Widespread Blistering of Hull

C

carpediemvz

New member
My 2006 22' Cruiser has developed blisters in the gelcoat over most of the area below the waterline. In speaking with the factory, I have been told that this is due to keeping the boat in the water during the boating season without bottom paint (in Lake Michigan). I'm new to boating, but it seems to me that boats are intended to be in water and I find nothing in the published C-Dory user info advising that bottom paint is necessary. Two questions ... (1) any other owners with this problem, and (2) what's needed to repair this damage?
 
Just do a search on blistering you should find plenty to read. If the boat is going to be in the water for long periods it does need bottom paint.
 
First please post some photos of your boat's bottom.

Second, look at your warantee and see what it says about blistering.

Third--it is not bottom paint which protects from blisters, it is epoxy barrier coat. I recommend that any boat which is bottom painted have coats of epoxy barrier paint applied. If the boat is to be kept in the water more than a couple of weeks, I feel that it should be bottom painted.

There is some chance that what you have is not osmotic blistering--and is defective gel coat. If that is the case, then you may have some recourse.
That is why I would like to see a photo. For some reason, some green gel coats have had problems in that vintage.


What to do? grind out each blister, with a carbide cutter in a die grinder. Then fill with epoxy resin and thickener of cabosil and high density filler. Sand this smooth, then sand the gel coat and apply 20 mils of epoxy barrier coat.

These problems are rare, but are reported and your dealer certainly should have had the knowlege to tell you how to care for the boat properly1 Sorry to hear about your problem!
 
Dr. Bob provided a very good/calm response with suggestions for how to fix the problem.

If the factory indeed said "the problem is due to lack of bottom paint" I say that is complete BS. You got a bad build and they need to make good on the warranty repair. If you read the standard printed warranty for C-Dory it reads they are not responsible for anything related to water. Needless to say this is rather problematic from a boat builder! It's legal nonsense as a means to provide them the "opportunity" not to cover a repair. Thankfully in practice they have made good and repaired and replaced bad boats as necessary.

A 20 year old moored boat with blisters...sure...a 2 year old boat...no way. Only a bad build will result in blisters that soon regardless of paint. Bottom paint is for marine growth. Their building process is supposed to protect a boat from the water.

My advice is to follow up with dealer and factory as necessary to make sure they repair your boat.
 
NO, No, NO !!! That is totally not acceptable on a 2006 boat... bottom paint or not... a good gel coat will build lots of marine growth when kept in the water for long periods of growth....but never blister...

I would have the boat looked at by a marine surveor....then talk to a marine attorney...and have him discuss the condition of the gel coat with the factory.... That is a defective gel coat ! Gel coats are NOT poris, ever.. defective ones are.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
NOW, NOW, CAPT. MATT,
SIT DOWN, RELAX, AND SMELL THE ROSES!
I'VE POSTED MULTIPLE COMMENTS REGARDING THIS BOAT IN-THE-WATER THING, AND HOW, IF YOU PLACE IT IN THE WATER AS PURCHASED, IT'LL FALL APART. WHAT WE NEED IS FOR DR. BOB TO TAKE OVER THE HELM AT C-DORY. I THINK HE'D HAVE THEM MARCHING IN TIME!
JUST TO BE FAIR ABOUT THE BLISTER THING, IT'S NOT JUST C-DORY THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WITH OTHER BUILT BOATS.
ALSO, REGARDING THE WARRANTY, ONLY EXTENDS TO ORIGINAL OWNERS, ME AND THE OTHER SECOND OWNERS ARE CUT OFF AT THE KNEES.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE, YOU SHOULD NOTICE, THE SKY IS BLUER, THE WATER LOOKS CLEANER AND ALL IS WELL.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
YOUR HUMBLE BROTHER C-BAT'R
CAPT. PATTY MY BOY, OUT!

PS: WHAT ABOUT THE UPCOMING CHESAPEAKE BAY GATHERING IN EARLY JUNE? NOW THAT'S JUST ABOUT IN YOUR BACK YARD!
ALSO, IF DR. BOB IS ON LINE, IS THIS AN EVENT WHICH YOU MIGHT ATTEND?
 
capt patrick campbell":xlb8tkgd said:
I'VE POSTED MULTIPLE COMMENTS REGARDING THIS BOAT IN-THE-WATER THING, AND HOW, IF YOU PLACE IT IN THE WATER AS PURCHASED, IT'LL FALL APART
Click to expand...

Capt Patrick, we're all aware of the problems you've had with blistering on your boat. However, I don't think the blistering problem applies to every boat that's placed in the water as you imply. I can recall one other C-Dory in the three years I've been active on this site that had a similar problem. I'm not saying C-Dory's are built perfectly but geez, to say that EVERY BOAT PLACED IN THE WATER AS PURCHASED WILL FALL APART IS AN EXTREME EXAGGERATION. (My turn to shout)

carpediemvz,

Does your CD happen to be green? Just curious.

Peter
 
ACTUALLY CHARLIE,
linda and i have talked about attending this gathering. i emailed byrdman, (nashville area) and he said it's on his schedule, as well.
i did a mapquest and it looks to be about a 9 hour (575 mi) or so drive for linda and me. that being the case we'd probably come up on wednesday, launch on thursday, check out the area, pull the boat on monday and head back to cincinnati.
we'd like to do at least three trips this season, first is to florida, leaving 04/12/2008, then the chesapeake bay trip in june and would like to squeeze in a trip to the erie canal in september. weather, time and money permitting, a lake erie trip would not be out of the question, as well.
this would be our most ambitious boating season thus far, but, as you know, we're not getting any younger and if we don't start now, then when?
now charlie, you know i don't shout, only capt. matt has this bazaar opinion of me. well, ok, maybe i do shout sometimes, but not often!
best regards
pat
ps: do you have a head count of the number of boats signed up for your trip?
 
Captain Pat...it's funny you mention Bob taking over C-Dory to restore quality. You know how you can buy a sports car modified by Hennessey Motor Sports or Saleen Motor Sports for example? (i.e. Hennessey Viper or Saleen Mustang) I want an "Austin Tomcat"!!

Ha ha! I would ABSOLUTELY pay more money for an Austin Tomcat. They would have to fly him out for the construction process. He would need to be there to provide direction on how to properly build, finish, and SEAL the boat. They would need an addition to the logo so buyers knew they had a modified build.
 
hi pete,
yes, my gelcoat is green. i do agree my post may have a slight flair for dramatization, but the facts speak for themselves, the bottom line is, if the manufacture has knowledge of an inherent problem, should they not take necessary steps to correct them? if epoxy prevents blisters why not apply it to each new boat as part of the overall boat building process? sure, may increase cost, but how about only passing on the net cost and not padding it with profit, how much more would it increase each unit?
this forum gives each of us the opportunity to state our opinions. i hold myself, my company, personal and professional, to the same high standards i look for in my boats. i lead by example, not any different than the majority of posters to this site. i would expect nothing less from the manufactures of the products i purchase. although, having made the above statements, i enjoy my boat, would recommend it to anyone looking for this style of boat.
hope this clears up any misunderstandings.
best regards
pat
 
I think it has been documented that most gel coat is porous to some degree. Virtually all boats are susceptible to some degree of blistering if left in the water long enough. That is why the barrier coat should be applied. Some builders have found ways to slow it down by using different resins, some even claim to have cured it. But none will give a lifetime warranty. Some are ten years, some shorter. Seldom will any go to a second or subsequent owner. I fought the blister battle for years with an assortment of sailboats and it is just a part of boating life if your boat is left in the water. Pats' boat may in fact be one of a few examples where the gelcoat could be defective. I can't speak to the variables of the process of producing and applying the gelcoat, just to the reality learned of years of living with blisters. Even the best of boats can have them from time to time.
 
Capt. Pat...."ps: do you have a head count of the number of boats signed up for your trip?"

About 22 "folks" right now, most with boats. Check out the Event Signups at the top of the page and the associated thread.

We'd love to have you and Linda!

Capt. Charlie
 
thanks charlie,
sounds like a great time. we're hoping to attend.
pat

ps: had 14" of snow this past weekend, it's all but melted now, we're heading south thursday, will be on the water at lake cumberland friday, should be anchored in a cove having lunch and i might dare say, a finer glass of wine, by 2:00pm. the lake is up 7' of water from just two weeks ago.
 
On my initial post I didn't think to ask if this boat was purchased new or a resale..... that will make a difference as I doubt the factory will honor the warrantee from owner to owner.... not generally done.

But Gel coat is a barrier coat.... all a barrier coat is a layer of resin, nothing more... and what gel coat is thickened resin with a color added...it has no reinforcement other than it's bond with the fiber layup in the following layers of the boat.... it should be non poris...period... if the gel coat is done properly with quality material it should have a totally sealed surface.... blistering is never acceptable.. a bottom coat is to prevent marine growth.... yes it helps to protect the gel coat...but that is not it's major purpose..

Yes there are boats that are known to blister... but it always comes down to poor quality resin, or improperly applied resin...
C-Dories are not know to have either problem....

A Marine Surveyor needs to be contacted and the bottom needs to be professionally inspected.

Yes, I do have a Plastics Engineering Degree.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Joel: I've always assumed gelcoat to be porous, and that epoxy is specified as barrier coat material due to much lower water permeability. I will defer to your recommendations in this regard given your educational background. On our Dory (bare hull/never painted) I plan to have the hull de-waxed, abraded, barrier-coated with 4-5 coats of epoxy, and finally bottom-painted with anti-fouling paint. Any thoughts? Mike.
 
On a boat that new.... I sure would not repair anything until I talked to an attorney.... Blisters are a uncommon problem on a C-Dory... this could cost you thousands ..... Lots of boat are kept in the water without bottom paint...and they don't blister...

Don't go easy.....scream loud and clear...

Joel
SEA3O
 
Yes, to answer you question....Epoxy is a great barrier coat, it's about 3 times more expensive as Polyester or more common resins...it does a great job as a barrier coat... nothing will get through.. I also have been looking at some of the non copper bottom coats... they are getting much better... I put a new bottom on the tug a year ago and it was really expensive.... something like $175 a gallon for the paint...and it barely did my 22' bottom... the tug sits in the water 6 months a year...(fresh water)

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Back
Top