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Author Topic:   In salt water without bottom paint?

DrAlan posted 08-23-2002 03:32 PM ET (US)
In the Caribbean for 4 months no with a 27' Temptation, classic Whaler hull. Scrubbing the bottom is ok, I like the exercise, but now I'm hearing about possible "Osmosis," leading to bubbling of the outer hull surface, and delamination! What's the true story?
Contemplating bottom painting, but... Trailering is a hasle do to surface chop and by myself for the in and out. Rebuilding the trailer bed now. Thinking about rollers all the way down the middle, as desribed in the forum, but how many to hold all the weight on the keel? And how much on the wood planks?
Open for suggestions, and bottom paint referrals. Thanks.
lhg posted 08-23-2002 05:03 PM ET (US)
Dr Alan - Assuming yours is the 25 Temptation recently posted, see the trailer reference section for the "80,000 Mile Trailer" for keel roller configuration for your boat. Same boat as yours, in Outrage version, rides on that trailer.
BW has always said that any Whaler docked continuously in water, salt or fresh, should have bottom paint to protect the gelcoat. I often use mine in tropical salt water, including the Bahamas, but only for less than two week durations. There is often a yellow bottom stain that needs to be cleaned with oxalic acid cleaners, but the gelcoat has never been damaged.
Dunk posted 08-26-2002 12:22 AM ET (US)
You'll never find Osmatic blistering on a Whaler. Fiberglass blister problems are only found on boats that are one layer heavy fiberglass hulls. Whalers with their thin shin foam filled hulls don't have this problem. This is why you see increasting blister problems % wise as boats get bigger. Once you get to 30-35ft boats they are laying enough fiberglass where the bottom has to be thick. All boat manuf's use polyester resins. When it's laid up thick layer upon layer sometimes it doesn't setup like it should and will not set up without heat.. All fiberglass boats soak up water right through the gelcoat. When water soaks into and finds these uncured pockets of resin it reverses the hardening process which has stopped and it creats a gas and pressure builds causing a blister on the hull. The only way to cure a boat with blisters as far as I'm conserned is called Post Curing. This is where the hull has the gelcoat stripped and the boat is put in room where the temps are maintained at 180 degrees for 10-14 days. They are doing this now in Maine for all those big glass sailboats with problems.
Mostly this pertains to big sailboats where blister problem are a big deal especially around the keel where the glass that be up to 9-12" thick.
Any blister looking problem you will find on a Whaler is nothing but hull/mold flaw.
DrAlan, The story is...as long as you don't mind scrubbing to keep it clean, keep at it. There is no bottom paint made to stop water from soaking into you hull. Yes, Interlux makes an epoxy sealer coat that probably does work. What good does it do to coat one side of your hull?? Do you think the inside of your hull is dry?? What's going to keep water from soaking into the glass from the inside.
Keep scrubbing and stop worrying...
wezie posted 08-26-2002 09:21 PM ET (US)
Bottom paints/ Antifouling paints do not stop osmosis/blistering. They slow marine growth of barnacles/slime/algea/etc. from attaching.
Antifouling paints also make it easier to clean the bottom because the marine life does not attach as well.
Types of boats have nothing to do with blisters. Construction, materials, and some luck seem to be the ingredients.
Epoxy barrier coats are the anti-blistering products.
I really do not know if BWs are blister proof, but would not bet the roof over my head on it. Maybe someone else's roof?
If this is a one time deal, I might consider one of the teflon products because they are simpler and thinner and easier to apply and to remove.
Good Luck!
vinay posted 12-30-2006 11:04 PM ET (US)
There are numerous good books on fiber glass construction. Why not buy one and find for your self?
Osmosis is a SLOOOW process. If the boat is in the water for a long time, it will absorb water and blister will result, even if it is a whaler!
If the boat is on a traylor most of the time, or enough to allow the hull to dry then technically you do not need anything on the bottom. An epoxy would be nice as it would stop the absorption of water. Epoxies do absorb water but it is very very slow process. Before that happens, the hull on the traylor would dry up and the prospects of blisters , ... gone!
Washing is the big thing. Removing the salt and the oils.

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Author	Topic: In salt water without bottom paint?
DrAlan	posted 08-23-2002 03:32 PM ET (US) In the Caribbean for 4 months no with a 27' Temptation, classic Whaler hull. Scrubbing the bottom is ok, I like the exercise, but now I'm hearing about possible "Osmosis," leading to bubbling of the outer hull surface, and delamination! What's the true story? Contemplating bottom painting, but... Trailering is a hasle do to surface chop and by myself for the in and out. Rebuilding the trailer bed now. Thinking about rollers all the way down the middle, as desribed in the forum, but how many to hold all the weight on the keel? And how much on the wood planks? Open for suggestions, and bottom paint referrals. Thanks.
lhg	posted 08-23-2002 05:03 PM ET (US) Dr Alan - Assuming yours is the 25 Temptation recently posted, see the trailer reference section for the "80,000 Mile Trailer" for keel roller configuration for your boat. Same boat as yours, in Outrage version, rides on that trailer. BW has always said that any Whaler docked continuously in water, salt or fresh, should have bottom paint to protect the gelcoat. I often use mine in tropical salt water, including the Bahamas, but only for less than two week durations. There is often a yellow bottom stain that needs to be cleaned with oxalic acid cleaners, but the gelcoat has never been damaged.
Dunk	posted 08-26-2002 12:22 AM ET (US) You'll never find Osmatic blistering on a Whaler. Fiberglass blister problems are only found on boats that are one layer heavy fiberglass hulls. Whalers with their thin shin foam filled hulls don't have this problem. This is why you see increasting blister problems % wise as boats get bigger. Once you get to 30-35ft boats they are laying enough fiberglass where the bottom has to be thick. All boat manuf's use polyester resins. When it's laid up thick layer upon layer sometimes it doesn't setup like it should and will not set up without heat.. All fiberglass boats soak up water right through the gelcoat. When water soaks into and finds these uncured pockets of resin it reverses the hardening process which has stopped and it creats a gas and pressure builds causing a blister on the hull. The only way to cure a boat with blisters as far as I'm conserned is called Post Curing. This is where the hull has the gelcoat stripped and the boat is put in room where the temps are maintained at 180 degrees for 10-14 days. They are doing this now in Maine for all those big glass sailboats with problems. Mostly this pertains to big sailboats where blister problem are a big deal especially around the keel where the glass that be up to 9-12" thick. Any blister looking problem you will find on a Whaler is nothing but hull/mold flaw. DrAlan, The story is...as long as you don't mind scrubbing to keep it clean, keep at it. There is no bottom paint made to stop water from soaking into you hull. Yes, Interlux makes an epoxy sealer coat that probably does work. What good does it do to coat one side of your hull?? Do you think the inside of your hull is dry?? What's going to keep water from soaking into the glass from the inside. Keep scrubbing and stop worrying...
wezie	posted 08-26-2002 09:21 PM ET (US) Bottom paints/ Antifouling paints do not stop osmosis/blistering. They slow marine growth of barnacles/slime/algea/etc. from attaching. Antifouling paints also make it easier to clean the bottom because the marine life does not attach as well. Types of boats have nothing to do with blisters. Construction, materials, and some luck seem to be the ingredients. Epoxy barrier coats are the anti-blistering products. I really do not know if BWs are blister proof, but would not bet the roof over my head on it. Maybe someone else's roof? If this is a one time deal, I might consider one of the teflon products because they are simpler and thinner and easier to apply and to remove. Good Luck!
vinay	posted 12-30-2006 11:04 PM ET (US) There are numerous good books on fiber glass construction. Why not buy one and find for your self? Osmosis is a SLOOOW process. If the boat is in the water for a long time, it will absorb water and blister will result, even if it is a whaler! If the boat is on a traylor most of the time, or enough to allow the hull to dry then technically you do not need anything on the bottom. An epoxy would be nice as it would stop the absorption of water. Epoxies do absorb water but it is very very slow process. Before that happens, the hull on the traylor would dry up and the prospects of blisters , ... gone! Washing is the big thing. Removing the salt and the oils.