BUBBLES IN FIBERGLASS?

[PEPPER10]

I have a 23 compac and noticed 10 or so bubles in the fiberglass about the size of a quarter.  What should I do!?!?!?

[Gil Weiss]

Sounds like blisters! These occur from chemistry changes in the resin over time. They are usually filled with a water like fluid, need to be drained filled and the area refinished.

Where are they located? (Usually occurs below the waterline)

See the post below "clean bottom"

Gil

[mrb]

Gil is right in saying sounds like blisters.  I would be interested if your boat has been moored in fresh or salt water for extended periods of time.

Do be concerned about the blisters but reamember that the best of boats get them so don't be dishartend.

As for fix(which should be done) find a good book and study before jumping into any fix.  System Three Resins,Inc..--P.O. Box 70436,  Seattle,WA. 98107    Ph.# 206-782-7976  puts out a good booklet called THE EPOXY BOOK is a excellent source of information on cause and repair.

You can find them on line by searching system three resins be sure to pick their site and go to publications.  Also search THE EPOXY BOOK and they will come up.  Go to publications and you can see a on line book.  flip through to fiberglass repairs  (pg. 25) and read the section on blister repair.  I don't know if you can print out copy however I bought one and keep it as a reference.  I built a small small boat using some of their supplies.

This is just my opinion not knowing your circomstances but if you are trailer sailing and have a dry location where you can put boat after season I would have fun this summer and save fix for autumn.  To do fix right takes some time.

Best of luck
Melvin

[PEPPER10]

Never been in salt water, per the owner I purchased it from.

[mrb]

The reason I asked is over the years I have seen a lot of boat ads that emphasize the fact as never being in salt water as if salt water was something to be avoided. In my unscientific study it appears that fresh water causes more blisters than salt. Quite a few people who moor on salt water face the fact straight up and apply barrier coat before launch. I'm thinking fresh water moored boats need the same protection.

As I said in previous post don't let the blisters interfear with having fun on your boat.  I have seen some very nice and expensive boats with literal 100's of blisters and they still sail just fine.

Good sailing
Melvin

[curtisv]

Fresh water is worse for blistering.

Salt water is much worse for metal corrosion and that is probably why motor boats in particular like to emphasize not having been dunked in salt water.

Not great for the truck and trailer either.

Curtis

[mrb]

Very true on the trailer and salt water. Most of the launches in Oregon had wash down facilities.  Not sure it was to help  people keep their trailers and motors clean or stop the spread of invasive sea life and or grasses. Whatever, it was a nice service.
Melvin

[Rick Klages]

Osmosis!  Good off season repair.

ick

[Potcake boy]

Rick,
It's true - old salts do learn by osmosis !!!!
Ron

[pattyhazz]

welcome to the world of gel coat. blisters are the result of voids, between gelcoat and fiberglass mat, during the manufacturing process of the hull. hulls are made in molds, first release agent, then layer of gelcoat, then fiberglass mat and resin. if mat is not throughly wetted with resin it will not adhere to the gel-coat leaving a void. not noticeable until hull leaves the mold. only repair is grind them out to solid fiberglass then fill with gelcoat
wet sand and buff. repaired correctly, it is nearly impossible to see the filled blister.especially on a white hull.
contact factory with hull number and buy a pint of gelcoat the color used on your boat, then only minor tinting might be required to match the original shade.
gel coat repair is not difficult to learn, there is tons of info on the web. remember nothing built of fiberglass is forever, if you don't like the result, grind it off and try again. try using a dremel tool with a tapered stone to grind out void.
regards;
Rob, B.E. (boatyard engineer)