[C38] Hull blistering - ouch!

[les]

We just had JACE hauled and the bottom stripped and repainted.  The
surface was much better than I remembered.  I had waited a bit too long,
so some additional surface prep was required before the new bottom paint
could go on.

I forgot to take photos, but the broker apparently did take some.  The
bottom looked great.  Hull Tech did a good job.

Regards,
Les H
On Tue, 2011-05-03 at 10:57 -0700, les wrote:
> JACE had developed a number of very small blisters over patches on her
> bottom when we purchased her.  After speaking to many experts, we
> decided to leave them alone.  So from 1997-2008, we watched them, and
> there was no change.  Then in 2008 at the haulout for the new bottom
> paint, we noticed that they had spread and gotten larger.  At that time,
> we checked the options again, to see if anything new had come about.
> 
> 	After getting the various options checked, the apparent best solution
> for our case was to have the bottom peeled and a new bottom put on.  We
> used Hull Tech in San Diego.  The peel only had to go one or two layers,
> and the glass below that was really solid.  I saw it after the peel and
> prep for the new glass and it was smooth and unblemished.  When I saw
> the new bottom, it looked OK, but a bit rough in places.  Then I was
> told that a "racing bottom" would have cost 50% more.  With all that
> said, the bottom is good, the performance doesn't appear to have been
> changed at least for our uses, so we are happy and we got a 10 year
> warranty on the new bottom.  The boat is going to have bottom paint this
> year, shortly, so we can let you know then what we find, and send
> photos.
> 
> 	The general consensus from all the research I did, was that small
> infrequent blisters can be fixed by patching, but that in most cases,
> unless the mixing of the resins is good, and the coverage of the gelcoat
> or other topcoat is totally impervious, it will slow, but not stop the
> osmotic process that causes the blisters.  The problem is that
> essentially fiberglass is sort of a slow hydrophilic compound,
> attracting the water, this causes hydrolysis. There is a good article
> here: http://www.zahnisers.com/repair/blister/blister1.htm.  Blisters
> are the natural result.  This lead the industry to develop various means
> to force the epoxy into the glass mat, such as vacuum bagging.
> 
> 	From what I have read, all boats at some time develop bottom blisters
> to some degree.  Some manufacturers have proven remarkable results, but
> even those folks have some blisters.  It is part of the environment.
> Sailors put the most expensive thing they own in the most corrosive
> environment on earth and love to keep it "ship shape."
> 
> 	Catalina has a pretty good reputation in this regard, and our boats are
> long lived and reliable due to their attention to such things.
> 
> 	I am sure there are other opinions on what to do.  It is a choice you
> will have to make.
> 
> Regards,
> Les Howell
>  
> On Mon, 2011-05-02 at 20:56 -0400, Marci Brown wrote:
> > I just discovered a few blisters on our hull. Would anyone like to
> > share their experiences with this dreaded subject matter?
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Marci J. Brown
> > 
> > PO Box 520549, Winthrop, MA 02152 USA
> > 
> > Ph: 757-515-3151 | Email: mb at seafor.us
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Description: marci-bkgrnd-icon
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
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