Gelcoat Problems
- Thread starter rbouse
- Start date
To add to Norm's questions--are they in the color coat, or white coat? Are they under the waterline. Blisters have been rare in the C Dories, but there have been some in the green gelcoat--mostly below the waterline--I believe mostly in the 2003 to 2005 era.
I definately would have them fixed. You want to know how deep they are. Although they will not cause any problems with the boat, they would definately hurt re-sale value--and the company needs to fix them.
I agree that photos, (with a small ruler to give use some actual perspective of both size and height.
I definately would have them fixed. You want to know how deep they are. Although they will not cause any problems with the boat, they would definately hurt re-sale value--and the company needs to fix them.
I agree that photos, (with a small ruler to give use some actual perspective of both size and height.
Bob,
I posted the pictures you sent to my personal e-mail address at this location:
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
Bob sent this information to me regarding the pictures:
"These bubbles are all below the water line - on both sides and on the bottom. When I stick them with a needle water leaks out. I took pictures, but don't see how to attach them. If you would give me your email address, I could send them to you."
I'd spend more time addressing my 0.02 worth on your situation, but I'm dead tired and the couch looks pretty inviting. We'll see what others have to say while I relax.
I posted the pictures you sent to my personal e-mail address at this location:
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
Bob sent this information to me regarding the pictures:
"These bubbles are all below the water line - on both sides and on the bottom. When I stick them with a needle water leaks out. I took pictures, but don't see how to attach them. If you would give me your email address, I could send them to you."
I'd spend more time addressing my 0.02 worth on your situation, but I'm dead tired and the couch looks pretty inviting. We'll see what others have to say while I relax.
It appears to be "lifting" rather than being "pushed" out. I suspect it isn't deep (e.g. not water saturated balsa/glass hull pushing water out). It appears as if: (1) the next coat was applied well after intial coats (with perhaps some type of film that had covered the underlying layer and the next layer did not adhere properly); (2) the mix ratio on the next (succeeding) layer was not correct (relative to the previous [underying] layer); or, (3) a chemical of some type has managed to attach & mildly "etch".
Were any addional paints applied to the bottom after delivery?
Were any addional paints applied to the bottom after delivery?
matt_unique
New member
dotnmarty":149r31gt said:
Do you mean Frank Walter? Just want to clarify to make sure I have not missed something!
I have also had direct correspondance with Bob Rouse and have the photos. The boat was kept in the water during the summer. My feeling is that this is gel coat which has absorbed water, and then thru osmotic action has lifted where it did not adhere well to the next layer (which may be either vinlyester resin, or mat with polyester resin--depending on the construction)
There are several possibilities why this happened. It is possiable that teh gelcoat had fully dried and there there was secondary bonding and weaker adherence between the gelcoat and next layer. There could have been wax in the gel coat and it floated to the surface. Some gel coats do contain wax, but when sprayed into the mould, the wax for curing the surface is in the mould, and should not be in the gel coat.
Since this is a 2007 boat, I hope that the factory steps up and resolves the issue. If it was my boat, I would want the gelcoat removed (and any other resin which did not adhere), and then the bottom of the boat coated with 30 mils of epoxy barrier coat, topped off with bottom paint. This is probably superior to cleaning these small blisters (which I do not think are in the laminate) and "patching" with gel coat.
This type of problem has sporatically appeared previously in C Dories. At first it seemed to be in some green hull bottom boats several years ago. But more recently there was another blue hull boat with this problem. I believe that boat had the gel coat sandblasted off, and then epoxy coated. I would not recommend sand blasting because of the damage done to the underlying laminate by sand particles. Sand may be embeded, there can be fiber ends exposed. Either grinding off with high speed orbital sander (air powered with vacuum to remove the dust and protection and respirator for the operator) or a professional "peel" of the bottom gelcoat with carbide cutters--the advantage is that the cut is cleaner.
I agree, that C Dory has to be approached now and discuss what course of action to be taken.
There are several possibilities why this happened. It is possiable that teh gelcoat had fully dried and there there was secondary bonding and weaker adherence between the gelcoat and next layer. There could have been wax in the gel coat and it floated to the surface. Some gel coats do contain wax, but when sprayed into the mould, the wax for curing the surface is in the mould, and should not be in the gel coat.
Since this is a 2007 boat, I hope that the factory steps up and resolves the issue. If it was my boat, I would want the gelcoat removed (and any other resin which did not adhere), and then the bottom of the boat coated with 30 mils of epoxy barrier coat, topped off with bottom paint. This is probably superior to cleaning these small blisters (which I do not think are in the laminate) and "patching" with gel coat.
This type of problem has sporatically appeared previously in C Dories. At first it seemed to be in some green hull bottom boats several years ago. But more recently there was another blue hull boat with this problem. I believe that boat had the gel coat sandblasted off, and then epoxy coated. I would not recommend sand blasting because of the damage done to the underlying laminate by sand particles. Sand may be embeded, there can be fiber ends exposed. Either grinding off with high speed orbital sander (air powered with vacuum to remove the dust and protection and respirator for the operator) or a professional "peel" of the bottom gelcoat with carbide cutters--the advantage is that the cut is cleaner.
I agree, that C Dory has to be approached now and discuss what course of action to be taken.
matt_unique":1qkb9mo9 said:
Right-I just checked this thread
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... c&start=15
and the man's name is Frank. I don't know his last name. Thanks for correcting me.
MartyP