than blisters but stiil is work.

If indeed it is just barnacle remains, they are easy to get rid of. Some muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) or Mary Kate's On-Off (which is mostly hydrochloric acid and a couple other acids) will dissolve and soften the residue. Some brushing and lots of water remove them.

 

[JBP-PA]

They do indeed look like barnacle scar's consistent size and shape and aren't a problem.
The Rhodes 22 is a very nice boat, and one of very few boats of that size with in-mast furling. They also had a nifty vertical lift motor mount, but the picture looks like that had been replaced. The enclosed head is more pleasant than a porta-potty under your bed.

 

[Dnea]

Thanks to all, I really appreciate the input.
I will provide an update as I sort it out.

 

[Randy Rohrbeck]

The owner says that it is where barnacles were scraped off so to me that sounds better than blisters but stiil is work.

I don't believe you'll find barnacles in fresh water. It could be the owner is using as a generic term for some type of bottom growth so you might ask.

 

[dlochner]

I don't believe you'll find barnacles in fresh water. It could be the owner is using as a generic term for some type of bottom growth so you might ask.

You are correct. There are other critters, such as Zebra Mussels that do grow and attach to boats however they do not leave the characteristic ring when removed.

More history on the boat is needed. Was it ever in saltwater? Has it been bottom painted while in fresh water? How many owners?

1980 is about when osmotic blistering was discovered. Boats at the time were built with polyester resins which were susceptible to blistering. Eventually vinyl ester resins were used that are less prone to blistering and the problem has mostly gone away.

 

[CarlN]

That wouldn't scare me away from this boat. It is most likely just poorly removed growth - but if it is blisters, it's not a large number and you can easily repair it yourself. A 22' boat just doesn't have that much area to blister. A day's work. And a 40 year old boat is not going to have new blisters appear so you just have to clean these up.

When you do see the boat, look for delamination or structural problems. Tap on the hull with a screwdriver handle looking for "dead thuds" that show things have come apart inside. Look for signs of sloppy repairs. But I doubt you'll find anything that will to serious for your intended coastal use. It would be a different matter if you were planning to circumnavigate.

The Rhodes 22 doesn't have any balsa core so core rot isn't a worry. There really isn't much to worry about with the boat. If you buy it, go over the rig carefully and replace any suspect stays, chainplates or mast tangs. Losing a mast is pretty much the end of a boat like this - too expensive to replace. Here's a great review of the boat that you may already have seen Rhodes 22 - Practical Sailor

If you buy the boat, start with a heavy sanding of the bottom - this will take any old growth off and you'll see if you have blisters. If you will be keeping the boat in the water and are concerned about future blisters, it might be a good idea to remove all the bottom paint and apply several coats of barrier paint before the antifouling. The whole hull could use a good cleaning with On&Off which will remove the stains and other junk. MaineSails guide to waxing will bring it back to "better than new" shine. Great boat worth saving. Tips For A Great Buff & Wax

 

[Dnea]

Again thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.
CarlN: I do really like the Rhodes 22 for a bunch of reasons, and dont mind the winter work. I will be checking it out.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

FYI

Rhodes 22 built by Stan at General Boats International, Edenton, NC was at the Annapolis Sailboat Show last week. Stan is still alive.