Polyester resin hull restoration

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Mmcco, Jan 24, 2017.


  1. Ilan Voyager
    Joined: May 2004
    Posts: 1,292
    Likes: 225, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 758
    Location: Cancun Mexico

    Ilan Voyager Senior Member

    The consensus is to forget the carbon fiber.
    After that depends if it's worth or not to spend a lot of time and money on a 1983, 34 years old..., boat of only 24 feet. It must be suitable also for your use.

    In correct quality polyester shipyards of 30 years ago, most sail boats were built with huge margins and blisters won't affect really the general strength. A bit of flexibility is not a problem. Polyester when aging loses stiffness but not strength. A close inspection of the hull will reveal if the hull has no cracks in the points of stresses (plates, keel bolts, etc) and how good is the joint deck/hull.

    A good trick to visualize cracks is to apply a black watercolor paint for artist and to sweep it with a clean absorbent cloth. If there are hairline cracks they will become very apparent. The size, extension and number of the cracks will permit to evaluate the state of the stratified at the stresses points.
    A common problem on old sailboats is the keel zone which can be damaged by a bad grounding. A close examination of the bulkheads will tell you if the boat is very tired or not, the junction bulkheads/hull is primordial, and any sign of rupture or delamination is highly suspect. Ugliness and lack of care in the details is not a true problem unless you see suspect delaminations, unusual softness, or white spots in a normally translucent stratification.

    If needed a few strategic holes made with a hole saw 1/2 to 3/4 will give you a perfect diagnosis of the quality and state of the stratified polyester by examination of the plugs. The holes are very easy to fix. Take plenty of pics and use your common sense.

    After that you can evaluate if it's worth or not to enter in the core of the true work on the hull. But as Par said with lots of diplomacy, only simple and detail fixes, plus the blisters are worth on a boat of this age and size. Balance the cost of the reparations against the value of the boat. Common sense again.
     
    1 person likes this.
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