Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
A pal of mine has a 12 year old Dufour Gibsea 33 which is currently hauled out in a boatyard in Central America.
Although she was built in 2000, she was first launched in 2002, hence she has effectively been in the water (with occasional haul outs) for only 10 years.
The yard has found lots of small (less than 1/2" diameter) blisters on her hull bottom, mostly in way of the aft port side. These are flat, ie not standing proud, like a 'bubble' would.
The boat has only been hauled out for a week or so, but the yard is proposing to grind out the blisters, fill them, and then apply Interprotect epoxy to the whole hull bottom before antifouling.
I am thinking that it is probably a waste to coat the hull bottom with epoxy so quickly, even in the tropics, as I doubt it has had time to dry out properly.
(They are going to try and get hold of a moisture meter for an electronic verdict).
My pal is wondering if any other Gibsea owners have experienced similar problems with their boats?
I would have thought that a 12 year old Gibsea would have been built using Isothalic gelcoat and resin in the outer layers of fibreglass, rather than orthothalic, but perhaps I am wrong?
PS - Another question - has anybody had any problems with their Gibsea keelbolts?
PSS - Just heard from Pat, who offered this observation re the blisters :
"I just cut one and there was no liquid, no smell and no real taste. The biggest one is not dripping, has no smell that i can detect and a acidic taste when licked".
Although she was built in 2000, she was first launched in 2002, hence she has effectively been in the water (with occasional haul outs) for only 10 years.
The yard has found lots of small (less than 1/2" diameter) blisters on her hull bottom, mostly in way of the aft port side. These are flat, ie not standing proud, like a 'bubble' would.
The boat has only been hauled out for a week or so, but the yard is proposing to grind out the blisters, fill them, and then apply Interprotect epoxy to the whole hull bottom before antifouling.
I am thinking that it is probably a waste to coat the hull bottom with epoxy so quickly, even in the tropics, as I doubt it has had time to dry out properly.
(They are going to try and get hold of a moisture meter for an electronic verdict).
My pal is wondering if any other Gibsea owners have experienced similar problems with their boats?
I would have thought that a 12 year old Gibsea would have been built using Isothalic gelcoat and resin in the outer layers of fibreglass, rather than orthothalic, but perhaps I am wrong?
PS - Another question - has anybody had any problems with their Gibsea keelbolts?
PSS - Just heard from Pat, who offered this observation re the blisters :
"I just cut one and there was no liquid, no smell and no real taste. The biggest one is not dripping, has no smell that i can detect and a acidic taste when licked".
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