What is this on the hull?

[poul.eriksen]

Thanks for good answers!

It doesn't make different sounds when I tap on it.

It has been a lot of mold on the surface everywhere in this space that I cleaned off. Can the black areas be mold that has ate through the fiberglass and spread under the fiberglass?

I have found small holes with something black in a lot of places. Can mold make holes is fiberglass?

If there is mold in the surface of the core, how would you proceed? Dry it out and try to seal all the small holes?

[zedpassway]

If there had only been carpet or something, you would have never seen it and never had to agonize over it. Cover it with duck tape and play your radio louder.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

Looks like CANCER to me.

I am afraid that is a good analogy.

[Sailorbob8599]

Originally Posted by fatherchronica

If it is an expensive boat I would paint the bilges and sell it.

It's people like yourself, who cause people like me, to question the ethics of every seller & gives value to the saying: "Buyer Beware"

I believe it was Ferenc Mate who wrote in his book "From a Bare Hull": "One should carry a Long Sharp Awl when surveying a wooden boat you are thinking of buying; Stab the Awl into the timbers to check for rot & if you find any, you should take that same sharp Awl and drive it right into the seller's chest, right up to the hilt, as far as the handle." - or words to that effect.

Sounds a little dramatic, but Mate was making a point about those who would cheerfully sell a defective boat to an unsuspecting buyer.

[barnakiel]

Looks like mold on the balsa core. But perhaps it is just on the skin. Wipe it out well. Send another picture then.

b.

[FionaJC]

I have seen this even on boats not launched. I think its the end grain and knots. I dont think its anything to worky about.

[boatpoker]

Seen several hundred boats like this. A pretty good bet it's wet balsa.

Moisture Meter Mythology

[a64pilot]

Blow up the last picture, it seems there are holes in the interior skin right where the black dots are?
Course I'm on an IPad so screen size isn't as big as a computer monitor.

[Cheechako]

I tried to blow it up a bit and clean it up with Photoshop. There does appear to be minor surface breaks aligning with the dark spots. Get the drill out! We want to know!