osmosis, mmm do i worry?

[malc60]

I,ve just had my P35 lifted and cleaned etc, and i,ve been told she as some osmosis, they have antifouled her and put her back in the water, the boats in spain so i never got to see for myself. do i worry or sort of ignore this, whats your opinion, thanks.

 

[rafiki_]

Clearly it needs treating, as it will only get worse with time unless attended. It really depends on the extent of the osmosis. I guess your decision is whether to lift and do something now, or wait until the next lift. Did you get any measure of the extent of the problem?

 

[omega2]

Sounds like someone is looking for a job? did you see the boat yourself? did they show you the trouble spots? photo's? no I bet they didn't. How these "experts" can see the trouble without stripping the hull back to the gel coat beats me, any hull just out of the water and "tested" with damp'o'meters will show water. It needs to be scraped clean left to dry for about 8 weeks, of course any "black spots" bearing water will be osmosis, but I doubt your hull is in a sinking condition.

 

[Glyn-2008]

I,ve just had my P35 lifted and cleaned etc, and i,ve been told she as some osmosis, they have antifouled her and put her back in the water, the boats in spain so i never got to see for myself. do i worry or sort of ignore this, whats your opinion, thanks.

I had Osmosis in my P41 and it took many thousands of pounds and months out of the water to strip the gelcoat and epoxy coat the hull. It doesnt perform any better than it did before and the issue may have been more in my head than in the hull (having been put there by people who make money out of the problem). Apparently, very few boats have sunk from the condition and its almost ignored in the USA, or so I am told. Given my time again I probably wouldnt have bothered especially as its now at the bottom of its depreciation curve and not worth much with or without osmosis and I lost a seasons boating (but not the berthing / ashore costs which remained).

 

[PaulGooch]

When i bought a Princess 32 the surveyor spotted some osmosis, small blisters here and there. I asked if he thought it needed repair and he said it might, in another 20 years.

Obviously can't comment on your boat as i haven't seen it (nor has anyone else here), but it is true to say that a boat has never sunk from osmosis. I'd have a look for myself next time she's out of the water, a few small blisters wouldn't worry me at all.

 

[Tugw]

"osmosis" just another excuse to steal your money

 

[malc60]

thanks everyone, i feel better now, cheers

 

[DAKA]

I had a Bayliner that had extensive Osmosis within three years.

I didnt have it treated.

it was lifted out during the winter for 5 months of the year and the blisters didnt get worse.

I would suggest 5 months of UK winter lift out drys about as much as a week in the med.

I suggest all you need do is lift out for 2-3 weeks a year, keep the bilges dry with ventilation and it will not get any worse.

As others suggest you need to see it for yourself, small areas can be patch treated very cheaply .

 

[kashurst]

I bought a boat quite a few years ago now that allegedly had osmosis - smallish blisters (finger nail sized) near the bow on both sides. Decided to do nothing for a while except take the boat out each year to dry out over the winter. Sold the boat 7 years later - new surveyor couldn't find any evidence of osmosis at all.

Don't panic, just let it dry out each year for a bit, and see how things develop or not!

 

[zapcat]

I have a yacht that was showing high moisture levels when i bought it 7 years ago.She comesout for 6 months ayear, levels have halved over the years. I took it to have osmosis treatment done but was told not to bother until i sold the boat - typically treatment only lasts 10years apparently. I spent the money on a topsides respray instead, best decision i made!

If you want advice or work done, i highly recommend Chris Jones at Gweek Boatyard, Cornwall

 

[Thepipdoc]

I had Osmosis in my P41 and it took many thousands of pounds and months out of the water to strip the gelcoat and epoxy coat the hull. It doesnt perform any better than it did before and the issue may have been more in my head than in the hull (having been put there by people who make money out of the problem). Apparently, very few boats have sunk from the condition and its almost ignored in the USA, or so I am told. Given my time again I probably wouldnt have bothered especially as its now at the bottom of its depreciation curve and not worth much with or without osmosis and I lost a seasons boating (but not the berthing / ashore costs which remained).

Just read this and thought I recognised the name.
You had a shed load of bad luck with your P41 didn't you? Fuel tanks out through the fly-bridge floor and osmosis to boot.
Out of interest how old is the boat?

 

[oldgit]

"Apparently, very few boats have sunk from the condition"


None to date .....might be over stating it a bit perhaps .... but not by much ?

 

[Glyn-2008]

Just read this and thought I recognised the name.
You had a shed load of bad luck with your P41 didn't you? Fuel tanks out through the fly-bridge floor and osmosis to boot.
Out of interest how old is the boat?

I did not really consider it bad luck as I bought the boat from Holland in 2002 at about half the price of the similar aged boats in the Uk. This was mainly due to the 1.56 exchange rate on the Euro at the time. I knew she had a lot wrong with her which eventually morphed into a long, long "everything out" refit costing a considerable amount. Sadly, whilst pouring huge amounts of cash into the boat, I failed to realise that she was getting older and, consequently, more difficult to sell even though her condition was improving. Now, I am selling her for much less than I paid for her in 2002 (not taking rebuild costs into account either) but she could well be one of the best 41s around. I believe that She is a 1982 model although the paperwork says 1984. As the 410's came out before 84, I asume there is something odd there or it took 2 years to finish off the hull.