What is this in the gelcoat?

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jpay

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hello,

I found this on a boat I'm looking at as a project?
It's forming around the bow...

What is it? Repairs for it?
Thanks
 
Thats funny because I've just been doing some research and I think it's also paint.
So... its just cracked paint right?
 
jpay said:
Thats funny because I've just been doing some research and I think it's also paint.
So... its just cracked paint right?
Click to expand...
No, it's moisture that has collected between the fibreglass and the paint.
This could be due to damp within the fibreglass (most likely) or it could be from when sprayed (bodge job). If the fibreglass was not dry or the spray equipement did not have a good water trap or was sprayed in too humid conditions then the moisture could have been there from then.
Either way the paint will need to come off and fibreglass thoroughly dried before any further finish is applied.
 
newbiedave said:
No, it's moisture that has collected between the fibreglass and the paint.
This could be due to damp within the fibreglass (most likely) or it could be from when sprayed (bodge job). If the fibreglass was not dry or the spray equipement did not have a good water trap or was sprayed in too humid conditions then the moisture could have been there from then.
Either way the paint will need to come off and fibreglass thoroughly dried before any further finish is applied.
Click to expand...


okay, thanks.
The boat sunk and then was put on a trailer so that explains your reasoning.
Sanding the paint back to fibreglass will remove the old paint... how long do you suggest for it to dry?

Thanks
 
jpay said:
... how long do you suggest for it to dry?
Click to expand...
Difficult to answer. Provided the boat is kept in a warm dry workshop or similar and the air can circulate freely both outside and inside hull then probably a month would do. If it's not kept in warm dry area then it's unlikely it will ever dry out.
 
If it will never dry out then is their a solution...

Bit doom and gloom :).
It's only a £40 boat so I'm not going to be looking for a perfect quality finish just want some fun and got the winter to get it ready. How long will it take for it to re-occur if I sand it down fill any holes prime and re-paint.

Thanks
 
jpay said:
how long do you suggest for it to dry?
Click to expand...

By the time you've sanded it smooth, it will be dry. If it's not raining, what doesn't dry in a few hours is never drying.

If it won't sand smooth, thats a different issue. Find one of those bubbles that hasn't burst, and burst it. If it squirts fluid out that smells of vinegar, that's more of a problem.
 
jpay said:
View attachment 34959

hello,

I found this on a boat I'm looking at as a project?
It's forming around the bow...



What is it? Repairs for it?
Thanks
Click to expand...

That could be gelcoat with osmosis or blistering due to heat.
Or it could be paint.
Possibly paint with failing filler under it?
It wants sanding/grinding off and coating with new gel coat, paint or epoxy.
Get it off and see how sound what remains is.
It may just need a cosmetic/waterproof coating, or it may be a bit more structural.
If it is only a small area, not the end of the world.
IMHO.
Good Luck.
 
jpay said:
If it will never dry out then is their a solution...

Bit doom and gloom :).
It's only a £40 boat so I'm not going to be looking for a perfect quality finish just want some fun and got the winter to get it ready. How long will it take for it to re-occur if I sand it down fill any holes prime and re-paint.

Thanks
Click to expand...

For the drying out, how long is a piece of string? Not much help but if under cover and some air movers it might be a few weeks if lucky.
 
Elessar said:
of wood, yes. Not of GRP.
Click to expand...
Agreed - it takes 10-20 years or sometimes longer for water molecules to get into sound, dry GRP: it does not dry out fast.

Back to the original posted picture - very difficult to tell what we are seeing, whether it is the original GRP moulding, or paint or a new filler layer over the top, or a re-gelcoat job gone bad, or heat blistering, or even a combination of some of these.
 
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