Adverse effects on GRP of long term dry storage?

[buchana]

I am looking at buying a boat (2007) that has been out of the water in hanger storage for the last 6-7 years, and only recently outside "on the hard" in the last months.
I have seen many comments on this and other forums about the good/bad of in the water or on the hard... but mostly they are talking about a "few months" for a dry out annually.
Can't find any view on whether long term dry should be a bad thing and what the potential consequences might be. Any views?

 

[Motor_Sailor]

It'll be fine.

Well, to be more precise, it will be largely in the same state as it was when it went into the shed.

But if it was in reasonable condition when it went in, was properly supported and chocked in the shed, then there's nothing about being in the dry that will degrade fibreglass. Might even have done it some good.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It'll be fine.

Well, to be more precise, it will be largely in the same state as it was when it went into the shed.

But if it was in reasonable condition when it went in, was properly supported and chocked in the shed, then there's nothing about being in the dry that will degrade fibreglass. Might even have done it some good.

I have a fibreglass car which has been mostly dry since it was made in 1969. It's doing fine!

 

[pcatterall]

I have a fibreglass car which has been mostly dry since it was made in 1969. It's doing fine!

Are all three wheels still on?

 

[PaulRainbow]

The only effect of being in a barn for 6-7 years is that it will have 6-7 years less UV fade than had it been in the Sun. No bad effects at all, unless there were a lot of birds in the shed.

 

[jwilson]

Technically the IDEAL conditions for a GRP hull is to be stored well supported in a dry warm (even better very warm) shed. The worst conditions are afloat in warm water and in bright sunlight.

 

[AJ_01]

I would not expect the GRP to haven taken any damage from the shed storage. But make sure to get the current owner to get the engine running, if she has an inboard diesel! Or deduct a proper safety margin from the price. I do not expect the engine to easily re-start after 6-7 years of not turning.

 

[pagoda]

We bought our most recent boat from Laboe near Kiel last year. The owner died 2 years prior to that and the boat had been in a heated warehouse( his business warehouse ) since 2014. Can't imagine any great downsides. New batteries for sure, complete engine service, re-fit all the heads. Otherwise I think you will have no real issues .
Check for frost damage if outside this last winter??

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

As long as it was properly supported there should be no problem. Have a good look along the length of the boat (like one does on a car) preferably with a good light at the far end to see if there are any areas that are depressed. The reflections will show these up if present.

 

[oldgit]

My last boat. Broom MoBo was purchased from the moulders in 1973 and was finally finished and launched in 2005.
It spent life both inside and outside without apparent harm.
Did suspect it may have aquired a set in the hull but ,a the surveyor could detect nothing when the boat was surveyed after being back in the water for 12 months.

 

[prv]

there's nothing about being in the dry that will degrade fibreglass. Might even have done it some good.

+1

If you think you might want to coppercoat, there will never be a better opportunity to apply it to a really dry hull.

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

Are all three wheels still on?

It has four wheels, thank you very much. Mind you, I did have a three wheeler (Rialto) for a couple of years, and it was, with my 2CV, the top equal most entertaining car to drive I ever had. The lusty wee 848cc engine revs like a demon, the car weighs two fifths of bugger all and the combination goes like Seahorse Trust publications off a shovel.

 

[PeteCooper]

I wouldn't be worried about the GRP stuff. I would be worried about the engine(already mentioned) and any other moving parts - winches, blocks, stern tube etc. I know from experience that the grease in winches dries out and can be tricky to clean up. Any water systems with pumps - domestic bilge etc the diaphragms may have deteriorated. If the sails are in bags in the cabin I would be checking them out - maybe fine maybe not. Probably other non GRP related stuff I can't immediately think of.

 

[jwilson]

I would not expect the GRP to haven taken any damage from the shed storage. But make sure to get the current owner to get the engine running, if she has an inboard diesel! Or deduct a proper safety margin from the price. I do not expect the engine to easily re-start after 6-7 years of not turning.

On fitting a new battery I restarted a diesel that had been 6 years unused. No difficulty starting at all. Did crank it a few turns decompressed first to stir the oil. Then a normal oilchange and service before a 24 hour delivery trip (on the original fuel).

 

[coopec]

I have a fibreglass car which has been mostly dry since it was made in 1969. It's doing fine!

Does it look like this? (TVR 1969)View attachment 70721

But maybe Jensen........t

 

[JumbleDuck]

Does it look like this? (TVR 1969)View attachment 70721

But maybe Jensen........t

 

[davidej]

Does it look like this? (TVR 1969)View attachment 70721

But maybe Jensen........t

HEY! That looks like my old car -even the right colour. Mine was a '68 S2 - that's an S3. Rebuilt it from a wreck. A great track day car but a bit hard on the road. I wish I hadn't sold it

 

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