Moisture levels.

[moondancer]

My boat, a Sonata, had a survey in 1997, by the previous owner which showed moisture readings of between 15 and 20 on a Sovereign meter (whatever one of those is). The surveyor recommend all sorts of Osmosis treatment - none of which was carried out.

I have had the boat for a while - can see no signs of blisters. Am I right to happily ignore the survey or should I do something.

Brian

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[Guest]

a) The 15 - 20 on a sovereign meter means little without reference of the upper hull etc.
b) Sovereign Meter is the meter used by many - but now inadequate against the more modern deeper reading instruments - my opinion based on comparison tests and experience as a surveyor ....

1997 is a few years and if you do not have blisters - I cannot say that you should leave it ..... as a surveyor !
As a fellow boat owner and also with a high moisture hull - mine is left year after year without problem. One day I might get around to doing something ........ but then again !!!

So the final question ...... what has prompted you to think about it ? Pending Insurance survey ? Or just pre-winter storage blues ???



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[Apetts]

A boat I was purchasing a few years ago showed signs of blistering. A well known surveyer and writer on boat construction was consulted. His conclusion was to put the boat back in the water and use it for another five years, then see how things were developing. "Osmosis is the best thing ever invented for selling paint products" he told me.

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[Guest]

The biggest problem is that there is no real agreement on this subject and it all depends on which surveyor you use. Some have built up businesses just purely based on it, others have taken the more wider route and include it in the 'repetoire' so to speak. There are established books where the surveyor writer obviously is one of the 'old-school' and has missed the significance of it. There are others written books that in my opinion over-state the problem.

But in all honest opinion - if a boat has blistered, then I would advise treatment. The type of treament can be various dependent on the overall condition of the hull. ut then again THAT is in contention. Yes it is advised to have it done properly by professionals. But there are many that have done it themselves by grinding out and tenting etc.

Really each boat has its own solution so needs an 'eye' over it to say what is advised.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[LadyInBed]

You've either got it or you ain't.
If you have, time will make it obvious and the treatment will be the same then as it is now, so start saving.
If you ain't, you will be quid's in.

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[alanporter]

Has anyone ever lost a boat due to osmosis ? In over fifty years of boating I have never come across a case.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alan Porter

 

[Guest]

As far as as I am aware there has been no structural collapse of a boat due to osmosis in normal service.

The usual affect is the 'breaking down of the adhesion of the gel coat to the laminate under. Prolonged situation it is possible that the laminate may start to be affected, but it is generally regarded that this would take considerable time due to the overall amount and hardness of the resin laminate. If the laminate has dry areas where resin has been missed or is poorly wetted out this will allow the moisture to gain access into the laminate but again will be contained for considerable time by the good laminate around. The most ikely effect is localised pitting and creation of 'holes' in layers of the laminate where failure to wet-out has occurred in laying up the hull. This gives rise to the often seen pot-marked hull after blasting off.

Often boats will be stated as no blisters ..... but in fact may carry micro-blisters ........

I would often advise regular monitoring of the hull to see whether problem increases etc.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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