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Osmotic Blistering and Structural Integrity of the Transom
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| GMeader |
Posted on 12/03/09 - 5:23 PM
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Hey guys, I recently sold my Montauk 17 and I am looking to buy a mid-80's to early 90's 13'.
I came across a boat for sale in my area and the seller forwarded a picture to me of the stern. I have never encountered these before, but it looks like there may be osmotic blisters on the transom.
Since I have no basis for comparison, I am not sure how serious they might be. I have read that they can be sanded off and patched or painted over. However, these seem pretty significant and I am worried that there may have been damage to the structural integrity of the transom.
The seller has had the boat for about a year and mentioned that he bought it from a fellow who had left it in the water for some time (not sure how long). The seller also mentioned that when he bought the boat, there were a number of barnacles on the bottom. Is the problem purely cosmetic, or has the transom likely been compromised?
http://s376.photobucket.com/albums/oo...ransom.jpg
Thanks for any input, Garret
Edited by Tom W Clark on 12/03/09 - 6:44 PM |
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 12/03/09 - 6:46 PM
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Wow! I am not sure if those blisters are osmotic or not; I have never seen anything like that on a Whaler before.
The photo shows the transom, but what does the bottom look like?
What year is this boat?
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| number9 |
Posted on 12/03/09 - 7:48 PM
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To me the photo looks more like blistering paint.
Bill...On the Ogeechee
1984 Outrage 18...Yamaha T50...that's right, 50hp |
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| wannabe |
Posted on 12/03/09 - 8:14 PM
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Run as fast as you can !!!!
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| joninnj |
Posted on 12/03/09 - 8:31 PM
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Hi I have been boating for many years 30 + with many different fiberglass boats. I have NEVER seen this. An occasional blister yes... Not that. I suggest do not buy it. Although it could be paint... but that will be a pain in the ass to remove.
But if it is cheap... I mean really cheap... then Maybe...
Question is... is the whole boat like this?
Edited by joninnj on 12/03/09 - 8:42 PM
Jon in NJ
Many other boats and outboards in my boating history
The Whaler is the one I like the best!!! |
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| GMeader |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 6:13 AM
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I added some more photos showing additional areas of the boat.
http://s376.photobucket.com/albums/oo...eader2005/
Apart from the transom, the boat looks to be in pretty good shape for an '82. According to the seller, the boat has never been painted and the blisters on the transom are from barnacles. I am beginning to think trying to repair the blisters (and any other related problems) may not be worth the trouble. The seller is asking $3500 and any major repairs would put me upside down pretty quick. I wonder if the blisters (if that is what they really are) don't have something to do with the bottom drain tube which looks to have been replaced. Perhaps the tube corroded through while the boat was sitting in the water and remained there for some time. Also, the seal does not quite look up to par - Garret
Edited by GMeader on 12/04/09 - 6:16 AM |
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| CES |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 6:40 AM
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GM,
I've seen that blistering before and it will require a lot of sanding to get those blisters off. Then, after they are sanded off, you'll have to fill them in order for the surface to be smooth again. After the blister areas are filled, you'd either have to re-gel coat or paint the area. It's a tremendous amount of work and unless this guy is literally giving you the boat, i'd wait and search for another one.
Those blisters are not from barnacles. Typically a barnacle will leave a "footprint" behind when you scrap them off. If you can get that foot off, then you'd have a smooth surface beneath it. Though I live in Texas now, I grew up in Pompano Beach Florida and worked at a boat yard scraping, cleaning and painting boat bottoms as a youngster.
Edited by CES on 12/04/09 - 6:41 AM
Cliff
1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker |
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| modenacart |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 6:47 AM
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To me it looks like someone tried to paint over areas where the gelcoat has completely flaked off. If it was on the bottom and the boat drafted well, maybe buy it, but at the transom, the wood soaks up water like a sponge so you might be in world or hurt a few years down the road. I would not buy it.
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
--Benjamin Franklin |
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| theo |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 9:24 AM
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Pic 2 - deep chips in the side and some kind of poor repair job underneath, pic 3 - heavy abrasion, pic 4 - patch or paint, pic 5 - blisters, etc.
It looks battered and how old is that motor? And like Cliff said, no way those scars are from barnacles. You can do a lot better for 3500 bucks IMHO.
Ted
1985 15' CC, 1994 60 hp Merc (Wednesday built), 5" jack plate |
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| HarleyFXDL |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 10:25 AM
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The guy wants $3500 for the boat with this damage? Whalers can't be that scarce in Geogia that you can't wait for a better example. I would pass on this one.
Kevin
1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp.
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
"Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman." |
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| John Fyke |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 10:55 AM
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Blisters go all the way to the substrate. The glass. That is a tremendous amount of work. You can't just sand them smooth and re-surface. The money he wants for that is rediculous. I would keep looking.
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| modenacart |
Posted on 12/04/09 - 12:27 PM
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Didn't realize it was 3500 dollars. Thats very, very high. I see nicer ones on craigslist here for much less.
Edited by modenacart on 12/07/09 - 11:48 AM
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
--Benjamin Franklin |
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| GMeader |
Posted on 12/05/09 - 6:04 AM
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Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'll keep looking - Garret
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