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Author Topic:   Hull Blisters

blackboat posted 08-14-2004 11:41 PM ET (US)
Looked at A 2000 SPORT 130 for sale today. Below the waterline the bottom is covered in blisters about the size of my fingernails. Boat was kept in the water, in boathouse, summers.
Have searched the forum on blisters (know more than I want to about blistering from past experience with other boats, was suprised to see it on a whaler this new though). Read off site links, etc. In general I gather that small blisters like these are not an immediate concern (boat would live on a trailer henceforth), but may affect resale value (I sure as heck don't want to pay as much for it now).
Main questions are: Would you fix these or not? And what kind of devaluation to assign to this?
I figure there's quite a bit of time in grinding bottom, epoxy sealing and fairing, barrier paint, etc. Part of the reason for looking at newer boats was to avoid this kind of work.
So am I being overly cautious here? Or just pass on this one? I am disappointed to see this on a newer boat. Also, the owner has all the original paperwork. We checked the warranty; gel coat is specifically excluded for blisters, crazing, etc.
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum,
Thanks for any ideas,
Rob
jimh posted 08-16-2004 06:02 PM ET (US)
For appraisals of boats, please use the MARKETPLACE forum.
Repair of osmotic blistering requires grinding out the blisters and allowing the hull to dry. A Boston Whaler hull is made with the same general materials as most other boats, so they are not immune to blistering. Particularly if a boat is left in the water without any bottom paint or barrier coat to protect it, blisters can result.
The exact composition or brand of gelcoat and resin used in making a Boston Whaler has not been widely publicized, if at all. Even in publications like POWERBOAT-REPORTS, where the boat reviews always include extensive details of construction and materials, the resin and gelcoat brands actually used by Whaler are never provided. My assumption is that the factory did not reveal this information to the reviewer.
I don't know if this reticence by Boston Whaler to reveal the composition of their resin and gelcoat is due to concerns about trade secrets, but it seems odd that other premium brand builders often make a special point of promoting their use of premium resins and gelcoats. Those builders are glad to tell you about them.
As a general rule, a hull with blisters is a major problem. It seems odd that the current owner did not seek a remedy from the dealer. The hull is under a ten-year warranty. I do not know if that warranty protects against blisters or not. It might be a good idea to read it carefully to see.
If the current owner is not going to get it fixed under warranty, you could buy it and then ask that it be fixed. There is an old anecdote about a guy buying a really beat Whaler with a major hull defect at a bargain price, then taking it to a dealer and getting an entire new hull under the warranty. This may be an marine legend, but that is how the story goes. If the warranty covers the blisters, then heck, buy the boat, and get it fixed under warranty.
sinjun posted 08-16-2004 06:30 PM ET (US)
Blisters are considered cosmetic flaw not a structural defact therefore not covered under most warrenties. If the blisters appear in the first year you might have some luck getting the manufacturer to repair the boat.
blackboat posted 08-17-2004 12:07 AM ET (US)
The gelcoat is not covered under warranty; read it in the BW literature that comes with the boat. Current owner is the second owner of the boat; the original owner never sent the warranty card in, it's still attached to the literature.
Guess this one looks like a pass for now untless the price moves south enough to mahe it worthwhile.
Thanks,
Rob
2manyboats posted 08-17-2004 12:32 AM ET (US)
Over the years I have bought two boats with blisters, one with thousands and the other with a few. In both cases, after making some calls for prices for repairs, I lowered my offer by the coat of repairs . In both cases the lower offer was accepted.
jimh posted 08-17-2004 07:39 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the information that the ten-year hull warranty does not cover osmotic blistering.
handn posted 08-17-2004 11:25 AM ET (US)
I would pass on the boat unless it is cheaper than dirt. Blisters on a 2000 boat are a red flag indicating other problems like a defective batch of fiberglass or water in the hull.

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Author	Topic: Hull Blisters
blackboat	posted 08-14-2004 11:41 PM ET (US) Looked at A 2000 SPORT 130 for sale today. Below the waterline the bottom is covered in blisters about the size of my fingernails. Boat was kept in the water, in boathouse, summers. Have searched the forum on blisters (know more than I want to about blistering from past experience with other boats, was suprised to see it on a whaler this new though). Read off site links, etc. In general I gather that small blisters like these are not an immediate concern (boat would live on a trailer henceforth), but may affect resale value (I sure as heck don't want to pay as much for it now). Main questions are: Would you fix these or not? And what kind of devaluation to assign to this? I figure there's quite a bit of time in grinding bottom, epoxy sealing and fairing, barrier paint, etc. Part of the reason for looking at newer boats was to avoid this kind of work. So am I being overly cautious here? Or just pass on this one? I am disappointed to see this on a newer boat. Also, the owner has all the original paperwork. We checked the warranty; gel coat is specifically excluded for blisters, crazing, etc. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, Thanks for any ideas, Rob
jimh	posted 08-16-2004 06:02 PM ET (US) For appraisals of boats, please use the MARKETPLACE forum. Repair of osmotic blistering requires grinding out the blisters and allowing the hull to dry. A Boston Whaler hull is made with the same general materials as most other boats, so they are not immune to blistering. Particularly if a boat is left in the water without any bottom paint or barrier coat to protect it, blisters can result. The exact composition or brand of gelcoat and resin used in making a Boston Whaler has not been widely publicized, if at all. Even in publications like POWERBOAT-REPORTS, where the boat reviews always include extensive details of construction and materials, the resin and gelcoat brands actually used by Whaler are never provided. My assumption is that the factory did not reveal this information to the reviewer. I don't know if this reticence by Boston Whaler to reveal the composition of their resin and gelcoat is due to concerns about trade secrets, but it seems odd that other premium brand builders often make a special point of promoting their use of premium resins and gelcoats. Those builders are glad to tell you about them. As a general rule, a hull with blisters is a major problem. It seems odd that the current owner did not seek a remedy from the dealer. The hull is under a ten-year warranty. I do not know if that warranty protects against blisters or not. It might be a good idea to read it carefully to see. If the current owner is not going to get it fixed under warranty, you could buy it and then ask that it be fixed. There is an old anecdote about a guy buying a really beat Whaler with a major hull defect at a bargain price, then taking it to a dealer and getting an entire new hull under the warranty. This may be an marine legend, but that is how the story goes. If the warranty covers the blisters, then heck, buy the boat, and get it fixed under warranty.
sinjun	posted 08-16-2004 06:30 PM ET (US) Blisters are considered cosmetic flaw not a structural defact therefore not covered under most warrenties. If the blisters appear in the first year you might have some luck getting the manufacturer to repair the boat.
blackboat	posted 08-17-2004 12:07 AM ET (US) The gelcoat is not covered under warranty; read it in the BW literature that comes with the boat. Current owner is the second owner of the boat; the original owner never sent the warranty card in, it's still attached to the literature. Guess this one looks like a pass for now untless the price moves south enough to mahe it worthwhile. Thanks, Rob
2manyboats	posted 08-17-2004 12:32 AM ET (US) Over the years I have bought two boats with blisters, one with thousands and the other with a few. In both cases, after making some calls for prices for repairs, I lowered my offer by the coat of repairs . In both cases the lower offer was accepted.
jimh	posted 08-17-2004 07:39 AM ET (US) Thanks for the information that the ten-year hull warranty does not cover osmotic blistering.
handn	posted 08-17-2004 11:25 AM ET (US) I would pass on the boat unless it is cheaper than dirt. Blisters on a 2000 boat are a red flag indicating other problems like a defective batch of fiberglass or water in the hull.