Yes, I had the boat surveyed when I bought it. I also had a subsequent bottom job at a reputable yard. Eighteen months later a different yard informed me that I needed the jell coat stripped and showed me a meter reading that said Wet when they applied it to the hull. There is also a seperation at the front of the boat between the keel and the hull that I had repaired last year when the bottom job was done. 1. What is the recommended torque for keel bolts? 2. How often, i.e. what is the frequency for other H34 owners to have to have the jell coat pealed and replaced? 3. Is it still against the law to perform bodily harm on surveyors?????
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Geoff McLaughlin
Don't Get Mad
Don't get mad - first of all, how old is the boat? Secondly, you can yourself visually assess the gel coat by careful inspection all around. A 34 is lightly made, and with some age, and with hard sailing especially, can show lots of superficial gel coat defects. The guy with the meter might be looking to get a big check from you for a major job, when maybe you need a minor one or none at all. If you do determine widespread compromise of the gel coat, there are better options than "peeling" off the existing. Where is the problem? Freeboard, cabin top, below the ater line? There are different approaches in each case. The best thing you can do now is get a book (West Systems has some good guides, and there are more comprehensive texts) self education is important so you can evaluate what different people tell you. Next thing is to seek out an expert - word of mouth from someone you trust is best - and just get a second opinion. Go slow, stay calm, and don't kill anyone yet. Best of luck.
Don't get mad - first of all, how old is the boat? Secondly, you can yourself visually assess the gel coat by careful inspection all around. A 34 is lightly made, and with some age, and with hard sailing especially, can show lots of superficial gel coat defects. The guy with the meter might be looking to get a big check from you for a major job, when maybe you need a minor one or none at all. If you do determine widespread compromise of the gel coat, there are better options than "peeling" off the existing. Where is the problem? Freeboard, cabin top, below the ater line? There are different approaches in each case. The best thing you can do now is get a book (West Systems has some good guides, and there are more comprehensive texts) self education is important so you can evaluate what different people tell you. Next thing is to seek out an expert - word of mouth from someone you trust is best - and just get a second opinion. Go slow, stay calm, and don't kill anyone yet. Best of luck.
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Ed Schenck
Agree with Geoff, get a second opinion....
and take your time. Maybe you could rent the marina's moisture meter? This would at least give you a little piece of mind. From your post I am assuming you were told that the entire hull is wet below the water line. This would be very unusual for even the oldest H34. If true, however, then it could be coming from inside. So before you strip, dry, and recoat it you will need to find the source of the moisture. Geoff mentioned the West System manuals, excellent and only a few bucks each. Then find a knowledgeable sailing buddy to help. I'd have to do the job myself, big $$$ to have the yard do this. But the H34 is worth it.
and take your time. Maybe you could rent the marina's moisture meter? This would at least give you a little piece of mind. From your post I am assuming you were told that the entire hull is wet below the water line. This would be very unusual for even the oldest H34. If true, however, then it could be coming from inside. So before you strip, dry, and recoat it you will need to find the source of the moisture. Geoff mentioned the West System manuals, excellent and only a few bucks each. Then find a knowledgeable sailing buddy to help. I'd have to do the job myself, big $$$ to have the yard do this. But the H34 is worth it.
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Mike Cummings
Bad Bottom
I had the same thing happen when I was looking at buying the boat. The surveyor pulled the boat and found several areas of blistering and used his moisture meter to check the hull. Basically,he said the same thing I would have to strip the gel and re-laminate the bottom. However, after much discussion he aggreed that if the boat was to be kept out of the water and dried, bottom paint stipped to the gel and the blisters repaired, the bottom would last a long time. So we discounted the price a lot and a rolled the dice and purchaced the boat. Took the boat out last november and it sat out till Feb. We did find something interesting in the fall, the bottom was covered in dime size blasters, but when you tried to pop them, it did not pop the gel, rather it was a bad paint job and somehow moisture got into the layers of paint. In Feb stripped all the bottom paint off and popped all the real blisters (about 45) and let them dry out another thirty days. Used the west system and applied the bottom paint. Planning to keep it on the hard in november again and every winter thereafter just to make sure. Good Luck. Mike
I had the same thing happen when I was looking at buying the boat. The surveyor pulled the boat and found several areas of blistering and used his moisture meter to check the hull. Basically,he said the same thing I would have to strip the gel and re-laminate the bottom. However, after much discussion he aggreed that if the boat was to be kept out of the water and dried, bottom paint stipped to the gel and the blisters repaired, the bottom would last a long time. So we discounted the price a lot and a rolled the dice and purchaced the boat. Took the boat out last november and it sat out till Feb. We did find something interesting in the fall, the bottom was covered in dime size blasters, but when you tried to pop them, it did not pop the gel, rather it was a bad paint job and somehow moisture got into the layers of paint. In Feb stripped all the bottom paint off and popped all the real blisters (about 45) and let them dry out another thirty days. Used the west system and applied the bottom paint. Planning to keep it on the hard in november again and every winter thereafter just to make sure. Good Luck. Mike
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Bryan C.
Do you really have a problem?
All hulls are wet if the boat sits in the water. If water doesn't get into the hull from the outside it can get in thru other sources. The fact that it is wet is in itself not necessarily a problem. The problem occur when defects in the hull layout or materials used interact with the water and cause blisters. You did not indicate a blister problem on your boat. And there is a lot of debate about how bad blisters are. At a certain level they are a problem. I have maybe a dozen quarter sized blisters and a couple pimple areas on my boat, but have concluded its not worth messing with them for now. Gel stipping is major surgery and cost major bucks. Unless there is some other indication of hull problems other than a moisture meter reads "wet," I'd say no thanks. Re the separation at the keel: I don't know how much separation you have, if its a lot you need to tighted the keel bolts, if its just a line that is common. Keels and hulls flex a little bit and you're going to see cracks where they join. I have them in my boat. You could glass it over every year. I don't worry about it.
All hulls are wet if the boat sits in the water. If water doesn't get into the hull from the outside it can get in thru other sources. The fact that it is wet is in itself not necessarily a problem. The problem occur when defects in the hull layout or materials used interact with the water and cause blisters. You did not indicate a blister problem on your boat. And there is a lot of debate about how bad blisters are. At a certain level they are a problem. I have maybe a dozen quarter sized blisters and a couple pimple areas on my boat, but have concluded its not worth messing with them for now. Gel stipping is major surgery and cost major bucks. Unless there is some other indication of hull problems other than a moisture meter reads "wet," I'd say no thanks. Re the separation at the keel: I don't know how much separation you have, if its a lot you need to tighted the keel bolts, if its just a line that is common. Keels and hulls flex a little bit and you're going to see cracks where they join. I have them in my boat. You could glass it over every year. I don't worry about it.
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Bill Kirch
Do nothing unless delamination or major blisters.
I purchased a 1983 34 this past May. The starboard bottom had a high moisture reading but no blisters. The surveyor said that the moisture was probably from the inside and that I should keep the bilge pumped out. He did a sounding and said there was no delamination and he found no blisters. The only way to really find out is to have one or more core samples taken--this can also be expensive.
I purchased a 1983 34 this past May. The starboard bottom had a high moisture reading but no blisters. The surveyor said that the moisture was probably from the inside and that I should keep the bilge pumped out. He did a sounding and said there was no delamination and he found no blisters. The only way to really find out is to have one or more core samples taken--this can also be expensive.
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terry dornan
answer to item 3
I know of no law specifically protecting boat, house or insurance surveyors. And for that mater people that advise major repairs on what seems to be minor concerns_ hence it could be open season on roofers and some yard managers. If you pretend it was a spontaneous event, you would probably be charged with minor infraction such as aggravated assault. Just be careful that the person you may possibly be "having a discussion with" is neither same sex oriented nor a spouse. There are special provisions and laws concerning activities involving "discussions" with individuals that fall into this category. terry
I know of no law specifically protecting boat, house or insurance surveyors. And for that mater people that advise major repairs on what seems to be minor concerns_ hence it could be open season on roofers and some yard managers. If you pretend it was a spontaneous event, you would probably be charged with minor infraction such as aggravated assault. Just be careful that the person you may possibly be "having a discussion with" is neither same sex oriented nor a spouse. There are special provisions and laws concerning activities involving "discussions" with individuals that fall into this category. terry
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