Hull blisters 400 SS


F

Flora Play

New member
I have a 2003 400SS, I pull out of fresh water in October, usually put in the water in May. Pulled it out this fall and had blisters from front to back on bottom. Never been bottom painted, I am maticulas about keeping it waxed. I realize the boat is almost 14 yrs old, but never thought I would have problems with the Formula hull. The previous owner was just as maticulas if not more than me. Any thoughts? I am having it all repaired, but quite exspensive.
 
Barrier coat. . . Most boats that are kept in fresh water will eventually develop blisters. Some more than others and sooner than others. 14 years is a long time to develop blisters, so the gelcoat did as good as it could.
 
Totally agree, 6 months of sitting in the water every year and after 14 blisters show up. Formula does a great job of building and gelcoat install. If it was a cheaper made boat, it would have happened sooner. I guy hear had a 3 year old Regal and the same thing happened, Regal paid to fix it, but just saying.

Going to need to pop every blister, or maybe a better option is sand off all the gel below the water line, then rebuild. Need to make sure it is given enough time to dry out
 
I have pulled over 200 boats out of the water each year for the past 30 years at our marina. My experience with gelcote blistering is that something in the water causes it, and no one seems to be able to figure it out. There are years go by and we don't see any blistering, than one year, almost everything blisters. 20 year old boats that have never had any issues seem to blister. I have never had any of my Formulas unprotected, so I can not say that Formula boats do not blister. I highly recommend the Interlux barrier cote with bottom paint for your application. Cheap insurance.
 
Thanks for all the input, sounds like it's more common than a person realizes. I feel confident with the people fixing it.
 
I just bought my 2002 370SS from a guy on Lake Ontario. Very clean boat but when I got it down to NJ, my hauler told my it had blisters. They are hard to see and not everywhere . The surveyed apparently missed this as there is nothing in his report about it other than a general statement that the haul is in good shape. He saw it only out of the water too. I am going to bottom paint since I'm in salt water. I wonder now if I should repair before coating over, or will my paint seal it?
 
A hull can look great when first pulled out of the water, the blisters can show up anywhere up to a few days later.

If the blisters where not opened and dried out, the water will cause the paint to come off later, and the water will continue to work its way into the hull
 
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