What am I looking at here?

[JulieinFL]

I'm investigating a late 80's boat that has been on the hard for 10 years. It needs to be re-commissioned, and all the systems gone through.

Besides these costs, what am I seeing with this hull? Are these all blisters? What is likely involved with bring this hull up to the point of being seaworthy?

[Pete7]

Erm, any photos?

[Orion Jim]

Just appears to be old paint flaking off. Perfect time to strip the old paint off and barrier coat befor applying new antifouling of your choice.

[Don C L]

Welcome aboard, first of all! What is this boat? Is it a Gulfstar? IF those are blisters they are pretty minor. Looks pretty seaworthy as she sits to my eye. Replace the zincs of course. If it is just flaking paint, I'd just paint 'er and go!

[Allied39]

It's hard to tell from the pic's.
From what can be seen it's flaking paint.....might even be light blisters.
Some folks freak out about even the lightest blisters.....and I mean a LOT of folks, like the vessel will likely break up and sink while at anchor, never mind in a swell.
But such is not the case.
The reality is most old boats have some blistering, whether it be light blisters in the gel coat or the heavier deeper blisters in the glass itself.
The worst of either of these cases is if you have to pay someone to rectify the situation....thats where the problems really start.
Iam going to leave it there for lack of visibility as to what you have, but let me re state.....DONT FREAK OUT!!!!

[coopec43]

This is what blisters look like.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=h...w=1081&bih=609


Clive

[JPA Cate]

It looks like lots of layers of old, ablative paint. No one can tell you what is under all that -- it would only be a guess.

My advice, if it is already your boat, is to strip it all the way back to gelcoat, then you can see what you have, and then apply whatever antifoul you decide to try. Different ones work better, depending on the conditions they are designed to face.

Ann

PS. Don's right about the zinc, too.

[jimbunyard]

Looks like all it needs is a new coat of paint, but as others have said, you can't be absolutely sure unless you take the paint off. I'd be more concerned about the brown spots on both sides of the lower section of the rudder, a rubber mallet can tell you if there are delaminated sections in it...

[MCOS]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Just appears to be old paint flaking off. Perfect time to strip the old paint off and barrier coat befor applying new antifouling of your choice.

I agree 100 %, touch sand where really rough and paint. If you are a fanatic, strip, barrier paint then finish with anti foul paint. This looks perfectly normal for a boat that was painted and used a few years. You will be doing the same thing every few years so get used to it :-)

[gulfcoastsailor]

Strip it to gel coat and see what’s left. Probably nothing to worry about.

[George DuBose]

I would strip the bottom down to the gelcoat. If there are any blisters, open them up and let them dry before filling them, refairing the hull and then adding a barrier coat and antifouling. The bottom looks pretty good actually, but could use a fairing and sanding.

[Suijin]

Personally I would just slap a new coat of paint on and go sailing. After 10 years of sitting you’ll have your work cut out for you in other areas.

Give it a closer look when you haul it out in two years to repaint.

No boat ever sank from blisters and that bottom looks pretty good overall.

[GILow]

WTF!? 12 posts and nobody is predicting doom and disaster?

Must be a keeper.

[Fore and Aft]

You would be mad not to strip her back to gel coat and epoxy prime her. After 10 years the hull is never going to get any drier.
Cheers

[svHyLyte]

Humm---Looks like polyestermite damage to me. I'd run away...quickly!!!


(Where is the boat by the way--so I can avoid it, of course!)