Let's suppose

[jzaat]

Let\'s suppose

that one had a GRP sailing yacht, built in the old days when little was known on that material and hence it turned out in inch-thickness rather than couple of milimeters. Suppose also that said boat now slowly developed something not entirely dissimilar to osmosis...

What would then be one's options, and the rationale?


Thanks
Jeroen



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[Aeolus_IV]

Re: Let\'s suppose

If you plan to keep it for a while - get the osmosis treated - it will make you feel better about the boat. If you're only planning to keep for a short while - ignore it. As has been said manys time here and else where - no boat has sunk because of osmosis.

We treated Aeolus for Osmosis when we bought her, and we are glad we did. Not for structural reasons, just for the feeling that is has been fixed, and it will not be a problem again for the forseeable future. But it isn't cheap if you need to treat a large area, and takes time.

Regards, Jeff.

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[Mudplugger]

Re: Let\'s suppose

If one were in the position outlined, IMHO, one option would be to remove said vessel from the water and store either under cover, or under covers, for 2/3 months to let the air get at the hull and allow the ambient temp. to improve, remove all traces of anti-fouling during this period, Skarsten scrapers rule! Place a polythene skirt around waterline and over floor,tape together and run a reasonable size dehumidifier for a couple of weeks, to ensure that the maximum amount of moisture has been removed, fair hull if required, and repaint with Epoxy tar at least four or five coats, antifoul and replace in water, secure in the knowledge that you are not going to have any further problems......Best of luck Tony W.

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[Evadne]

Re: Let\'s suppose

I was in that position, except for the "slowly" bit. (It probably was slow, just rather far gone by the time the gelcoat fell off and I finally noticed.) The real problem with older boats is that the layup may not be as good as it would be today, that "inch-thickness" was often a well-justified precaution. You can't see wicking and delamination, not to mention dry bits of glass until you get the gelcoat off.
I had her gritblasted, dried, filled, faired and epoxied for something like £1800 + vat. That was in 1989, and she still seems to be fine today so as the man says, if you want to keep her for a while or are thinking of selling her for something akin to what you paid then I'd get it done. But double the above figure!

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[AndrewB]

Not quite true.

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<font size=1>As has been said manys time here and else where - no boat has sunk because of osmosis.</font size=1>

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Back in 1979 or thereaboats, there was a small motorboat ashore at Highway Marine in Sandwich that had sunk on her mooring as a result of osmosis. Huge blisters, several inches across, all across her bottom, like I've never seen since. Where they had punctured there were holes through her very poorly laid thin skin. A lot has been learnt about laying up GRP since then.


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[jzaat]

Re: Not quite true.

Thanks, I was just about to ask if anyone knew of a case where it WASN'T treated and what the results where after some time...
My boat was done, peeled, gelshielded the works 1988, since we have her in the Med things started to deteriorate.
Would just drying out for a couple of months be sufficient treatement for awhile?

Thx
J

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