Pimple sized blisters

[dbass100]

I just bought a boat and after cleaning the algae off the hull I found a couple hundred pimple sized blisters at the rear of each side at the water line, none on the bottom though which has anti fouling paint. How big a problem is this. I can either trailer the boat or leave at a dock. I read various reports that don't seam to agree to the severity of the problem. I would really like to hear from others who have had the same problem and the remedy (if any action was taken) and the results and costs of repairing.

Thanks, Dean

 

[marine4003]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

Dean...blistering means water has penatrated the gelcoat and obviously trapped in the hull..it can,over a period of time get alot worse and cause failure of the strength of the hull. If as of right now there only 1/4 size,and the season is ending,repair the blisters and prevent new ones from appearing. First get some 60 grit and a random orbital sander..Tyvek paint suit and a GOOD respirator...sand down to the gelcoat...then take a 4"grinder and sand down the blisters..opening them...let her sit and completely dry out...Then read here - http://www.boater.com/repinfo/westsys/west1.html
Good Luck Amigo.

 

[prc03sx195]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

I just noticed on the bottom toward the rear on either side there are 2-3 little bubbles, about the size of a dime or smaller. Should I not worry about them and go on or is it a concern. It is a 2003 Glastron that gets trailored and with 70 hrs on the clock I was concerned.

paul

 

[marine4003]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

I just noticed on the bottom toward the rear on either side there are 2-3 little bubbles, about the size of a dime or smaller. Should I not worry about them and go on or is it a concern. It is a 2003 Glastron that gets trailored and with 70 hrs on the clock I was concerned.

paul

Blisters always get worse..never better...the more water infuses the hull the more time consuming and expensive it gets to repair...if you see blisters, fix them...sand down the area in a 6" diameter,grind down the blisters...careful..dont go too deep 1/8th is deep enough,just to expose it..let it dry,go to west marine and buy a repair pak...fill void...let dry..apply bottom paint...go fish.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

Blisters rarely advance to the point of being a structural issue, it?s more of a cosmetic problem and spot repairs are of little value. It?s up to you as to how to handle it, but first you need to determine the reason for the blisters and where they?re at in the laminate.

Very small blisters are normally close to the surface, possibly in the gel coat, or between layers, large blisters tend to be deeper and in the laminate. Actual blister repair can be a very expensive and time consuming ordeal and if you only repair currently affected areas, unrepaired areas will blister in the future.

Does you boat have a different color stripe on the hull side?

You said there were only blisters on the side of the hull, was this area under water? All under water portions on the hull should be bottom painted, not just the bottom itself, that?s why I ask.

Do the blisters bother you from a cosmetic standpoint, or are you worried about them as a structural issue?

 

[dbass100]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

The blisters are just under the water line at the rear of the boat (about 1/4 the length of the boat). The bottom had been painted with anti foul paint. The blisters are hardly noticeable and don't bother me either cosmetically or from a structural standpoint. The boat is older 1988 and I only paid $4200 for it so I'm not really wanting to put a bunch of money into a repair unless it is absolutely a must. I can trailer the boat as opposed to leaving at a slip if need be. I just want to enjoy the boat. I've read that blisters very rarely ever do enough damage to effect it structurally. I would really like to hear from others who have actually had the problem and how the handled it.

Thanks, Dean

 

[oops!]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

hey dean....welcome to i boats


it takes ondarvr a while to get back on here.....when it does....it takes 8 minits to load a page on his computer......have patience....he will get back to you on this......

and....he is the one you really need to hear from....if its about gellcoat or glassing......he teaches the teachers.

cheers
oops

 

[lkbum]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

In the south, the type of blisters you describe happen right at the waterline usually because that's where the warmest water is. My experience on a large lake north of atlanta (lake lanier) is that "pimple sized" blisters occur on the aft sides and transom of the boats that are exposed for at least part of the day to sunlight (heats the boat and the water around it). I've never seen this type of blister on the bottom or forward sections of the hull. I've seen them on entry level boats (old Citations, Galaxy's etc) and on high end boats such as Grady WHite and Sea Ray. From what you descirbe, it's purely cosmetic and if it doesn't bother you, ignore them. My own experience was with a Citation in the early 80's on a new boat (happened after one season in the water). I complained enough that the manufacturer (I believe they were called fiberskiff) replaced the hull!! After that I bought a boat lift and have had one ever since.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

...

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

If they don't bother you, then just forget about them, that's cheap and easy. The reason I asked about the a color stripe on the hull side is that occasionally the overspary from the stripe can create blisters where the droplets land on the main color. These small droplets sometimes don't cure completely and leave a weak link between the main color gel coat and the laminate resulting in very small blisters that are confined to certain areas.

Just leave it on the trailer when not in use and they may never get worse.

 

[dbass100]

Re: Pimple sized blisters

Thanks for everyones imput. The blisters are so small the are barely visable, (pinhead to matchead size) so they don't bother me from cosmetic viewpoint. More then happy to leave as they are. My main worry was that they might get much worse and cause big problems. Also, it's getting nearer to winter and I wondered if that might cause a problem (Lake Erie).
I did read a couple places that the people who seam most concerned about them is the ones who make money fixing them.

Dean