Osmosis treatment - effect on resale value?

[Lakesailor]

Very few boats from this builder exhibit osmosis after 25 years, let alone 12, which is why it was such a surprise.

It's a bad 'un. Run.

 

[jonic]

It's a bad 'un. Run.

It's surprising nowadays after just 12 years, but it is no longer perceived as serious a problem as it once was, and a treatment should have little effect on re-sale. If you can get it for the right price and like it, buy it and enjoy.

 

[Bobc]

You guys make a lot of sense and if the seller agrees to a sensible reduction on my original offer I will consider it. But osmosis is a much more emotional issue than sails or engine - and the sails, engine and deck look very good according to the survey.

Very few boats from this builder exhibit osmosis after 25 years, let alone 12, which is why it was such a surprise.

I guess that's the point I was trying to make. Osmosis seems to be highly emotive, but if you look at it completely objectively, it's no different really to a major overhaul or replacement of the engine or the rig. Also if you put the cost into perspective, it's probably less money than a year's marina berth.

 

[pelissima]

To Buy or not

As others said lets be practical. You like the boat at today's price.
Only permanent solution to osmosis worries is Hotvac treatment.
So, ask for a quotation from them and see how much of it you can deduct from owner.
See then how much you like the boat under the new pricing.
If you still like it go for it quickly. There are lots of boats around but we don't like them all.

 

[jwilson]

As others said lets be practical. You like the boat at today's price.
Only permanent solution to osmosis worries is Hotvac treatment.
So, ask for a quotation from them and see how much of it you can deduct from owner.
See then how much you like the boat under the new pricing.
If you still like it go for it quickly. There are lots of boats around but we don't like them all.

An awful lot of people have had osmosis treatments done expecting them to be, as you say, a permanent solution. 5, 10 or 15 years later blisters are back. If you HAVE to do an osmosis treatment (usually you don't have to) Hotvac seems pretty good, and I have recommended it to people who need to sell boats, where blisters are proving a problem in the buyers eyes. It is not though a magic wand that will guarantee to banish the problem forever.

Fewer and fewer osmosis treatments seem to come with 5 year guarantees, which may suggest something. Also, even if you have a 5 year guarantee, will the operator honour it if a survey in 4 years time says moisture levels are rather high and the beginnings of osmosis may be starting to occur, or one or two small new blisters have appeared.

There are plenty of boats around that are on their 2nd "osmosis treatment", and some that are on their third. Quite possibly the overall hull strength and condition would not be that much worse if nothing had ever been done, as it does not always do a hull that much good to have variable amounts of the original hull itself planed or grit-blasted off and different materials stuck on.

 

[caerolusmagnus]

Osmosis and Osmotic Blistering

Hello Keith/Skysail

I have really enjoyed the CD and laminated instruction charts etc you sent me. I have just made up a report for the Ohlson owners group on the underbody renovation I have had done on a 30 yr old Ohlson 38. It was covered in years of antifouling and I was 500 miles away from the boat so I have had it done professionally for about £4k but that included a keel repair etc. There was no sign of any blistering in the hull even though moisture levels were light to moderate. All hulls have moisture content by osmosis pressure differential and amount of time in the water. It is the uncured, un-reacted polyester remaining in laminate which causes the blister from reacting with the water etc and this from usually the hull having been removed from the mould before full curing had been done. (pressure for production?). The renovation work done by Suffolk Yacht Harbour was excellent. If you send me your email address I will send you the PDF report with moisture readings and the photos.

Previously in Canada I had a Contessa 32 (in fresh water) and the boat showed no sign of any blistering until the tenth year when it began to show some very small blistering after a year in an industrial harbour marina. I belt sanded the underbody and put two coats of coal-tar epoxy on the boat. Cost was 4 days of sanding and 2 large cans of epoxy coal tar. The boat to my knowledge with new owner was kept in Bahamas for ten years; no info on state of boat. If the Ohlson had been nearby I would have been tempted to do the same as before. In any event, I had to have the topsides done plus other renovation work so I went ahead with the full in-yard renovation.

 

[caerolusmagnus]

underbody renovation

If any other forum member would like this report, just pm me with your email address and I will send.