osmosis

[fishy]

I am interested in buying a boat which has been recently treated for osmosis.The spec for the boat puts this forward as a selling point e.g.that it has been treated for osmosis and the hull is therefore in excellent condition. Is this a logical way of looking at things or other things being equal is it better to go for a boat which has never apparently been effected by osmosis. I would be very interested and grateful for any observations on this.

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[webcraft]

There are several diseases that strike peoples kneeses
Osmosis is one by name
It comes from the East packed in bladders of yeast,
So the Chinese must take half the blame

There's a case on the files of Sir Barrington-Pyles
Who while hunting a fox one day
Shot up in the air and remained hanging there
While the hairs on his socks turned grey.

Aye, Osmosis had struck at man, beast and duck
And the knees of the world went bong
Some knees went ping, other knees turned to string
From Balham to old Hong Kong.

So - if you hold your life dear, then the remedy's clear -
If you're offered some yeast, don't eat it.
Turn the offer down flat, don your travelling hat,
Put an egg in your boot and beat it!

(With apologies to Spike Milligan)




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[cozy]

I can't say I have any real experience of boat buying (yet) but I would try to stay open-minded about it and consider:

1)How bad was the problem?
2) How was it treated? Any guarantees? How does the small-print read?
3) How common/serious was the problem generally on that model? How have other other boats fared? What's the maker's reputation?
4) What's the rest of the boat like? TLC or neglect?
5) How competitively is it priced?

It is an important consideration but its not the only one.

Hope that helps.




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[Sunnyseeker]

Difficult one...speak to a fisherman and none of their boats have sunk and theyve never been treated=its just cosmetic and a way for boat yards to make a living?
My last boat a 1991 Bav had no sign of bubbles, hull was dry on survey.
Friends boat is very bubbly still sails perfectly well. I'm looking for a new boat and would quite happily get a bubbly one.
I've also had osmosis on a brand new all epoxy boat 2000 model?

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[Aeolus_IV]

Speaking from a biased point of view I'd say that on the whole if the treatement were done prefessionally, by a reputable company what's the problem? The hull will now be coated in the most water resistant epoxy available and would certainly make it less likely to suffer from osmosis for many years to come (nothing is perfect - eventually event todays coatings will get osmosis if not looked after).

The real question is "how bad was the osmosis before treatement?" a peal of the gel coat and application of a new outer layer while looks drastic isn't structurally significant (as Aeolus has had this done to her). If on the other hand the osmosis was far enough advanced to warrent removing layers of the layup then you'd need to be sure that this had been made good again before the outer layers were applied (although older GRP boats with a solid layup were on the whole notoriously over engineered in this area).

There should be documentary evidence with the boat on what was done to cure the osmosis - a before and after survey?

Don't write the boat off immediately for this reason alone if you can satisfy yourself that the work has been undertaken to the best standards would be my advice.

I'm biased because Aeolus was bought with fairly significant osmosis. The repair work was carried out for us by a reputable company using good quality materials. Given that the hull had lasted 30 years on its first gel coat, I see no reason why it should not last at least another 30 on this one, and I too would like to think that this is a "plus" point against Aeolus rather than a "negative" point.

Regards, Jeff.

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[Rob_Webb]

I agree. Most GRP boats that are into decade two or three of their life have got or had osmosis. And in the tropics it happens even sooner. And there is no problem as long as the problem was recognised and treated properly/professionally. In this case you end up with a boat with a virtually new bottom. Great. In my view a positive point. If I was looking at an older boat and it had no history of osmosis or treatment, I might be tempted to think "well, it's probably due any time now". Whereas the boat you are considering has already been through this (almost inevitable) problem and is now sorted.

So in a word, if the treatment was done properly and your surveyor confirms this, don't be put off.

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[Anonymous]

As well as the quality of the osmosis job, you need to check the hull moisture reading. If the hull moisture is high then you are at risk of getting osmosis again.

Taking hull moisture readings is a bit of an art rather than a science and I wouldn't buy my own meter. Furthermore, you've got to scrape back the antifoul and it would be safer to get a 'professional' to do this when it is someone else's boat. Your surveyor will do it but if you want an opinion before survey, and the boat is out of the water, ask a local contractor who does osmosis work to look at the bottom for you - they probably know more than surveyors in any case.

All with the owner's permission, of course, I have heard of cases of prospective purchasers scraping back test patches themselves without permission!!!

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[Rigger]

It is important to check the guarantee on the work done.First make sure it is transferable to a new owner.Some guarantees are simply that,an agreement by the contractor they will remedy any problem that develops in a certain time following the work -no good if they subsequently go out of buisness.Much better is the guarantee in the form of an insurance policy stating that any further work can be carried by any approved yard for up to 5 years.Thus in 4 years time any slight recurrence can be remedied with no cost. These policies are expesive (cost me £350. on a 31 ' 3 years ago) so may add a touch to the purchase price of the boat,but do give peace of mind.

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[boatmike]

Difficult one....
Having been involved in the development of composite hull manufacture since the 60s I have formed several opinions which I offer for your consideration....

1. Many cases of what I call "Boat Pox" are caused by sloppy moulding practice not osmosis. This is why it often appears on fairly new boats and some of certain makes are more suspect than others (don't ask me to name them!) It also helps if a hull is not launched too soon after moulding. Most resins are still post curing and releasing styrene 6 months after moulding and Epoxy coating should not be applied too early on a new hull for this reason.

2. Genuine osmosis is found more on boats that have been left in the water for long periods especially in warmer climes. The practice of hauling out for the winter in the UK helps preserve integrity by giving a drying out period. Many boats treated this way are free of problems regardless of age.

3. Repairs done by cowboys can make matters worse. The most common sin is not fully drying out an affected hull before applying epoxy. Ask to see a full report on the condition of the hull before repair, who did it, and when. If not available walk away. If done recently walk away. If done two years ago professionally and still looking good......probably OK

4. Its all a matter of cost. If on a budget and buying an old boat, one with limited blistering can be a bargain as can one that has already been repaired but it should not be seen to be as valuable as a boat that is sound. There ARE many old boats out there that are totally unaffected and blistering is NOT inevitable.

5. The very best situation is a hull that was not launched until 2 years after the hull was moulded, treated with the full 6 coats of gelshield or similar 6 months before launching and then hauled out to dry every year afterwards. These are like rocking horse poo though! Mine was treated this way but I built it myself and it's not for sale!

I think the answer I would give is no. I would not see an epoxy repaired boat as more valuable and it would not be a plus point with me as I would rather see one with a few blisters than one with extensive repairs. If you bought a car would you rather have one with good condition original paintwork or one with accident repairs that had been re-sprayed last week? On the other hand if you knew how and where it had been damaged you might decide at the right price to buy it anyway.....

So you have to judge. But I would frankly look for one without the problem. They are out there.....

All of which is as I said an opinion..... There will be many who will dissagree with me completely!

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[boatmike]

I agree with your poem old bean
And like to keep everything clean
but there are 'orrible Poxes
That get in your sockses
And make your feet smell like Styrene.......

If you want no Osmosis
affecting your toesies
And want to re-treat those old soxy
Take them out of your shoes
and eliminate poos
with at least 6 new coats of Epoxy



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