Osmosis Treatment Recommendations

You will need to consider very carefully whether the value of the yacht justifies the expense. Osmosis is a mostly cosmetic problem. The hull moisture content will be high, but boats do not sink because of osmosis, and if the yacht is fairly old it may be best to live with it.
 
If you do a search for Osmosis threads over a year ago you should come up with some interesting results.
Mainly as Norman E says. Osmosis was the boat industry's "Rising Damp" of the surveyor/mortgage lenders cartel.
 
I came to the same conclusion when researching osmosis on our last boat. I've had several dozen people (offline) say that they've never heard of a sinking due to osmosis. However it brings in between 4 to 5 figures per job so little imagination is required as to why some companies would like us to believe it's a serious (re:expensive) and vital issue.
 
You've heard the pundits and the oft repeated comment that boats dont sink because of osmosis. Personally, I'm less sure of this having seen what happens to the laminate within a blister. The "rotted" part can go quite deep - I've excavated one crater 2 to 3mm deep in a Sadler which otherwise looked not badly blistered to my amateur eye - and what came out had the same crumbly properties as Feta cheese. So I suspect that a badly affected boat, particularly a reasonable modern one with thin laminates, could possibly eventually suffer hull penetration. My guess is that structural failure would take a lot longer.

Once started the process continues. So what can be ignored now might not be so easily dismissed in a few years time. I have not heard of a case of a boat sinking because of osmosis, but then I am not sure that I would - any owner would naturally try to blame weather etc which is insurance covered rather than osmosis which normally isnt..

And then there is the resale value question. Would you pay as much for a second hand boat with osmosis as you would one where it had been treated.? If not, why would anyone else do so? So in a way you are going to pay for this treatment whether you do it or not - unless you find an idiot to sell to or have a boat that someone is desperate for. So I dont see osmosis treatments as a conspiracy and a con as some posters clearly do.

To me it is a problem much on a par with a knackered engine and a great deal less of a worry than water in a bals sandwich deck. But others may well have a different view.

I had an osmosis treatment done on a previous boat at the expense of the vendor. It was done with West system which then gave a renewable 5 year gttee. I monitored the work done myself and for that reason would not hesitate on a lower value boat to do a DIY job. Its dirty and tedious but not rocket science. As to where - shop around, ask for the names of their customers, check up on them.

Incidentally, its a job that cant really be hurried. Budget as much as 6 months.
 
If left un-monitored - yes it can be serious ....

Of course it can .... but generally boats are well enough made and especially older boats that failure of complete laminate is virtually unknown .....

I know that Hayling Yacht Co. have a good system ... but then again so do others ... I am wary of mobile systems - such as used to be advertised - preferring dedicated workshop facilities.
It's best to get a number of quotes from various companies ... ask if any boats are available to view in progress / just completed etc. What guarantee on work ... etc. Is an independent surveyor allowed access to monitor work done and also moisture drying out etc. ? Are YOU welcome during the process and will they discuss what is happening while in progress etc.

Cheap may not be best ... but most expensive may not be worth it .....

Finally are you sure in your own mind about this and that it is necessary ? Has any survey or assessment been shown / illustrated to you fully ? This is a costly item to do and needs careful thought before embarking on ... you cannot decide halfway through to cancel or leave till later ... once started - it has to be completed ....
 
No but drying out taks a long time if you don't remove enough gelcoat. Next time I would have the hull peeled and not blasted to try and speed up the drying. I have also seen boats peeled blasted and hotvaced but this all adds to the cost. You need to budget about £1500 for a DIY job if that helps with your deliberation.

Yoda
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Essential pre purchase or even pre survey checks
2
Replies
28
Views
895
Refueler
Refueler

Share this page

Top