Minascule beginnings of Osmosis a harbinger of doom?

[jeffsnox]

A 30 year old Westerly Centaur I saw the other day was absolutely pristine. She looked almost new.

But on the beam, JUST above the anti-foul, were a couple of very very small blisters. Each probably 2 to 3mm across. About 5 in total.

Same on both sides.

I wouldn't have noticed them if the owner hadn't pointed them out to me!

Is this an indication of bad things to come in the very near future? Or nothing to worry about?

THANKS!!

 

[Stemar]

In a word: No.

In two words: No but...

Any boat of that age is likely to have a few blisters. The ones you describe are of no structural significance, but there is a possibility of more as time goes on.

Have a look at this

If everything else adds up and the boat's winking at you and saying, "Buy me!" a few small blisters wouldn't put me off. You could deal with them yourself at leisure - or not, or pay a fortune for a gel coat peel, which is what the people who offer such sevices will tell you is essential if you boat isn't to fall apart in the next ten minutes.

Me, I'd just go sailing!

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Geff, and welcome to the WBW forums.

[ QUOTE ]
Is this an indication of bad things to come in the very near future? Or nothing to worry about?

[/ QUOTE ]

No its not, but I assume you would be getting a full survey done prior to purchasing in any case, the report will give you the information you need, just make sure the surveyor understands what areas you want checked as a minimum.

At this age it has either had a treatment or has never needed one, not uncommon with older thicker boats.

Even it were a sign of problems to come I doubt it would be Osmosis, from your description it sounds like moisture trapped under a coat of paint.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Lakesailor]

Just to clear up the matter. Is it in gel coat or is that a painted topsides?
If it's paint it's likely to be water creep behind the paint film.
It just seems odd to have osmosis above the water line, but not below.

 

[Blueboatman]

Hi Jeffsnox,
If you like the boat enough to consider putting in an offer then the smart thing is to engage a competent surveyor and make an offer'subject to survey'.
The boat may/may not have other blisters,it may and may not at some time have had remedial work done by a previous owner..
At 30 years insurers would want some fairly up to date survey of what they are being asked to insure.

 

[Hermit]

No boats (AFAIK) have ever sunk due to osmosis. However, when you come to sell, buyers will be in the same position as you are now but x years on.

 

[luddites]

Probably not osmosis anyway. Older Westerlies often have a condition known as aeration of the gelcoat. These are basically tiny air bubbles trapped in the gelcoat the day it was painted onto the mould. these voids are in the gelcoat and not at the interface of the gelcoat and laminate. Your surveyor should be able to recognise this common condition which can usually be ignored provided you have the boat ashore every winter for as long as possible to allow some natural drying out.
Double standards exist with all moisture related defects or alleged defects. if you are selling its" all boats have it to some extent, no boat ever sunk of osmosis, its been like that for years" etc etc. But if your buying its "I want x grand off the price or the deal is off".

One word of caution. As is frequently said here boats dont sink of osmosis but if you are unlucky enough to come across one which had a poor quality laminate in the first place, with poorly wetted out areas, or completely dry spots, you will end up with a massive bill for re-lamination. Your surveyor should pick up signs of this and warn you accordingly. Make sure he hammer sounds every square inch of the hull and can understand what he is hearing. Ask these questions of him prior to the survey. In my expeprience this affects about 1 in 40 average production boats, with higher percentages in a few known bad batches or mouldings but this does not include Westerly. If you come across a boat in this position repair costs must be reflected in the price but if it is then have the job done. You will end up with an old polyester resin hull sheathed in the latest epoxy technology and stronger than new. Experience shows that when properly done these jobs never fail.

 

[catalac08]

probably off the point of this post but slighly related
my previous boat although no sign of any blisters on the hull had numerous small ones under where a boat name plate had been removed from the topsides by the next owner, this plate had been stuck on with some type of mastic.
my current boat, when I removed the main track from the coming at the rear of the cockpit also had a few small blisters under where the track had been fixed with srews and mastic.
It looks to me that where the GRP gelcoat cannot "breath" that moisture cannot escape and bubbling may occur.

My friend also had this when he removed some wooden strakes from the rear of his hull above the waterline, the rest of the hull being in pristine condition.

Is this a well known thing to happen with covered gelcoat areas?