How serious is hull blisters?

[chartersj]

Looking at a 1994 Baja 272, it sat on a mouring for months at a time in the summers. The hull has small blisters on the sides under the waterline and is peppered on the bottom side. But how serious is this
? Will it continue to get worse If I trailer it instead of leaving it on a mouring?

 

[chartersj]

Another shot of the side

 

[alldodge]

Yes it will continue to get worst. Once water penetrates the gelcoat it will start to rot out the wood under it. Blisters need to be opened up, fully dried out and filled. Any boat which will sit in the water for months needs bottom paint. (Barrier coat and antifoul)

 

[chartersj]

Sounds like a labour intensive job. So each blister is water between the gelcoat and wood hull? Ouch that's not what I wanted to hear. Would have to get this boat for a steal considering the oil in this 502 is milky as well...

 

[Likewise]

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...-hull-repair/618069-hull-blisters-need-repair

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmmm blisters are formed between the Gelcoat and the fiberglass. NOT the wood. They probably will tend to multiply but NOT as fast as if it would still be moored. Trailering the boat should greatly reduce the speed and number of blisters. They are NOT going to do major structural damage and don't necessarily have to be fixed immediately. They are more of a cosmetic issue rather than functional. they are tedious to repair but nothing that a few weekends of work couldn't accomplish. Do a search on our forum for Repairing Blisters and you'll see quite a few members who have done it.

 

[alldodge]

So each blister is water between the gelcoat and wood hull?

Not right now, but given enough time it will reach the wood

They are NOT going to do major structural damage and don't necessarily have to be fixed immediately.

That's the key word

 

[tpenfield]

The hull of your boat is fiberglass (not wood) the structure supporting the fiberglass hull may be wood . .

Gelcoat and fiberglass are permeable by water . . . once the water gets in between the gelcoat and the fiberglass it starts to break down the resin and is much like a water blister that you might get on your hand or foot.

They don't get smaller, just larger.

If you have a few of them, then they can be a manageable fix. If there is a rash of them, you are better off lettering the next poor fool deal with them.

 

[chartersj]

Thanks for the help. I have researched it some. But still not sure if you have to re gelcoat the whole bottom or can you fill each hole you make it and buff it out to blend?

 

[Woodonglass]

You can repair each one and they don't have to all be done at the same time.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...-hull-repair/618069-hull-blisters-need-repair

Great information here Likewise . ondarvr