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Author Topic:   1978 17' whaler gelcoat bubble rupture!

Sourpuss1 posted 06-28-2012 10:02 PM ET (US)
My new-to-me 1978 17' sport has completed it maiden voyage, and performed perfectly. However, when I got back to the dock, I noticed that one of the gelcoat "bubbles" (the boat has a few scattered around the topsides) had burst, fairly violently! If you take a close look at the last two photos in this album, you can see a "before and after" view of the bubble, with the after effects, much more close up.
[urlhttps://picasaweb.google.com/116270698488929759014/1978BostonWhaler?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJSu3Yjz-df81AE&feat=directlink[/url]
No the boat has not been painted. I suspect that these imperfections are a factory defect, but who knows? The boat has evidently seen very little use, as everything is in as-new condition, even the trailer is perfect. most of the other bubbles have split open previously, and are more like cracks in the gelcoat.
I suspect that the hot day/sun caused this rupture.
I have to fix these spots anyway, but this made it much bigger!
Thanks,
Pete
Sourpuss1 posted 06-28-2012 10:04 PM ET (US)
Sorry
https://picasaweb.google.com/116270698488929759014/ 1978BostonWhaler?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJSu3Yjz-df81AE& feat=directlink
contender posted 06-29-2012 11:18 AM ET (US)
I think your gelcoat has out lived its life.... I was told once that fiberglass gelcoat last about 25 years give or take, and also depending on the condition the boat was keep in and were (out of the sun)...
DAVIDinMS posted 06-30-2012 03:24 PM ET (US)
Gelcoat will last much longer than 20 years. Looks like a pristine boat with little use for her age. The bubble does look like a factory defect to me. Looks like an air bubble between the gelcoat and underlying lares of fiberglass.
Jefecinco posted 06-30-2012 06:58 PM ET (US)
The gelcoat on my 30+ year old Boston Whaler Sport 13 is going strong. It's worn a little thin in places but is holding up well.
My impression from your photos is that the ruptured gelcoat is thicker than I would expect in a boat from 1978. Is it possible a previous owner reapplied gelcoat to the hull? If so, the application may not have been perfectly applied.
I would repair the ruptured area and any other areas exhibiting similar symptoms.
Butch
egres posted 07-01-2012 11:23 PM ET (US)
The boat looks like a real Darling.
The only way that the majority of the surfaces would still look so good will imply that this unit was stored indoors for most of it's life.
Having done a bit of original Polyester repairs, I could be swayed into believing that some upgrades were at one time done to the areas.
Photo 61 did take me by surprise in the outward momentum rupture showing.
Very unusual to see that kind of damage unless..the inner structure or filler was not totally dried upon the gel being applied.
Not a huge problem to rectify.
martyn1075 posted 07-01-2012 11:32 PM ET (US)
It looks dreadful at first glance but Im sure this can be fixed with some tlc and understanding of gel coat repair. The boat does look very nice otherwise.
Chuck Tribolet posted 07-02-2012 09:20 AM ET (US)
The texture showing in the reflection in #61 smells like there
was a repair done there in the past.

Chuck
number9 posted 07-02-2012 10:25 AM ET (US)

quote:
The texture showing in the reflection in #61 smells like there was a repair done there in the past.

The texture showing in the reflection is likely just that, the reflection of a textured surface on the smooth surface. Kind of like seeing your face in a calm water, surface smooth but looks textured in a photo. Photos, particularly close ups sometimes allow the imagination to run wild.
...

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Author	Topic: 1978 17' whaler gelcoat bubble rupture!
Sourpuss1	posted 06-28-2012 10:02 PM ET (US) My new-to-me 1978 17' sport has completed it maiden voyage, and performed perfectly. However, when I got back to the dock, I noticed that one of the gelcoat "bubbles" (the boat has a few scattered around the topsides) had burst, fairly violently! If you take a close look at the last two photos in this album, you can see a "before and after" view of the bubble, with the after effects, much more close up. [urlhttps://picasaweb.google.com/116270698488929759014/1978BostonWhaler?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJSu3Yjz-df81AE&feat=directlink[/url] No the boat has not been painted. I suspect that these imperfections are a factory defect, but who knows? The boat has evidently seen very little use, as everything is in as-new condition, even the trailer is perfect. most of the other bubbles have split open previously, and are more like cracks in the gelcoat. I suspect that the hot day/sun caused this rupture. I have to fix these spots anyway, but this made it much bigger! Thanks, Pete
Sourpuss1	posted 06-28-2012 10:04 PM ET (US) Sorry https://picasaweb.google.com/116270698488929759014/ 1978BostonWhaler?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJSu3Yjz-df81AE& feat=directlink
contender	posted 06-29-2012 11:18 AM ET (US) I think your gelcoat has out lived its life.... I was told once that fiberglass gelcoat last about 25 years give or take, and also depending on the condition the boat was keep in and were (out of the sun)...
DAVIDinMS	posted 06-30-2012 03:24 PM ET (US) Gelcoat will last much longer than 20 years. Looks like a pristine boat with little use for her age. The bubble does look like a factory defect to me. Looks like an air bubble between the gelcoat and underlying lares of fiberglass.
Jefecinco	posted 06-30-2012 06:58 PM ET (US) The gelcoat on my 30+ year old Boston Whaler Sport 13 is going strong. It's worn a little thin in places but is holding up well. My impression from your photos is that the ruptured gelcoat is thicker than I would expect in a boat from 1978. Is it possible a previous owner reapplied gelcoat to the hull? If so, the application may not have been perfectly applied. I would repair the ruptured area and any other areas exhibiting similar symptoms. Butch
egres	posted 07-01-2012 11:23 PM ET (US) The boat looks like a real Darling. The only way that the majority of the surfaces would still look so good will imply that this unit was stored indoors for most of it's life. Having done a bit of original Polyester repairs, I could be swayed into believing that some upgrades were at one time done to the areas. Photo 61 did take me by surprise in the outward momentum rupture showing. Very unusual to see that kind of damage unless..the inner structure or filler was not totally dried upon the gel being applied. Not a huge problem to rectify.
martyn1075	posted 07-01-2012 11:32 PM ET (US) It looks dreadful at first glance but Im sure this can be fixed with some tlc and understanding of gel coat repair. The boat does look very nice otherwise.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 07-02-2012 09:20 AM ET (US) The texture showing in the reflection in #61 smells like there was a repair done there in the past. Chuck
number9	posted 07-02-2012 10:25 AM ET (US) quote: The texture showing in the reflection in #61 smells like there was a repair done there in the past. The texture showing in the reflection is likely just that, the reflection of a textured surface on the smooth surface. Kind of like seeing your face in a calm water, surface smooth but looks textured in a photo. Photos, particularly close ups sometimes allow the imagination to run wild. ...