Bubbles in fiberglass

[skeffington]

I asked in an earlier thread about removing my ski locker floor. Well I finally have it all removed and I noticed that the fiberglass underneath it of the hull has many large bubbles in it. Some right on the edge of a strip of glass and there is even a void area where foam had filled into it in several spots. You can also feel very rough areas where the glass is not covered with resin very well. It feels really solid and you can tell it was like this from the factory. Is this a concern?

I also figured out why there was water under my ski locker floor, there were actual drain holes in front of the floor that allowed water to drain right into the bottom of the ski locker, which makes no sense. Also there was no fiberglass on top of the ski locker floor, only resin. Not amazing quality. It is a 1994 Regal Valanti 182 if interested.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Bubbles in fiberglass

Not optimum, but obviously adequate after 18 years . . . Since you got the thing opened up, you might as well fix it. You'll sleep better knowing it is fixed.

 

[palace]

Re: Bubbles in fiberglass

Biggest is to make sure all wood (stringers and deck) are good. Grind out all airpockets/bubbles, try to remove as much expoxy as possible or ruff it up good with 50 gritt. Coat the area with a layer of poly let it kit off and get tacky. Then lay down 2 oz. CSM rolling poly on it (it will soak up alot). If you know you have epoxy down you need to use expoxy. If I remember correctly poly will not stick to epoxy. Some pic's would be good. Are these imperfections right on the hull? Finishing up my 1987 Bayliner Capri. 19ft.

 

[skeffington]

Re: Bubbles in fiberglass

Yes it is right on the hull, right under the foam from the ski locker floor. I assume they used poly but i'm not sure. The bubbles are only on the top layer of fiberglass, everything else seems good. I'll try and get pics.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Bubbles in fiberglass

This is normal on production boats, what can't be seen isn't always pretty.

There is no epoxy in there unless somebody opened it up before you.

You just need to make there aren't any holes or gaps where water can get to the wood, the rest may be ugly, but frequently it's not an issue.