Hunter 380 GRP

[M_Michaels]

Hello All:
I have a 2000 Hunter 380. I would like to know if the fiberglass used in the hull construction is a polyester or a vinyl-ester material. My boat does not have any bottom blisters, but I am considering having it soda blasted and barrier coated.
2nd question: Anybody have bottom blistering issues on a Hunter 376/380/386 (with or without barrier coat)?

 

[Les]

I had a 1999 Hunter 380 for nine years and we never had blisters. I would check with the Hunter factory as they recommended to me early on not to use a barrier coat. I'm sorry I don't know about the type of fiberglass material that they used.

 

[Rick D]

+2 from Les. Same advice from Hunter until the boat was over seven years old. Then, when talking to the yard when I was thinking about it, they said it would cause more problems than it solved unless the hull dried for three months minimum (in SoCal) first. So, never done. No problems.

 

[JohnVTX]

If you have no blisters, why go tho this expense of barrier coating?

 

[M_Michaels]

If you have no blisters, why go tho this expense of barrier coating?

In the summertime I put on sunscreen to prevent sunburn. I am asking Hunter owners for their experience with hull blistering. If I get several replies that long term this could be a problem, then I will invest in an epoxy barrier coat. If no one has blister problems, then I will just sand, paint and sail........

 

[Jackdaw]

That year is likely polyester. But even so, if it is a great lakes boat it is very possible it would NOT get blisters even without a barrier coat due to the yearly 6 month haul and dry-out cycle.