Osmosis treatment - long-term experiances on Westerly

[guja]

I would like to buy a Westerly Conway. All the boats I found had an osmosis treatment. Gelcoat off - epoxy coats on. How long will that last? I am afraid to have that job to be done a few years later. The yards, offering that type of treatment usuaslly guaranty for three years.

In the homepage of the Westerly Club Nederland I found the following:

A few years ago the Waterkampioen (the Dutch version of the PBO and YM) bought a Contest 33 with normal osmosis and have had it repaired. Every supplier (International, Sikkens etc) did a part of the boat.

The boat was dry when they brushed on the epoxy. After 1 year the boat was as wet as it had been when they bougth the Contest. The only part that was still dry was the part that was relaminated.

Do all the older Westerlys have that severe osmosis problem? Does that mean either you accept to have a Westerly and osmosis or you have to look for an other boat???
All experiances of sailors ridden by that osmosis problem will be appreciated

 

[Cotillion]

I have a Westerly 28 that is 37 years old. When I bought her she was reported as fairly wet by the surveyor. This year, whilst drying out a blister or two was apparant so all I did was peel of the loose stuff, fill and prime it before anti fouling. I know this will start the old argument but when did you last hear of a boat sinking due to osmosis. If you are buying as an investment then you will have to think about osmosis because the marine industry tells you it is important and they will gladly relieve you of your cash to put it right. If you are buying an older boat to go sailing in then osmosis is not a problem IMHO.

kim

 

[jamesjermain]

So much depends on the quality of the work, the conditions under which it was done and the degree to which the boat was dried out before the work started.

Some years ago I had a boat treated. First time round either she wasn't dried out properly or the epoxy was applied in poor conditions, but it started to come off within 12 months. It was redone and was still in good condition when the boat was sold two years later. When I last heard of the boat the treatment was still intact after 6 years.

In general you can pretty well guarantee the treatment will last three years (the manufacturer will cover this term). It ought to last at least five years and there is a reasonable chance it will be good for 10 to 15 years.

As others have said, osmosis is not, perhaps, as serious as has been made out but untreated over a number of years, can have a significant effect on the strength of the hull. As the cost of treatment is pretty much the same whether you have mild or severe osmosis (in really severe cases you might have to have some relaminating done which will add to the cost), I would not treat a boat of mine until it was quite advanced. Similarly if I bought a boat with mild osmosis I would use this to negotiate a discount equivalent to the cost of treatment but I would not have the work done for a year or two. In fact, I would probably sell the boat on before doing it (not seeking to disguise the condition, of course!).