Do boats need "drying out"?

Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

I dont think it can be put so simply .... I just believe that lifting out MAY delay final inevitable bilstering .... but each boat is different and many would go for years without any outward signs. Whjere another may of the same boat may blister in a shoter period even with greater out time .... there is no exact science to this - that is why there is so many different advises from experts ....

If you have modern resins and quality control - there is no reason why you shouldn't stay in odd winters ....

If you have a new yacht - did you have a coat of protective epoxy applied ti hull BEFORE she touched water ?

Sorrty but this is not a simple subject ......


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

It would be considered unusual here in NZ for a boat to be lifted from the water for the sake of wintering ashore or drying out and they do not suffer for that. In fact in our own marina they are probably much safer in the water than on land because of the high winds that are experienced.

Obviously if one is in a place where freezing seawater, very severe weather, etc might threaten the boat that is different, but from the point of view of ordinary circumstances the benefits of being able to regularly run the engine, all the electronic equipment, refrigeration, etc, etc far outweighs any other possible disadvantage (eg the possibility of increased osmosis).

John

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Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

> If you have a new yacht - did you have a coat of protective epoxy
> applied to the hull BEFORE she touched water ?

My options are still open as the yacht does not arrive until November and the launch date is early January.

The dealer's standard preparation is two coats of epoxy rolled on plus an anti fouling called VC xxx with Teflon (not sure of the exact product name). November is not an ideal time to epoxy I guess but the dealer does have the next best thing to a full climate controlled paint shop i.e. a very modern and clean shed with heating.

I am debating paying more for some extra coats of epoxy. Would this be a worthwhile extra?

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Re: New boat epoxy regieme

> We were advised NOT to have the new hull epoxy treated until the
> expiry of the hull warranty at the earliest.

I have heard this theory as well, something to do with letting the final traces of volatile compounds evaporate from the laminate before sealing the hull with epoxy?

I suppose the dream start for a new hull would be 6 months of summer sunshine ashore in a cradle, followed by a HotVac to draw out the final traces of the nasty volatile chemicals (maybe I have been reading too many HotVac brochures) and finally a thick coating of epoxy at a steady 25 (C).

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Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

VC Tar ..... with 2 coats of Epoxy under ...........

Seems good ....why go more than that ? Modern resins are far more resistant to moisture than the old stuff .... so IMHO -I would - if my boat go for it .... but final is your decision.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Depends on warranty

The warranty may exclude you if the hull is overcoated -check it with dealer and if necessary get in writing his decision / advise so that you have something in hand when the time comes .... if it comes ....



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

Lots of good points raised on this issue so far. I'm with the 'in all year brigade' for all the good reasons mentioned including those very special winter days when you have the Solent all to yourself.

I'm not a surveyor, I don't have a science degree and sadly I don't have any special technical knowledge about almost anything, especially any knowledge to support the following.........BUT.......surely if gel coats allow the ingress of moisture..........then I would have thought that the moisture would be liable to freeze if the boat is out of the water.........and when I went to school that meant the moisture would expand.........and surely that expansion would prematurely start a process of delamination........ that would get a little worse each year...... and eventually lead to the dreaded osmosis.

Ah, I have it!
Perhaps 'moisture' is different from 'water'.

As I said, no technical knowledge, so not really qualified to comment.

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Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

You are sharing my (dubious?) logic. Anyway b****r it I love winter sailing.

My mate has an 81 Benny, that he bought 13 yrs ago with a survey report suggesting the boat was suffering some osmosis. The man that came to have a look at stripping the gel coat told him not to bother and the boat has lived happily in FRESH water ever since. It's got no worse and it aint dropped to bits. I'm not saying that I am not bothered about osmosis and I will be having the boat checked, but I do wonder if the whole problem isn't just a little over played.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.
 
Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

Yes expansion of water when freezing is reason for rocks splitting / timber hulls cracking etc. etc.

In baltic wher I have my pine on oak racer ... I have to lift well before winter to allow timbers to dry out before the -20 / -30's hit us .....

Your comment about water / osmosis etc. in GRP hull though is a little 'out'

It is actually unusual for 'water' to invade a hull unless a clear passage is opened up - even wicking is not sahll we say 'running water'. Most ingress and leading to Osmosis is due to moisture getting in and then forming water pocket dissolving the uncured resins etc., in the void. This then increases the desnity and as pressure increases - blisters form. As the higher density cannot then get out the way it came in.

OK there are many other factors and ways to blister and of course water / moisture invasion ..... but above is the common ...


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

It seems to me that the more I read about this subject the more I dont worry about it. There appears to be no real science to when the pox may strike and it does appear to be treatable. Surely the real enjoyment of baoting is actually using it and not wrapping it up for months of every year in the hope that it wont get osmosis. Given the amount that boating costs most of us, I would rather get my moneys worth and enjoy boating while I can and worry about osmosis if and when it happens. After all they are about to tax red diesel for, so its only a matter of time before wind and water displacement tax!!!

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Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

Nice to hear about someone honest and saying not to bother ..... there are enough that would strip a good hull and collect the dosh.

My opinion is to monitor the levels as and when the boat comes out of water ..... preferably once the hull has been out for some days or weeks ....so that antifoul / coatings and exterior water are not playing games with readings.
I am not an advocate of treatment in just high reading conditions unless there is real good reason ... I would wait personally till first signs of blisters etc.

My GRP boat is near 29 yrs old and is in original gel without epoxy etc. Yes she has high readings - but I haven't found one blister on her yet ....... am I bothered .... nope - I just go on and enjoy my boat - knowing she will go another 29 yrs probably without any hassles. If I was to try and sell - some smart alek will probably try and beat me down on price for high moisture .... ok - they can try - but end answer is no. WYSIWYG

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Do boats need \"drying out\"?

A lot of interesting replies- thanks- Definately staying in this winter. I'm actually really excited about it, especially when remembering the feeling of the boat comig out at the end of the season. From now on, there will be no end to the season- it'll be an endless summer of sailing. Yippee.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif
 
Now I own up to another ...

I don't even lift out for anti-fouling on my UK boat or Latvian Boat. The only one that gets a new A/F coat each season is the race boat in Estonia ....... for race reasons.

The others are scrubbed when I get around to it and on beach etc. for BBQ - waiting for tide to come back in .......

Yes they used to have their annual coats etc. - then I got fed up with the ritual and the scrub off of literally the same as I get now ... so the boats have a coating of useless red now .... but as siad here - they really don't suffer much worse in growth etc, than they used to when I did A/F ....

Maybe I'm lucky - or life doesn't like my Boat ??????


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
Re: Now I own up to another ...

You seem to have quite a few boats across the Baltic from here. How much ice do you have to worry about over there? Here in Stockholm I am concerned about this. It's in fact the only reason why I pull my boat out in October. However, I would like to try leaving it in the ice some year. Normally ice is not an issue before late december, so I do miss quite a few weeks. GPR boats are said to be quite content in the ice, as far as it is not moving too much. But then again, there is the possibility of through-hull fittings freezing.



<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.sail.to/alacrity
 
Baltic ice ...

I have left my Latvian boat in a couple of years by mistake ..... has survived - last yime ice got to near 2 metres thick where she was. She literally just rose up as the ice formed and she sat in a 'bowl' .... BUT hse has a near motor-boat style bottom without too much of a keel - she is fitted with twin lifting keels that slot up into the bunk sides in the cabin.
The Estonian boat - I would never leave in - as I said she is pine on oak timber and would not survive it.

There are one or two boats that have stayed in - GRP - and survived ..... but they are larger boats, one a Conrad 12m ....

Personally I'm a coward on this and lift -out if possible.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/
 
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