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Lee,

I have 1989 Hull #108. It has spent most of its life in the Chesapeake, although a few years were in Florida. There are no blisters on this boat. It is possible that the original owner had a barrier coat applied before it was first launched, but I cannot be sure.

Previously, I had a 1977 Gulfstar 43. It had a serious blister problem and I had it peeled and sanded by Osprey Laminates in Herrington Harbour. I dried the hull with a tent and propane heaters and then finished the job myself with two coats of epoxy and six layers of barrier coat.

This is a difficult and expensive repair. The peel and sanding alone cost $5000 and the total job with 10 year guarantee by Osprey would have been $10,000.

Here is what I suggest that you do. Contact Osprey or another reputable laminate expert. They will do a destructive test on the hull/blisters and determine the real extent of the damage. A surveror can't do that with a moisture meter or a hammer. My guess is that unless the hull is covered with deep blisters the laminate is not damaged. Osprey told me that the outer layers of the laminate are really just cosmetic and are there to keep the heavy woven fabric from showing through the gel coat.

Before I had the Gulfstar repaired it was surveyed three times. Every surveyer had a different opinion of the condition and I think all of them were just guessing. Go to an expert for the real answer. Remember, a peel removes the gel coat and then they usually continue to peel away the damaged laminate. The laminate needs to then be replaced and that can only be done after the hull is dried out. A repair like that will be expensive and time consuming. The price of the boat should reflect that repair cost.

Frankly, I would be surprised if the laminate is destroyed. You could deal with just the blisters yourself with a little work.

Gerry
C42 #108