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Valiant 32 problem with Fire Retardant in resin.

10K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  transmitterdan 
#1 ·
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just viewed a Valiant 32 in the Med, a 1979 boat with blisters on the superstructure, but couldn't find any on the hull.
A surveyor has told me that the problem fire retardant is normally only used on the superstructure, is this correct?
Also, what is the method for removing the topsides blisters?
Any help or advice you can give will be most welcome.
 
#5 ·
You will hear a lot of different opinions about blisters in fiberglass boats. Lots has been written about it on the internet, including this site. IMO there are some cases of blisters in the hull that can lead to potentially serious structural problems, but most blisters in the hull are just a cosmetic issue or surface roughness that leads to minimal loss of speed. Blisters in the deck and cabin superstructure are different, as they are above water level, so if a leak was to develop, you would detect it quickly, same with any potential structural weakness (you are walking on it all the time).
Fixing is quite simple: dry, sand, fill in with thickened epoxy, sand down, paint. No great mystery here and also much has been written about it on the net.
 
#7 ·
if this model is known for it's blisters and it is still called good boat. then what are the boats that do not get blisters called?
best way to eliminate the blisters on a boat that you are looking at is to hit the delete key.
you will be forever fixing them. the boat is not going to get any younger. the older they get the faster they form.
 
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#10 ·
The Hetron resin that caused Valiants problems can cause extreme blistering deep into the laminate - it can be quite a different matter than the surface cosmetic type blisters we all know and love.
 
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#11 ·
Considering the boat is 36 years old, and has not fallen appart under the feet of the previous owner(s), maybe it is not a fatal problem. My take: You can work on the blisters. They may, or may not reappear. You should assume that they will, and the price should reflect this. Even with blisters, the V32 would be at the top of my list for a boat that size. A V32 without blisters would be just as good, with whipped cream on top!
 
#12 ·
There is lots of conlficting info regarding blisters on Valiant boats. Depending on the builder and time period it can be severe. It is odd that the blisters are above the waterline, which MIGHT be a clue that it was very bad on the hull and has been repaired there. I am not sure if the 32s had the same issues as some of the 40's. It is worth some more research as to the original builder build date and prior repairs.
 
#13 ·
It is odd that the blisters are above the waterline, which MIGHT be a clue that it was very bad on the hull and has been repaired there.
Why would they repair the blisters on the hull and not the ones on the cabin? Run out of money? Not a priority? Maybe, but not likely.
I find the surveyor's opinion regarding resin additives on the deck piece to be valid, as it checks out with what is known about blisters in these boats.
 
#15 ·
I will wait and see if Bob Perry comes an this forum as there are many conflicting opinions, also wait for my surveyors opinion, which I am paying for. This does not mean that I do not value your inputs, in fact quite the reverse. The boat was built in 1979, and at the price seems to be a bargain. It has obviously completed a trans Atlantic crossing and I understand that the current owner has covered many miles in the Med, so it can't be all bad.
The decks do not seem to have many blisters, more dirty brown marks in the gelcoat, which while not pleasant, do not seem to be points of weakness.
Does anyone have a link to the boatyard in Texas which specialises in restoring Valiants? Maybe I can get some further information from them.
 
#19 ·
Yes the boat was built by Uniflite, and the problem years were from the late 1970's to the early 1980's. Apparently there were many lawsuits due to this problem, so Uniflite was sold to Chriscraft, about 1984, but they did not want to get involved in sailboat manufacture, so the moulds were sold on to the boatbuilder in Texas, who had been a Uniflite distributor.
THAT IS THE SUM TOTAL OF MY KNOWLEDGE!
 
#20 ·
If the blisters are cosmetic (likely) and you can live with them then these boats can be an excellent deal. You get a lot more boat for your money than a similar size/quality boat. These are heavily built boats with modern underbody. They sail extremely well both up and down wind.

I don't think you can fix the blisters for any reasonable amount of money. If you can't live with them then don't buy it.

Establishing a fair price is the hardest part. There are brokers in the U.S. that specialize in these. I suspect Rogue Wave would be happy to discuss the Valiant market and offer advice even though this boat may not be their listing.
 
#22 ·
Thanks for the reply to my thread. This yacht is registered on a European website and the asking price is 10,000€ or 11,000 dollars US.

This price is negotiable as the seller is a little desperate. How do you think this compares with prices in the US?
Very low I would think. At that price there may be more problems than the blisters.
 
#28 ·
We'll, to cut a long story short, I have bought the boat for 8000€.
Lots of problems, as the boat has been ashore for the last four years, and has been left to deterioate.
Not had any contact with the last owner, which has also been a bit of a funny situation, with no explanation of the systems on the boat.
Can anyone help me with contact details for the owners association???????? They might be able to give me more information about the boat.
Thanks for all the advice in the past, it has been much appreciated. O
 
#31 ·
I intend to do the repairs myself, as I am now retired. One problem is that the boat is 1500 miles away from my home, and needs to be made safe for the journey first,so I am concentrating on the safety items.
Any ideas about contact with the owners association? Also, where can I get spare parts from in the US? I need new catches for the hatchest and the bow roller is missing, could get one made locally if I had the dimensions.
Thanks to Rich and Bob Perry for the advice.
 
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