Considering buying glastron with VEC technologhy

[nateo]

Hi there. So I looked at a 2007 glastron today. My wife likes to check out color of the carpet, etc. while I tend to examine how the boat was constructed. I currently have a 30 year old boat, I have a suspicion that there may be a wee bit of rot in the stingers up toward the front but the hull appears to be in great condition with no blisters or imperfections. I've never even heard of blisters until I started looking to buy a modern boat.

The boat I'm looking to buy currently does not have any blisters but what's the story on this VEC technology? Can they can relied on to last 30+ years as my ebbtide did? I don't plan on keeping in the water but what if I want to go to Norris or Cumberland and leave it in water for a week or so. Do I have to worry about blisters in such a sort time?

 

[jbcurt00]

Google is a wonderful tool

1 of the results:
http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/vec-shield-eliminates-gel-coat-and-post-mold-painting

Extended warranty against cracking, defects and osmosis blisters, which is transferable to a 2nd owner. Sounds like they are fairly confident it'll last a while.

No gaurrantee that a previous owner hasn't neglected doing proper maintenance on the rest of the boat, but the hull shouldn't be a concern.

 

[nateo]

Google is a wonderful tool, but the hull shouldn't be a concern.

Yes it is. have you seen this?

http://www.epinions.com/review/Glastron_GX_205/44824611/247756852868

 

[JASinIL2006]

I don't know that hull blisters (as described in the link above in #3) have anything to do with VEC technology. I read of lots of fiberglass boats - most non-VEC - that got blisters. I thought blisters were from water getting under the gelcoat, like when a boat is wet slipped without a barrier coat.

I was under the impression the VEC referred to the integrated, engineered stringer and bulkhead system that's part of the hull. I would think a VEC hull would stand a good chance of outliving a wood-based structure, all other things being equal.

 

[tpenfield]

I don't know that hull blisters (as described in the link above in #3) have anything to do with VEC technology. I read of lots of fiberglass boats - most non-VEC - that got blisters. I thought blisters were from water getting under the gelcoat, like when a boat is wet slipped without a barrier coat.

I was under the impression the VEC referred to the integrated, engineered stringer and bulkhead system that's part of the hull. I would think a VEC hull would stand a good chance of outliving a wood-based structure, all other things being equal.

In the little bit of reading that I have done on the VEC process and in particular the changes in which the gelcoat layer is applied, there is some concern in the longevity versus traditional layup.

Basically, the VEC process is similar to injection molding or die casting, and I belive the gelcoat application is a lamination process. :noidea:

 

[nateo]

From what I've been reading it sounds like vec is more like a acrylic/plastic as used in some shower enclosures and not a [fiber]glass such as boats in the past. I've done some fiberglass work recently with multiples layers and I can tell you it's a nasty job. I'm sure in a factory setting with the right tools and processes it's not as bad. regardless i can see a injection molding process saving a lot of time. But what cost. In one thread I read dude bought a lightly used boat (only 50 hours), left it in the water for 9 days and had blisters. The boat we had as a kid was built like a tank according to my dad, we would sometimes leave it in for an entire summer (before we got a lift). No issues with that one. Clearly vec is not as durable. The company went bankrupt from paying so many warranty claims. new company is not honoring past warranties. Be careful what you buy.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Ahhh... I thought VEC was more about the integrated structure, than the layup. Very interesting!

 

[tpenfield]

I think one of the big deals with the VEC process was to lower fume emissions from the process by using a closed mold rather than the traditional open mold. So, they had to find a different way than spraying the gelcoat into the mold.

The fiberglass structural aspects of the hulls is a nice feature, but that is also achievable with the traditional open mold process.

I am wondering if there is any data of the blistering frequency for these types of hull? . . . also wondering if it was an early stage defect that has been corrected in the process.

 

[jbcurt00]

Apparently you read many more VEC links then I did.

Wise to throughly research all that you can and not take everything posted in a forum as the only answer to your question.

Interesting concept, seems to fall flat though

I should have poked around further.

 

[ondarvr]

VEC is a method of closed molding, the likelyhood of getting blisters is about the same as any other method of construction, the resin, gel coat and glass are the same as what's used in normal open molding. (viscosity of the resin is lower in closed molding)

The choice of resin, gel coat, barrier coat (not the type applied like bottom paint, but the type used between the gel coat and laminate in production), resin and glass can have a big affect in blister resistance. These choices are a little more critical in closed molding.

There is nothing inherently good or bad about the VEC system, like other types of production methods it needs to be done correctly, and sometimes %#*& happens.

 

[nateo]

Apparently you read many more VEC links then I did.

Wise to throughly research all that you can and not take everything posted in a forum as the only answer to your question.

Interesting concept, seems to fall flat though

I should have poked around further.

also sales brochures not the best place to look for potentially critical data.