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Author Topic:   Blistering repair options

Three Seasons posted 08-02-2003 09:50 AM ET (US)
I purchased a 73 whaler that is in ok shape – a few small dings in the gelcoat above the water line – some repaired, some showing the green fiberglass underneath the gelcoat.
The boat has a more pressing problem with some blistering on the gelcoat below the waterline. The blisters are small (diameter of a pencil,) but cover an estimated 40% of the hull below the waterline. I am planning on grinding the blisters off/out, filling, and then gelcoating or painting the entire bare hull this winter. This is the first step in bringing this boat back to looking like new – just looking for opinions/options. I did look at the thread http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001198.html and gained some valuable information on this topic. My goal is correct these issues with the hull so water will not soak the foam – and have it look like new by:
Option one – fix gelcoat problems and re-gelcoat entire hull.
Option two – fix problems and paint entire hull.
Option three – fix problems and bottom paint.
Opinions?

glassman posted 08-03-2003 05:14 AM ET (US)
Put boat back in water fully loaded and re-mark water line on outside of hull. Add two inches to that mark, and even it out.Sand the hull from ther down removeing all the blisters. Re-spray gellcoat to the new mark. Prep new gellcoat for bottom paint.From new mark up spray awlgrip type lpu paint, dries smooth and slick very durable. If you have the time and skill to smooth out the slight orange peel texture of the gellcoat down to 2000 grit and buff thats the way to go. Otherwise awlgrip above WL, gell and bottom paint below, pinstripe where they meet.Hope this helps.
Jamie 20 outrage posted 08-03-2003 05:24 PM ET (US)
If this were my boat, I would repair the blisters, keep in mind that the glass is thin. Then instead of gelcoat, I would coat the bottom with 3 coats of interprotect 2000 or similar blister preventive coating. What value does gelcoat have below the waterline? As far as I know, none.

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Author	Topic: Blistering repair options
Three Seasons	posted 08-02-2003 09:50 AM ET (US) I purchased a 73 whaler that is in ok shape – a few small dings in the gelcoat above the water line – some repaired, some showing the green fiberglass underneath the gelcoat. The boat has a more pressing problem with some blistering on the gelcoat below the waterline. The blisters are small (diameter of a pencil,) but cover an estimated 40% of the hull below the waterline. I am planning on grinding the blisters off/out, filling, and then gelcoating or painting the entire bare hull this winter. This is the first step in bringing this boat back to looking like new – just looking for opinions/options. I did look at the thread http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001198.html and gained some valuable information on this topic. My goal is correct these issues with the hull so water will not soak the foam – and have it look like new by: Option one – fix gelcoat problems and re-gelcoat entire hull. Option two – fix problems and paint entire hull. Option three – fix problems and bottom paint. Opinions?
glassman	posted 08-03-2003 05:14 AM ET (US) Put boat back in water fully loaded and re-mark water line on outside of hull. Add two inches to that mark, and even it out.Sand the hull from ther down removeing all the blisters. Re-spray gellcoat to the new mark. Prep new gellcoat for bottom paint.From new mark up spray awlgrip type lpu paint, dries smooth and slick very durable. If you have the time and skill to smooth out the slight orange peel texture of the gellcoat down to 2000 grit and buff thats the way to go. Otherwise awlgrip above WL, gell and bottom paint below, pinstripe where they meet.Hope this helps.
Jamie 20 outrage	posted 08-03-2003 05:24 PM ET (US) If this were my boat, I would repair the blisters, keep in mind that the glass is thin. Then instead of gelcoat, I would coat the bottom with 3 coats of interprotect 2000 or similar blister preventive coating. What value does gelcoat have below the waterline? As far as I know, none.