A fiberglass hull problem...

B

BBQ Guy

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May 31, 2011
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I'm new here but can already see there's a lot of info to be learned.

I have a 1994 ProLine center console that I bought new, and have not taken very good care of :facepalm: It's been sitting in the lake, partially sunk but the '94 115 Yamaha was always above water. I'm working to get it ready for skiing and have been cleaning the hull, which is where my concern comes in. On the sides I can see what looks like nail or brad heads just below the skin of the hull. Reminds me of when you can see a nail head almost beginning to rust under a coat of paint. So what am I seeing? What do I need to do with it? Several of the spots, the outer layer of the hull has begun to crack on top of the nail - or whatever it is. I'm totally new at stuff like this. Is it salvageable?

Thanks for any help.
 
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bhoff86

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Pics will be needed for good evaluation...most of the guys here that can help out will need pics...:)
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Welcome to iBoats!!

I can't see them!!! Pics really help us to help you!!! My signature line has a link on how to post em.
 
B

BBQ Guy

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Here's some pics:

Bad spot:

1.jpg

Several spots above water line, a few below:

2.jpg

More between the stripes:

3.jpg
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Interesting!!! Is there anything mounted to the sides on the INSIDE of the boat? Can you take a close up of one of those spots?
 
B

BBQ Guy

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

I don't think anything is mounted to it from the inside. I'll have to check tomorrow, going to bed now, got to get up early for work. I will try for a close up pic tomorrow, but they don't show much more detail up close. Just kind of a fuzzy dot under the skin.

Here is another shot showing a number of them if you look closely below the double blue line and above the water line:
4a.jpg
 
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ac0j

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

My question is what is "partially sunk"? are these spots in areas that were under water? How long was it "partially sunk"? You may have major problems here!
 
ondarvr

ondarvr

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Those are blisters, the repair process is rather involved. Do a search here on "blisters" and you'll have plenty to read.
 
Woodonglass

Woodonglass

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

ondarvr said:
Those are blisters, the repair process is rather involved. Do a search here on "blisters" and you'll have plenty to read.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same, that's why I wanted a closer look. Still would like a closer look.
 
mkast

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Fractures (damage) in the fiberglass let water in causing the blister to swell.
 
B

BBQ Guy

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

ac0j said:
My question is what is "partially sunk"? are these spots in areas that were under water? How long was it "partially sunk"? You may have major problems here!
Click to expand...
Here's a pic showing the waterline of how she was "sunk" - about 1.5 years. Some of the spots are in areas that were not under water, and the majority are on the starboard side.

Thanks for the input, I'll be back tomorrow.
 

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ondarvr

ondarvr

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

mkast said:
Fractures (damage) in the fiberglass let water in causing the blister to swell.
Click to expand...

Actually just the opposite, the blister forms and when it finally fractures through the surface it begins to ooze black gunk and the swelling goes down.
 
Yacht Dr.

Yacht Dr.

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

BBQ Guy said:
Here's a pic showing the waterline of how she was "sunk" - about 1.5 years. Some of the spots are in areas that were not under water, and the majority are on the starboard side.
Click to expand...

I think from the pics and the descriptions posted here..

Yes they are Blisters..kinda sorta..I think Some may be blisters..but I think its more like Voids.

ACID wash was applied ( IMO ) and had some reaction to the gel. So whatever micro-pores popped ( kinda like putting peroxide on a wound..bubbles up .. but the pressure popped them open ).

Non the less..its not structural.. fix them if you like but not needed to have fun in this season.

Here is what I would do..

1. Buff the Whole boat out till you like it ( aside from the pock marks )
2. Find out who can sell you some gel specific to your boat ( 94 proline..might come from MiniCraft .. try Spectrum first ).
3. Once you have your gel .. die grind out all the booboos you have there.
4. Mix your matched gel with Cabosil till its nice and creamy Mayo like consistency ..
5. Tape off the repairs .. fill repairs with your gelpaste.
6. Sand and buff the repairs as needed.
6.a. If you want to spray gel over the repairs then dont buff..bring the repairs to 220 grit ..spray gel ( this would take another few steps that I wont get into here at this moment ).

Buff out then repair..

Stop using Acid.

YD.
 
ondarvr

ondarvr

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

A quick read of the six10 method looks like it will set you up for a failure.

There are several reasons for blisters on a hull, but for the most part it comes down to water permeating the gel coat and finding its way into the laminate. As water begins to break down the resin the blisters form, typically by the thousands, the first day you notice them there are a dozen, the next time you look there's another dozen, until the entire hull is covered by them.

The problem is if you just dig out and fix what you see now, there will be more showing up soon right next to the old ones.

The correct way to fix blisters is to remove all of the gel coat, plus all of the laminate that is affected (the blisters are normally in the laminate not in the gel coat) and then apply a new layer of glass if needed with epoxy (some places use VE) to replace what was removed and then fair and paint the surface. I forgot the part about letting the hull dry for as long as possible (months) after the grinding and before the epoxy coating.

The problem is if the hull still has a high moisture content it can continue to develop blisters even after all this work is done.
I?m not saying it will fail, just that blister repair isn?t as simple as the six10 instructions lead you to believe it is.
 
Yacht Dr.

Yacht Dr.

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Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

ondarvr said:
There are several reasons for blisters on a hull, but for the most part it comes down to water permeating the gel coat and finding its way into the laminate. As water begins to break down the resin the blisters form
Click to expand...

This is incorrect .. in and of itself ..

Water will never "break" down properly applied FRP .. not in your lifetime anyway.. Throw a plastic bottle in the ocean and see how long it takes to " break down ".

Now..If Ondarvr is suggesting that water can break down "uncured" resins..then yes .. it will. Normal blistering ( still under debate but has come a long way on the reasons why in the past 10 years ) happens when water breaks down Uncured resins producing "Glycol".

Again.. I still think its from your Acid wash..seen it before..

YD.
 
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