[C38] Hull blistering - ouch!

[Max Soto]

Good to hear that Les!!! 
Anybody interested on Jace yet????

Regards, 
Max

Sent from my iPod

On Jul 10, 2011, at 11:10, les <hlhowell at pacbell.net> wrote:

> 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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>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
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