hundreds of bubbles

[xltier]

I am looking at a 2006 stingray 21ft. bow rider i/o for sale.there is tiny bubbles all over the bottom of the hull and a few on one side no higher than the water line.he claims that they r coming right off with a light sanding.i have heard interlux 2000e is a good sealer but I don't know what to do bout the sides that have smooth finish to keep the good looks.has anybody got any insight to this problem and can I repair it easily? thank you

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

I am looking at a 2006 stingray 21ft. bow rider i/o for sale.there is tiny bubbles all over the bottom of the hull and a few on one side no higher than the water line.he claims that they r coming right off with a light sanding.i have heard interlux 2000e is a good sealer but I don't know what to do bout the sides that have smooth finish to keep the good looks.has anybody got any insight to this problem and can I repair it easily? thank you

That is gel-coat blistering... Usually happens when a boat is moored... I'm not a glass/gel coat expert, but others will follow along to advise more specifically. I would tread carefully and make sure it is only a cosmetic issue...(below article indicates that extent of problem can vary on a case-by-case basis and can in some cases be structural).

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/howto-pub2/Gelcoat Blisters Diagnosis Repair and Prevention.pdf

 

[tpenfield]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

Google "osmotic blistering" . . . Kind of a PITA to deal with. Definitely Interlux Interprotect barrier coat. It sounds like a severe rash of blistering . . . do you really want to deal with them?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

This will be some good reading for you...

Blisters on Your Boat - BoatSafe.com


http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/tech_bulletins/GelcoatRepairandPrevention.pdf

Gelcoat Blister Repair - BoatUS Magazine

http://www.seahorsemarinepaints.com.au/assets/prevention_and_repair_of_gelcoat_blistering.pdf

In some cases they're just an "Eye Sore" more than anything and NOT a structural issue. In others they can be an issue with the actual glass. Pics and more details are needed.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

[h=3]Should I buy a boat with hull blisters?[/h]
I'd suggest you use the search function at the top of EVER forum page (in the blue banner) and search for:

Gelcoat blisters


It's an often discussed topic & there are LOTS of gelcoat blister threads. Look for Ondarvr's posts, he's our resident fiberglass & gelcoat expert & often weighs in on the gelcoat blister thread questions.

It is usually NOT a straight forward sand off the blister, fill the damage, feather the edges & recoat and you're done. Even small infrequent blisters will end up being a continous maintenance problem. Grind & fix 15% of the hull w/ damage this winter, more 'new' blisters next season, grind & fix them (another 15-20%) next winter, and when you pull the boat at the end of the season, more blisters. And repeat..................

Do some research on google using the same search terms: Gelcoat blisters

LOTS of info here @iboats & online

I'd avoid a boat w/ HUNDREDS of bubbles unless you want to completely grind off ALL the gelcoat, confirm there are no more underlying fiberglass problems, then start rebuilding the gelcoat, filling & fairing etc............. That's a heck of a lot of work, not inexpensive to 'repair' and extremely time consuming to be done right. A 2006 21ft Stingray needing that amount of work had better be extremely low priced. Plus be the 1 & only boat you've ever wanted.

Best of luck

 

[xltier]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

they seem to be disappearing with a d a sander and 80 grit.maybe a repaint with epoxy,about 4 coats would help.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

From the surface yes, its not a surface problem its the underlying glass. Don't read the info links we posted if you don't want.

It is NOT a cosmetics problem although it is unattractive

But if you want to sand them off & paint over them, do so. But don't be surprised if they come back, in the same places or in others....

 

[xltier]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

This will be some good reading for you...

Blisters on Your Boat - BoatSafe.com


http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/tech_bulletins/GelcoatRepairandPrevention.pdf

Gelcoat Blister Repair - BoatUS Magazine

http://www.seahorsemarinepaints.com.au/assets/prevention_and_repair_of_gelcoat_blistering.pdf

In some cases they're just an "Eye Sore" more than anything and NOT a structural issue. In others they can be an issue with the actual glass. Pics and more details are needed.

thanks all.these don't show up after light sanding so I am going to try coating with a epoxy paint from interlux.probably 4-5 coats.see what happens next year.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

thanks all.these don't show up after light sanding so I am going to try coating with a epoxy paint from interlux.probably 4-5 coats.see what happens next year.

At the risk of being too blunt, this method is a waste of time and money, you will be further ahead by doing nothing.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

Well, there ya go!!! ondarvr is one of the BEST soooo... If it were my boat, I'd just live with em and not worry about it. Like I originally stated, just an "Eye Sore" and prolly nothing to worry about.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

At the risk of being too blunt, this method is a waste of time and money, you will be further ahead by doing nothing.

^^^ +1 to that . . . I was thinking that the sanding at this point will thin the gelcoat over the bubble areas, which may make matters worse. Best to get the hull really dried out. Also the OP lives in the great state of Maine, so I would imagine that the below freezing temps over the winter will come into play, unless the boat is kept inside or has been able to dry out before the winter temps arrived. :noidea:

FWIW - I had the 'opportunity' to buy a 28 footer with hundreds of tiny blisters, but passed due to the tall task of dealing with them.

xltier - it sounds like from your second post that you have bought the boat . . . true?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

Post a pic of the blisters, depending on the exact type of blister there might be something that could help without a complete stripping and rebuilding of the surface.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

hi, ondarvr. just a minor thread jack but on topic. my boat has the small blisters also. can they be media blasted? they are defiantly from the inside out. when you strip of the gel coat the blisters are through the gel and there are small holes. blast and fair or grind and fair

 

[ondarvr]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

hi, ondarvr. just a minor thread jack but on topic. my boat has the small blisters also. can they be media blasted? they are defiantly from the inside out. when you strip of the gel coat the blisters are through the gel and there are small holes. blast and fair or grind and fair

For some reason when I replied to this my response got deleted in the process.

Blasting typically leaves a rather uneven surface that is difficult to fair and rebuild, so it's not that popular of a method.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: hundreds of bubbles

I have hear you can make a power peeler but don't know how