Questions about hull blistering

[marlinspike6]

I am considering buying a 30'-34' Ericson, Catalina, or Pearson from the early 1980's. Are any of these makes in this time period notorious for hull blistering (or any other common fault which should steer me away from one of these manufacturers?).

Thanks for your responces.

[Cruisingdad]

I cannot respond to boats other than Catalina, but if you will throw a specific boat out (year, make, model) and post it to you Mainsheet editor (Catalina) they can answer that question. What size boat? I will get you the person to ask.

- CD

[sailhog]

The attached is a review of the older C30s, and it mentions the Ericson and Pearson as well. It's a quick, informative read:
http://www.catalina30.com/C30Yacht/C30review.htm

[cardiacpaul]

generalized statement on its way, your mileage may, and will vary, this is NOT fact, just some old blowhard, ok?
(enough caveats to please everyone?)

Boats of that era, (25-35 year old boats), will suffer from blisters to a varying degree. Some I've seen look like the surface of the moon, some like a new babies bottom.

There are as many opinions as to how important these are cosmetically, structurally, as there are ways to repair them.

You'll get so many opinions, it'll wear you out.

Heres one more.

All of the boats you're looking at will run you 15-25k. initial purchase.
All of the boats you're looking at will have blisters.
All of the boats will be able to be repaired (ok, so there may be one out there that has delamed a hull so bad its leaking thru, but then, it wouldn't be at least 15k, would it)

The cost for those repairs will run anywhere between 3k, and 25k
(yea, I know, put it on the hard, grind' em out yourself, use some marine-tex and slather bottom paint on it will cost you 200.00.)

Bottom line. find the boat you want based on your needs. Have it hauled, get it surveyed. If it needs severe blister repair, the surveyor will tell you that. If it does, grab the service manager by the arm and ask him to give you a "do it tomorrow" price on the repair, and reduce your offer accordingly.

the above, and 4.00 will get you a starbucks.

[goose327]

I don't want to take anything away from the origional question, but. Is blistering more of a salt water thing or is it someything I need to worry about too? Is a "trailersailor" like my V23 suseptable to blisters, since it's not left in the water?

edit: question answered via PM,, thanks Paul.

[marlinspike6]

Thanks CruisingDad,

I don't have a specific boat yet, but later this fall I will be on it like fuzz on a baggywinkle !! Thanks for taking your time to respond and I will write you at at later time if it ends up a Catalina.

Ciao, i sretan jedlenica

[marlinspike6]

Sailhog,

thanks for taking your time to respond. very good article - does that guy also have reviews for the Pearson and Ericson 30's ? How do I access the other reviews that are at that site? Thanks very much, M6

[marlinspike6]

CardiacPaul,

Thanks for the good info, and thanks for taking your time to make me a little smarter. Ciao, M6

[sailhog]

[QUOTE
does that guy also have reviews for the Pearson and Ericson 30's ? How do I access the other reviews that are at that site?[/QUOTE]

It's specific to good old catalinas. Here's the mother-site:
http://www.catalina30.com/

[Sailormann]

Goose - if you don't have any by now (on the boat that is ) you probably don't need to worry. If you are only leaving your boat in the water for short periods then you will not develop blisters.

They happen to both freshwater and saltwater boats. If you are concerned about them, just clean off your hull and run your hands over it. If you feel little pimples anywhere, or any lumps, then it might be a blister.

If your boat has been trailer-sailed for most of its life, it is really unlikely that you'll find any. Blisters usually develop after a boat has been sitting in the water constantly with the sun beating down on it for a few years.