blisters 1978

[ky ed]

So how prevalent are blisters on the models produced in 1978?
My 78 E-27 has some blistering showing up. I would describe them as quite small, about a quarter inch in diameter spaced about a foot and a half apart. Any blisters I have seen on other boats are quite big like a few inches in diameter and concentrated in areas. My blisters are very evenly spaced.
It may be that I have a minor or recent problem I hope.
When I got my boat she had been sitting on a cradle for a few years on North side of a tall boat shed some what in the shade, she had been only in lake Michigan for the short summer months. She sits on a trailer now in Iowa.
Im thinking ignore the problem for now enjoy the sailing season and address the problem next year after a long winter of drying out in the midwestern long winter. That way I have all winter to assemble materials to fix the problem.
Should I slap some epoxy over them to seal the blisters to keep out water this summer?
Are the blisters created from moisture inside of boat or from outside of hull?
Thanks for every ones input! Ky Ed

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Hull Blisters, Treatment of [Master Thread]

Just had misty pulled out for bottom paint this morning. This is the first time I've had her out of the water, and there are a bunch of little blisters pretty much all over the hull. This is a new topic for me, and I'm just gathering some information on if/how to address this. It appears the...

ericsonyachts.org

Hi Kyle,
You might find the above thread helpful. In posts 21 & 22 there are a bunch more links. There are different possibilities on what can cause blisters and how to fix. I reached a working hypothesis and proceeded. I don't remember any responses that treat this as an emergency. So yes, I'd say enjoy your season and plan this for 'dry dock' time.

Jeff

 

[EngineerSailing]

So how prevalent are blisters on the models produced in 1978?

Should I slap some epoxy over them to seal the blisters to

I can't say for your boat
But most of the industry mixed benzine into resin from 76-81 because of oil embargo chemical shortages
At the time seemed like a decent substitute filler

If you want to permantly fix the boat you may need to grind down cover thick with a cheap clean resin epoxy
Wait 3-4 weeks to draw out decades old unsettled chemistry
Grind down again
Fill holes re glass and vacuum bag

That's assuming you're seeing blisters due to benzine and similar cheap fillers

keep out water this summer?

 

[gabriel]

The boat has to be permanently sitting in the water for blisters to occur. It sounds like your boat has been a trailer sailor. If you continue to trailer sail, I wouldn’t be too concerned.

 

[ky ed]

All good advice. Guess Ill sail the old girl like I stole her. I actually did steal her cause I only paid $700!