A fiberglass hull problem...

parrisw

Ensign
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
985
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

I'd be more concerned about a rotten wood structure then some blisters in the finish. With the boat that far under water for 1.5years, I'm willing to bet you have a rotten deck and transom.
 

BBQ Guy

Cadet
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
8
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

These links don't go anywhere.

Let me try it this way...
6.jpg 7.jpg 8.jpg

YD, I did use an acid - Barkeepers Friend - to help get it white again, and that's been over the past 2 days. I've got to confess, I didn't know better. But it sure cleaned it when nothing else I tried would. The thing is though, the blisters/voids were there before I started cleaning. Sadly the last time I cleaned her was probably 6-7 years ago. I may have used an acid then, I don't remember.

Friscoboater you're right. But she does look a lot better already, and she WILL be back in action this summer. :)

I went to West Marine and they didn't have the Six10 and the guy suggested Marine Tex so I picked some up. I may try it on some blisters and other chips. But if the spots are only cosmetic, we'll see. Maybe with the close-ups you guys can tell for sure. Thanks again for the help!
pencil.png
 

emoney

Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
2,551
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

I think you should get on the inside and see what you've got. I'm not much of an "imagination" guy, so looking at the pics it's hard to be conclusive, however, I have seen blisters and they can be very ugly. Usually, in a blister, it will look conical, very close to the "nail head popping through" thinking. If that's what they are, in order for the Marine Tex to fix them, I'd think you'd need to fare the spots out and fill an area twice as big as the blister itself, because you need to "open" it. Think of a pimple; if you just try and get the whitehead, it stays and gets bigger. If you get all the yucky cottage cheese out, however, it'll be gone. (wasn't that an awful analogy?). It the sailing world, blisters are always a consideration since the boats tend to live in the water for most part. I'm assuming she was in a fresh water lake, though? Otherwise, I'd think you'd be dealing with a huge barnacle problem too.

And I don't know which line of thinking is correct, but I'd heard that blisters came from water permeating the gelcoat too? Could be a wive's tale, I guess, but it is "one of those things":redface:
 

BBQ Guy

Cadet
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
8
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

I'd be more concerned about a rotten wood structure then some blisters in the finish. With the boat that far under water for 1.5years, I'm willing to bet you have a rotten deck and transom.
I thought about that too. I did some searching and unfortunately found '94 (the year of my boat) was the last year ProLine used wood. That said, I've bounced around on the deck and pushed up and down on the motor looking for flex or softness and couldn't find any. Hopefully it's ok.
 

parrisw

Ensign
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
985
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

I thought about that too. I did some searching and unfortunately found '94 (the year of my boat) was the last year ProLine used wood. That said, I've bounced around on the deck and pushed up and down on the motor looking for flex or softness and couldn't find any. Hopefully it's ok.

You need to drill a few exploratory holes in the transom and deck, see if you get nice clean dry chips or mushy wet wood.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

Those are typical blisters, the method of repair, if any, is up to you. Read the link from woodonglass, it goes into far more detail than my short summery.
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: A fiberglass hull problem...

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.

It has nothing to do with the acid wash, and yes it is related to water breaking down the resin, and agian, there can be many reasons for it to take place.
 
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