View Single Post
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 12-31-2006
paulk paulk is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,230
Rep Power: 9
paulk is on a distinguished road
A boat that stays in the water avoids problems like misplaced poppits or uneven supports along with the possible chafe of lifting straps on the topsides. Storing a boat on the hard can lead to hogging, though that's not likely noticeable in a boat like the Bristol 24. If the hull's been kept clean with scrubbings, and the shaft and prop are in ok shape, the concerns are those you've mentioned - saturation, blisters and possible delamination - which would be the same for any boat. The long immersion may call for an especially careful inspection below the waterline, sounding the hull thoroughly and going over it with a moisture meter for good measure. Be aware that it's also possible for PAINT to blister, and not just gelcoat. The former problem is practically to be expected, especially in a boat that's gone so long between haulouts. I've heard stories about how a scared seller lowered his price by $10k when the buyer pointed out blilsters and said that's what the yard quoted for a bottom strip & barriercoat job. After he'd bought the boat, the buyer took out a putty knife and in two hours had scraped off the blistered PAINT. You may find some gelcoat blisters as well. If there are just a dozen or so, epoxy filler can fix them in an hour or two. If there are more than that, get more information and another opinion from your surveyor. Good luck!
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Ad