Hi Jim

If the builder is still in business, give them a call and see what they say. Sometimes a boat that old was made, unknowingly, with resins that was susceptable to blisters. After 10 years, they should have enough feedback on that boat to be able to tell you something that can influence your descision.

Blisters that of of the size that you are mentioning are kinda boarderline. If at all possible, leave the boat out of the water for a day or twp. If the blisters disappear, or become smaller, they are of no consequence. Since they showed up recently, chances are they are a superficial problem, maybe as benign as being caused by a badly prepped bottom job.

If not, they could be ground out, dried and filled. On the other hand, at this size, they could also just be left alone, for another year, to see what happens to them. If they enlarge, then they ought to be dealt with. If they stay the same size, there is probably no harm in leaving them alone.

You could break a few open and see how deep they go. If they go significantly into the glass, they repairs ought to be made. If they just barely break into the glass, then I doubt that there would be much harm in leaving them alone.

An advantage to leaving them alone for a year is to see if more of them show up. Only then, if their numbers increase and their depth is substantial, then you might want to consider peeling the hull, drying and re-coating with barrier products.  Until then, if it were my boat, I'd only consider grinding them out and filling them, if I did anything at all to them.

The problem with leaving them alone, even if they are not harmful, will be noticed at re-sale. It is the rare individual that will look at a boat with blisters, even non-harmful blisters, and not have second thoughts... kinda like you are doing.

Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl

Yea, what Rudy said. I'd add that blisters are almost never structural, just
look bad. That being said, I had horrible blistering on my boat when I
bought it. Some were 3-4" across. I did a proper peel, post cure with the
hot-vac system (http://www.hotvac.com/) and relaminate. Cost about $25,000
in 1993 dollars, but I have a perfect hull to this day; not a single
blister. You can negotiate a lower price on the boat based on a blister
repair estimate, then decide if you actually want to do it and how.

Here are some more good links:

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/blisters.htm
http://www.passionforpaint.co.uk/Osmosis.htm
http://www.osmosisinfo.com/handb9a.pdf
http://www.zahnisers.com/repair/blister/blister1.htm

I wouldn't run just because of the blisters.

Keith

"If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering
somebody else's dog around." - Will Rogers

Hi Jim

If the builder is still in business, give them a call and see what they say.
Sometimes a boat that old was made, unknowingly, with resins that was
susceptable to blisters. After 10 years, they should have enough feedback on
that boat to be able to tell you something that can influence your
descision.

Blisters that of of the size that you are mentioning are kinda boarderline.
If at all possible, leave the boat out of the water for a day or twp. If the
blisters disappear, or become smaller, they are of no consequence. Since
they showed up recently, chances are they are a superficial problem, maybe
as benign as being caused by a badly prepped bottom job.

If not, they could be ground out, dried and filled. On the other hand, at
this size, they could also just be left alone, for another year, to see what
happens to them. If they enlarge, then they ought to be dealt with. If they
stay the same size, there is probably no harm in leaving them alone.

You could break a few open and see how deep they go. If they go
significantly into the glass, they repairs ought to be made. If they just
barely break into the glass, then I doubt that there would be much harm in
leaving them alone.

An advantage to leaving them alone for a year is to see if more of them show
up. Only then, if their numbers increase and their depth is substantial,
then you might want to consider peeling the hull, drying and re-coating with
barrier products.  Until then, if it were my boat, I'd only consider
grinding them out and filling them, if I did anything at all to them.

The problem with leaving them alone, even if they are not harmful, will be
noticed at re-sale. It is the rare individual that will look at a boat with
blisters, even non-harmful blisters, and not have second thoughts... kinda
like you are doing.

Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl