What is this junk on my hull?

[Soundtrackzz]

So I was getting my boat ready for summer and i noticed these tiny raised bumps on my hull. they're each roughly the size of pinhead. There is a field of them about six inches high, it covers about 1/6 of one side of my hull. I tried to pop them, but they were fairly solid and nothing came out of them, so Im really hoping its not boat pox. I sanded that area just a little and they went away pretty much. There wasnt a bigger hole underneath them or anything. I really just want to know what these things are and how i can get rid of them. Ill upload some pictures but you can barely see them unless you look really hard. For comparison purposes, thats inch wide painters tape in the pictures.

Thanks
Zach

P.S. that area of the hull is both above and below the waterline

[bobconnie]

Im not paint expert, but it looks like bum paint job to me! sorta looks like orange peel to me, maybe ?? sure not like any blisters Ive ever seen ! Im sure that a couple of the good painters on here will tell ya !!

[Soundtrackzz]

orange peel is exactly what it looks like. It has been out of the water for 5 months so the blisters could have shrunk. Do blisters shrink? i have no idea

[sailvayu]

Need more info, how old is the boat, was this area under a cover or tarp, is this above or below the waterline, and is the hull painted or is this gel coat?

[Soundtrackzz]

the boat is from 1975. the boat was stored in a barn all winter. im not 100% but i believe it would be below the waterline very close to the surface. and i dont know if that part of the hull was painted or gelcoated

[sailvayu]

I have seen that before on older boats, hate to say it but the gelcoat is just old and you may have to live with it or consider painting. I think the gel coat just gets porous with age. I have seen this mostly around waterlines when the gel coat seems to take the most abuse. If it is below the waterline I would consider a barrier coat. Maybe someone else has some thoughts but that would be my guess