Drying out blisters

[drewpster]

I know there is no way to guess at the length of time it takes for water to dry out of a blistered boat bottom. However I was hoping someone could give an "it will take at least" or "I have never seen it take less than" guess. The boat is on stands outdoors and has widely spread blisters, the largest being about the size of a quarter. I was thinking of starting to open them up and I was hoping to start filling them by summer's end. Think it will be dry enough by then? (boat is circa 1969)

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Drying out blisters

Sorry, no set time, just open them up as soon as you can and then keep rain water and condensation of it. Covering it with a tarp and putting a fan on it helps. To test it, tape a 12"x12" (any size works) piece of clear poly sheeting over an area with blisters, if condensation forms on the inside there's still some water in it.

 

[flashback]

Re: Drying out blisters

Drewpster, I have seen folks use moisture meters to check the dryness of the glass. but it's still not fool proof.. I have seen them sit for a year and still the blisters come back.. I have seen them peel the gel off down to the glass and re coat with epoxy and still the blisters come back.. I don't think anyone can actually say "it takes this long" I have personally ground open several hundred blisters, then tent the hull with poly and put a dehumidifyer in the tent, wash the blisters with soap and water every couple of weeks to keep them from scabbing over. and did this for about 4 months.. then filled them with epoxy putty, faired the hull and coated it with 7 coats of barrier paint then 2 coats of antifouling paint... 6 years later, I had a few blisters show up but not many...good luck... by the way, I'm on the river at watts bar..

 

[drewpster]

Re: Drying out blisters

Good to see a neighbor! Thanks for the advise.

 

[flashback]

Re: Drying out blisters

I had forgotten about Odarvr's suggestion using the poly window taped to the hull. It's a good trick and works well if you don't have access to a moisture meter..Don't let the blisters get ya down too much.. its very rare that they cause any structual problems. basicly cosmetic and they will slow you down a little... if you had a raceing sailboat then I would sweat it..

 

[drewpster]

Re: Drying out blisters

I was not very concerned about them until I started the rest of the improvements. Seems every time I complete something, something else comes up. The paint is looking so good that I know when I get the hull started I will want to do some blister repair. I regret not openeing the blisters when I brought the boat home last year. I hope I can still find them.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Drying out blisters

] Seems every time I complete something, something else comes up.

Sounds like life in general​