For your case there is one very simple answer. Grind open these blisters. I
prefer a 1/4" half round carbide router bit in an air powered hand held die
grinder. Be sure than any loose fibers are cleaned up. The router bit cuts
very fast, so be careful. Use eye and respiratory protection, as well as
protective clothing.
After the area is routed out, wash it with hot soap and water. Then rinse it
with hot water. After it has apparently dried, use a heat gun to throughly
dry the area. Next paint the blistered area, with West systems epoxy. After
this, cut a number of concentric circles out of 6 oz glass cloth, laminate
these into the void with the West System epoxy. Build slightly above the hull
surface. (all of this can be done at the same time) After the epoxy is dry,
you can sand the surface with a disc sander--finally fill with high density
filler over the entire surface area--add the West System barrier material
(which is basically alumium powder). Sand fair and paint the bottom.
To completely dry the boat, will require tenting the outside of the boat and
putting in dehumidifiers--heaters if in the winter. An alternative way is to
vacuum bag small areas of the boat at a time to remove moisture. Your case is
not severe enough to even consider a peel and relamination.
I probably would not epoxy barrier the bottom at this time. You will probably
have a few blisters pop up at each haul--just treat them as described above
and don't worry about it.
I have seen only a couple of boats ruined by blistering. I have seen a number
which had half way peel, dry and epoxy coated jobs, which redeveloped blisters
within relitatively short time...So either do the simple repairs or do a
complete peel, dry and relamination--but not something half way. I have been
following the blistering problem for over 35 years--and nothing new.
Enjoy the Boat!
Bob Austin
For your case there is one very simple answer. Grind open these blisters. I
prefer a 1/4" half round carbide router bit in an air powered hand held die
grinder. Be sure than any loose fibers are cleaned up. The router bit cuts
very fast, so be careful. Use eye and respiratory protection, as well as
protective clothing.
After the area is routed out, wash it with hot soap and water. Then rinse it
with hot water. After it has apparently dried, use a heat gun to throughly
dry the area. Next paint the blistered area, with West systems epoxy. After
this, cut a number of concentric circles out of 6 oz glass cloth, laminate
these into the void with the West System epoxy. Build slightly above the hull
surface. (all of this can be done at the same time) After the epoxy is dry,
you can sand the surface with a disc sander--finally fill with high density
filler over the entire surface area--add the West System barrier material
(which is basically alumium powder). Sand fair and paint the bottom.
To completely dry the boat, will require tenting the outside of the boat and
putting in dehumidifiers--heaters if in the winter. An alternative way is to
vacuum bag small areas of the boat at a time to remove moisture. Your case is
not severe enough to even consider a peel and relamination.
I probably would not epoxy barrier the bottom at this time. You will probably
have a few blisters pop up at each haul--just treat them as described above
and don't worry about it.
I have seen only a couple of boats ruined by blistering. I have seen a number
which had half way peel, dry and epoxy coated jobs, which redeveloped blisters
within relitatively short time...So either do the simple repairs or do a
complete peel, dry and relamination--but not something half way. I have been
following the blistering problem for over 35 years--and nothing new.
Enjoy the Boat!
Bob Austin
