Westerly GK 29

[Hial]

Does anyone know when Westerly strengthened the bottom of the hull on the GK 29 ? I think I read somewhere that it
was around hull 130.

 

[Debenair]

I had no 168 if I recall correctly- it was 20 years ago- and it needed "the Portsmouth job" when I bought it.
I wasn't aware Westerly had ever resolved the issue, which I believe only affected the family racer version, which had no transverse floor across the aft end of the keel.
I was told they had, but on checking with Lloyds register they had no note of any approved mods to the original spec.

 

[Hial]

Thanks for the repy, I have had a look at a half ton version that is for sale but there are hundreds of small blisters on the hull
below the waterline. The seller does'nt think it is osmosis, but what else can it be?

 

[30boat]

Thanks for the repy, I have had a look at a half ton version that is for sale but there are hundreds of small blisters on the hull
below the waterline. The seller does'nt think it is osmosis, but what else can it be?

My Fulmar has that,not hundreds but thousands and in a pattern that reminds me of rollering the gelcoat or something.I've taken a few samples of the gelcoat off with a bit of matting attached and the blisters don't affect the laminate so for now I'm leaving it alone.

 

[Tranona]

Could just be bubbles in the coating - if it has any on top of the gel coat. Your surveyor will give you a better idea after he inspects the boat.

 

[Hial]

Here is a photo of some of the blisters, do they look serious or am I best to leave them?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

…. do they look serious …… ?

Of course they look serious! Get a surveyor to look at the hull.

However, a quick look can be done by yourself: burst one of the blisters with a spike, there may be a spurt which suggests fluid under pressure due to so called osmotic process, the fluid might be more viscous than water and slightly sticky, it may have a vinegar smell, test it with litmus paper to see if it is slightly acidic. All of these may lead you to conclude that osmosis is occurring. However, it might not be serious and could be dealt with by bursting, washing, drying, filling and painting. ONly a proper survey by a knowledgeable surveyor will tell you how bad it is. The above stuff is just from the web, I am not an expert at all, just a simple sailor.

 

[30boat]

Of course they look serious! Get a surveyor to look at the hull.

However, a quick look can be done by yourself: burst one of the blisters with a spike, there may be a spurt which suggests fluid under pressure due to so called osmotic process, the fluid might be more viscous than water and slightly sticky, it may have a vinegar smell, test it with litmus paper to see if it is slightly acidic. All of these may lead you to conclude that osmosis is occurring. However, it might not be serious and could be dealt with by bursting, washing, drying, filling and painting. ONly a proper survey by a knowledgeable surveyor will tell you how bad it is. The above stuff is just from the web, I am not an expert at all, just a simple sailor.

The blisters may be acidic even if they don't go any further than the gelcoat.It's the delamination(if any) that is the problem.A well laid up laminate can contain quite a lot of moisture without significant degradation of it's properties.A bad one will delaminate and lose strenght.Chisel off a few samples of the gelcoat and outer layer of matt,1 or 2 mm thick will do and inspect the underlying layup.What you have is very similar to what I have on my Fulmar.It's been there for 12 years without getting significantly worse.As long as the underlying laminate is solid and reasonably dry you have no reason to worry apart from looks of course.These are old boats and old boats absorb moisture.Some show blisters(usually the ones with a good gelcoat) and some don't,usually those with a porous gelcoat.