osmosis

[Indiana]

Hi peeps,

I just had my Sea Ray Sundancer 29 (1992) lifted to have it anti-fouled, and the chappie (after scrapping off the anti-foul), found lots of little blisters all over the hull.

The boat had been sitting in the water (Sea) for 3 years (May be longer), and I brought her a few months back.

The chap has now completed the anti-foul and it is ready to go back in the water (Painted blue so some of the blisters are still/more visible)

I have been reading up on osmosis, and the guy himself spoke to a yacht company person and also a gelcoat specialist.
Both said the cost to properly correct this would be in it's thousands and could take some time.
They both think it better to just return it to the water and said that it should be years before any real damage is done (This gives me more time to save)

Question:
What is your opinion on a boat with osmosis, what kind of price would I be looking at to have it corrected, and how long could it last back in the water before needing to come out for treatment.

Cheers,
Indy

 

[BillK2632]

So here is my opinion - years ago we had a boat (Glastron) that sat in a freshwater lake 6mos out of the year, no bottom paint. After about 3 years we noticed blisters that looked like a case of acne. Three years later the acne was quarter size blisters. By the time we sold the boat at 15yrs the whole bottom was covered with cracking half dollar size blisters and the hull was just saturated - the boat was a total loss at that point. But no repairs were ever made on the blisters and it took 15 years for them to completely take their toll. I think it was an issue with the materials and the hull layup - this was a 1969 year model boat. I also found a few small blisters on my 2000 SeaRay 290 - I ground them out and they were dry inside - filled them and put bottom paint back over and that was end of it. I found a total 2 on that boat. Was that a true blister or a small void in the layup - who knows.

When it comes to blisters, it depends on how many, how big and how long they have been there.

A few dozen small blisters should not be a concern concern, watch them and repair any that get larger - more of a symptom than an illness.

Larger ones that are starting to crack should be repaired - enough moisture is in there and caused delamination to crack the gelcoat. Again, a relatively small number and it's more of a symptom not a disease.

Hundreds of small ones that appear and are getting bigger indicate an underlying problem with the hull layup - and while they should be fixed, often the cost will exceed the value of the boat (ie our 1969 Glastron), so it's not economical to fix it - these are the kind I would consider a true blister problem.

 

[Sublimetime]

In cold climates blisters can become a major problem if the boat is layed up outside and blisters didn't get a chance to dry out before first freeze. Will cause severe delamination.

 

[Blueone]

I passed this boat today... I saw it last year all blistered and wondered how... I couldn't imagine how this will end up looking or costing...also don't understand grinding through the tape

 

[TNT8808]

If by tape, you're referring to the hull stripe it's most likely painted on. Very common on many boats, just not Sea Ray's.

-Tom

 

[Indiana]

I passed this boat today... I saw it last year all blistered and wondered how... I couldn't imagine how this will end up looking or costing...also don't understand grinding through the tape

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I'm not to familiar with osmosis on boats but I always thought it only effected the boats hull up to the water line mainly, I'm surprised that these photos are showing what looks like osmosis right up to the top?

 

[Sublimetime]

That had to be a defect during manufacturing to be that high up, and that extensive.