Another Blisters Question

[Bob Ware]

We have a trailed 1987 22' Grady which I discovered last week that I have significant blistering where the hull rests on the carpeted bunks. There are two strips approx 3"x10' with the blisters.
This problem, I suspect, is the result of having the bottom paint sanded off 3 years ago since bottom paint was unnecessary. The hull was clear when the paint was removed.
Reading the thread from RPM-inc leads me to think I will need to sand the areas down to the fiberglass, clean up any damaged fiberglass, let it dry then reapply gel to the damaged area.
Does this sound like the right approach?
Am I asking for additional trouble (damage) if I hold off on this repair until December?

Appreciate your suggestions.

Bob

 

[Flutterby]

Too bad someone talked you inot removing the bottom paint since "you didn't need it". Good luck fixing it! I've heard that boats can take months to dry out completely. Don't think it would be good to wait until wintertime unless you can keep her in a heated garage!

 

[Ghost]

Bottom paint, and even gel, does not ultimately protect your hull from being permeable. At this point, your only real choice is to dry the hull, fix what you choose to fix and then apply an expoxy barrier coat. The hull is likely blistering next to the bunks because that is the area with the least airflow to dry itself out, but that does not mean that the rest of the hull is not permeable as well.

Removing the bottom paint did not cause this issue, but it did likely speed it up and exacerabate the problem which ultimatley would have showed up eventually. It might have even been there before, just hidden by the bottom paint.

Coat your bilges as well, water is just as capable of permating from that side of the glass too.

bp

 

[Bob Ware]

I'm the one who talked me into removing the bottom paint. The original owner had it done as he kept the boat in the water. However, after we bought it in 1988 it's been on the trailer and the paint looked very bad. The problem is I let the bottom guy talk me out of doing the expoxy coat.

BP - thanks for the info. I suspected the problem to be due to the bunks remaining wet and after having the paint sanded off there just wasn't enough gelcoat remaining to protect from the extended dampness. I know my next project on the boat this summer.