Does Sailing A Boat Make Blistering Worse?

Blisters on a boat can cause some damages, but it is important to fix them before they start forming on the boat hull. Blisters can be caused by various factors, such as excess water, metal corrosion, and gel coat development. If the bottom of your boat is covered with blisters, filling them won’t cure the problem. Pox is a systemic condition indicating that the hull is saturated. Blisters might signal a major defect due to either inferior materials or poor techniques when the hull was built, but absent a blistering history with other boats from the same builder, it cannot be fixed.

Fixing hull moisture problems can prevent your boat from leaking. Duncan Kent explains how to find and fix hull moisture problems. More than 95% of boats with fiberglass blisters do not develop any other issues. However, understanding the causes of boat blisters is the best way to keep your boat afloat.

Blisters can affect the appearance of your boat and can also weaken and damage the hull structure. Newer boats, such as 2013 model year Jeanneau, may suffer from blister problems if left in the water year-round the same way. Even boats with numerous blisters up to about 1 in diameter usually show no significant weakening of the plastic.

Blisters are a nasty cosmetic plague that can infect much of the boat if allowed to. Older boats are less likely to get blisters because their gelcoat is thicker, as is their entire lay-up. Some experienced sailors have said that fresh water is worse on blisters than salt because the less dense fresh water encourages blistering.

Are blisters bad on a boat?

The answer to whether or not you should buy a boat that has blisters is definitely not a short one, since it really all depends on the age of the vessel, the extent of the blistering, and the likelihood of that blistering causing significant damage to a ship. On the one hand, you definitely shouldn’t seek out a boat that has blisters, but on the other, blistering is one of the more common problems boat owners face and to find an older used boat for sale that doesn’t have any at all would be a little more on the rare side. In most cases, blistering will not cause serious structural degradation, however, in some cases, it can cause significant damage to the hull, which is why it’s always worth taking an extra look to determine if the problem is merely a cosmetic one or if there are potentially bigger problems lurking beneath the surface.

If a boat is more than seven or eight years old, chances are it has suffered about as much damage or blistering as it ever will, which means the current shape it’s in is a good indicator of your future with it. If you notice very little blistering, or blisters that are less than three or four inches in diameter, you have likely found yourself a pretty decent vessel that should be able to withstand more extensive blistering in the future.

If a boat you’re looking at is less than only three years old and already starting to show signs of blistering, you really need to think long term about the potential repair costs that will be necessary if the problem continues to get worse, or the potential loss of future resale value. In fact, if you are absolutely set on buying a newer boat that has signs of blistering, it is not entirely uncommon to request a reduction in price or that the blisters be repaired before the sale is finalized. Just be advised, if a particular boat is more susceptible to blistering, having repairs performed does not mean that the problem will not happen again in the future. Some boats are just more likely to have this problem than others.

How to prevent boat blisters?

How can you prevent blisters? Well…the key is to keep the hull as waterproof as possible. Some boaters recommend the use one of the good epoxy coatings to coat the entire hull. This can be time-consuming and moderately expensive however, it seems to cut down on the dreaded “chicken pox.”

If you want to undertake this endeavor, make sure the entire hull is clean and free of antifouling paint, any other foreign materials and moisture. Sand the gelcoat enough to make sure all the shine is gone. The color should be consistent and bright. Again, using your favorite epoxy which is intended for boat bottoms, build up a generous coat. Remember, the epoxy is what gives the protection. Try to get a minimum of 15 mils of thickness. This is about five times the thickness of a coat of paint and about the thickness of typical gelcoat. Once you have completed this operation and sanded to fair the hull, reapply your favorite antifouling paint.

Blistering is the most common reason that potential boat buyers back off or make substantially low offers. Repairing blisters once they have occurred, or taking steps to prevent them, can improve the resale value of your boat.

Do you have to fix boat blisters?

There has been a great deal of hysteria about blisters, but the reality is that the number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. An occasional blister or two is not a serious problem, any more than is an occasional gouge in the hull. Some boats seem to exhibit a greater propensity to blister, presumably due to the chemical components used and/or the lay-up schedule, but all boats are at some risk. Surveys suggest that about one boat in four develops blisters.

Repair Materials. Effecting the repair of a few hull blisters requires an appropriate quantity of epoxy resin and hardener. Do not use polyester resin for blister repairs; you need the stronger adhesion and better water impermeability epoxy provides.

You also need a filler to thicken the epoxy into a putty. Select colloidal silica. Never use microballoons or any other hollow or absorbent (talc, for example) fairing compound to fill blisters.

What causes boat hull blisters?

The effect of more water continuously being pulled into the cell is a rise in pressure leading to swelling and blistering as is most often seen on affected hulls.

Eventually some of the blisters will rupture leading to liquid seeping out of them. The increased pressure also tends to accelerate the breakdown of the laminate resin. Deeper in the laminate larger blisters together with the resultant higher pressures can lead to various levels of laminate failure.

How to treat it. Have a survey carried out and then depending on the results, there are two basic options that can be considered:

How do you prevent hull fouling?

Owners of boats kept in-water should:clean regularly to keep the hull free of fouling.apply anti-foul protection.tie in checking for fouling with your regular underwater checking of the anodes that are protecting your boat’s metal parts, like the propeller, drive shaft and trim tabs.

Hull fouling can have a big impact on your boating if you have a moored boat. Fouling is also one of the main ways marine pests can get spread into New Zealand waters and around the coast.

What is hull fouling?. Fouling or “scum” is growth on the hull that happens when a boat is left in water for periods of time.

Many marine species can grow on a boat hull. First you get algae that form a pale green slime layer and then larger algae that attach with a holdfast. At the same time creatures that attach like barnacles, shellfish, sea squirts and sponges start appearing. As the fouling grows, other creatures like fish and crabs can come and live among the attached species.

How do I stop a blister from forming?

During physical activity, wear moisture-wicking, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid clothes made of cotton, as cotton soaks up sweat and moisture, which can lead to friction and chafing. Consider soft bandages. For problem areas, such as the feet or thighs, consider using adhesive moleskin or other soft bandages.

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What not to do with a blister?

Don’tdo not burst a blister yourself.do not peel the skin off a burst blister.do not pick at the edges of the remaining skin.do not wear the shoes or use the equipment that caused your blister until it heals.

Blisters often heal on their own within a week. They can be painful while they heal, but you will not usually need to see a GP.

How you can treat a blister yourself. There are things you can do to protect a blister and help stop it getting infected.

Keep the blister as clean as possible – gently wash the skin and pat it dry.

What happens if you don’t treat a blister?

Important. Do not ignore an infected blister. Without treatment it could lead to a skin or blood infection.

• A blister is very painful or keeps coming back
• the skin looks infected – it’s hot and the blister is filled with green or yellow pus
• the skin around the blister looks red, but this can be harder to see on brown or black skin
• a blister is in an unusual place – such as your eyelids, mouth or genitals
• several blisters have appeared for no reason
• a blister was caused by a burn or scald, sunburn, or an allergic reaction

Treatment for blisters from a GP. A GP might burst a large or painful blister using a sterilised needle. If your blister is infected, they may prescribe antibiotics.

What to do about hull blisters?

The procedure for repairing minor hull blisters is to first pop them to let the liquid drain out before grinding the area. The depression created is then washed, dried and filled with resin before fairing and painting over the area.

For deep blisters that have penetrated the laminate, you will have to replace the damaged fiberglass before applying epoxy resin. Essentially, blister repair can be performed in five steps.

Pop ‘em open & let ‘em drain. Blisters are most apparent when the boat is initially hauled out of the water, but they often shrink afterwards, sometimes in less than an hour. Circle them with a marker just in case this happens.

What not to do with water blisters?

Avoid popping or draining a blister, as this could lead to infection. However, if your blister is large and very painful, it may be necessary to drain the blister to reduce discomfort. To do this, sterilize a small needle using rubbing alcohol.

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• Acne
• Eczema
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• A to Z diseases
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• How dermatologists treat
• Skin care: Acne-prone skin
• Causes
• Is it really acne?

• Types & treatments
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• Insider secrets

Can you make a blister worse?

Large painful blisters can be drained and treated by a trained professional. DO NOT try to drain the blister without the consultation of a certified athletic trainer, physician, or other trained professional. Improperly draining a blister may result in further damage or infection.

Signs of infection include pus, red and warm skin around the blister, and red streaks leading away from the blister. If you have any signs of infection, it is important to consult your primary care physician immediately.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine specializes in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Services are available in multiple locations throughout central Ohio. To make an appointment, call 355-6000orschedule an appointment online.

How do you prevent blisters on vacation?

What can you do to Prevent a Blister? Wear new sandals and shoes around the house for a few days before going on vacation to identify hot spots. Products like a gel cushion or moleskin can help pad the back of your heels, and Vaseline or Body Glide is an excellent alternative to bony prominences to reduce friction.

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