500 ROTTEN, FESTERING Blisters!! - Blister Repair on a Fiberglass Sail boat! (Patrick Childress 59)

[@RVLifeNOW]

Have you ever seen so many blisters on one boat? Have you had this problem on your boat? Would it be worthwhile in your opinion, to do a blister repair on a boat like this? Or would you just buy a nice boat with no blisters on her? Please leave a comment below...anything to do with blisters or blister repair...or just say hi!

[@fixento]

You have more than blistering, it appears the boat is also delaminating, the layers of cloth are separating. I owned and raced a 1976 Santana on Lake Erie, and I've seen her hull recently. She is not blistering, still racing and goes through the harsh winters. I also owned and raced a 1970, 40 foot R boat on Lake Erie that had some blistering located in areas of stress, [she is 6.5 feet wide with 17 inches of freeboard, 16 K with 8.5 in the keel] with a few reappearing at various locations but never anything like what is on your boat. In the R fleet, Cotton Blossom was built in 1954, she was the largest fiberglass boat at the time, DOD assisted in her cost since a mold had to be built and she does not have the blistering like your boat. Don't blame it on the era, something was drastically wrong when they laid her keel in the mold.

[@brotherbrovet1881]

You tested the hull for moisture penetration before and after. That's critical. Can't comment on remarks above. I'm done with fiberglass after getting burned on my last one. Looks like you did a great job of it. So much work. Ever looked at HDPE as a substitute for fiberglass and glass over ply? Just curious. It didn't really exist in quantity until 20+ yrs ago. Recycled Milk Jugs and plastic soft drink bottles. I'm very familiar with the material from another industry and am looking to start some experiments.

[@johnpalmer5131]

Yes I have this kind of severe blistering. The problem with this repair is that it requires a tremendous amount hand labor which would cost too much in most locals not to mention the environmental restrictions imposed in many countries.

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@fixento Just Google blister era Valiant 40. There is a lot of information there.

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@brotherbrovet1881 Sorry to hear of you bad boat experience. Sometimes even paying a dollar for a boat is too much. No, I can't imagine using HDPE as it seems as though it would be difficult to get to stick to fiberglass and then difficult to get antifouling to stick to it. For a situation like ours, I prefer to stay with epoxy and good cloth....known materials. Maybe HDPE for antifouling?

[@HandyMan657]

Rest in peace, sir. You will be missed. Thank you for your knowledge and conversation. We all love you Rebecca please keep going.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Ok...Thanks! Still struggling with videos but doing it. Still sailing even if a bit still broken...Hope u still watching...

[@TheSpartanPaul]

With everything made these days being disposable. Its nice to see someone who has pride in something to restore it.

[@RVLifeNOW]

The cost of doing this work, in some foreign countries, certainly makes it all affordable and makes for an appreciated asset where new boats only loose value. Thanks for your comment.

[@glassman51]

Hi Patrick and Rebecca, you guys are my heroes and I absolutely love your videos. My skill set is quite large but I still learn something from every video you publish.I am 62 and going to shovel off in a year and a half and I often wonder if I am too old for the adventure. After watching this video and learning your age I am fearless once again and anxious to join the cruising community,Thank you and I can’t wait for part two, cheers

[@RVLifeNOW]

Glassman, when you leave on your sailboat, I sure hope you don't run into repairs like we have had to do....but it does help to keep an old guy in shape, running grinders and being on ones feet 12 hours a day.

[@lindahenderson3819]

I miss Patrick. He was so knowledgeable, and was quick to share it with anyone interested. Always the teacher.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes such a teacher. Even a video about hull blisters, he can make interesting!!!

[@xenophagia]

When he said he hopes hes around to see it, it crushed my heart.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Oh god, I forgot about that part of the video. I’m gonna go watch it again.

[@mintolost]

I had a 1976 Valiant 40 for over 30 years; just sold her a couple of years ago and it felt like I amputated a leg. We had some blisters that we had repaired in the 90s. She was out of the water for over a year. Eventually tiny ones came back. The biggest ones were the size of a half dollar and most just looked like water droplets unless you looked a little closer. We sailed her in the Pacific Northwest so colder climate probably helped keep them under control. Your blisters definitely were way worse than ours. We had so many adventures and she took such good care of us. My dad and I sailed together until he died at 84 from cancer. He was sailing until 5 weeks before he died. I swear that boat kept him going. Such happy memories for me. Anyway, loved the video. Wish we had had your skills...we spent about 20 grand on the repair job. But dad bought her for 75 grand in 86 and I sold her for 55 grand, obviously less because she was a blister boat. But she was so solid and so seaworthy and just a gorgeous fun boat to sail. I miss her so much. And my dad. So, I would absolutely say an old seaworthy blister boat was worth it. She brought joy!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Very nice story, mintolost and these sailboats do build a fun life and great memories. We will keep crossing oceans till we can, no more.

[@RVLifeNOW]

nice! Blisters don’t stop you from sailing until they get even well worse than ours were...and they make the boat affordable for those of us without deep pockets. We hope we never have to do another blister repair job every again. But if we do...I’m sure we will. Becuase yea...an awesome sailboat and home we have!

[@mintolost]

@@RVLifeNOW oh and by the way we had two seafaring cats aboard who also loved the life. One lived to be 21 and spent most of her life aboard Glamorgan. The other one is still with me and we do kayak camping now. He is Elijah the Adventure Cat! I have subscribed to your channel and I am looking forward to enjoying your adventures with serious jealousy. I think until the day I die I will be regretting that I sold my beloved Valiant. So you keep sailing until you can't!

[@johnlogan1333]

Hi Patrick, pay no attention to the negative comments, you fixed your boat and saved it .wishing you many happy adventures in the future.....

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks John...will pass that on to Patrick who honestly doesn’t worry much about what people think anyways. Who would think a movie about blister repairs would get so many comments, both negative and positive? -Rebecca

[@johnharrison2466]

Ive made a life and raised my children fixing things for a living everything, people or mechanical always deserves a second chance to become its former glory again you guys went above and beyond you did an excellent job she looks beautiful !!!!!!

[@StonyRC]

Sir, I greatly admire your calm and measured approach to what looked to me like an HORRENDOUS task! So much work and time involved, but it's wonderful to see a boat saved and the job done PROPERLY rather than just scrapping her and looking for another. MASSIVE respect to you.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Stony, Thank you for your nice comment. Such encouragement helps to keep us motivated.

[@jiefflerenard1228]

You are a strong man Patrick. I would have just fallen to my knees and cried.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Me too

[@jiefflerenard1228]

So many good innovations since the 1970" days of fiberglass .So many fight I had trying to keep cloth "in line" , this biaxial seems like a gift from the gods Kudos for introducing the workers by their names ,so often they are shown as backstage accessories .It might even give them a little boost in their profession .

[@RVLifeNOW]

So true..they were great guys. One guy even called after Patrick passed and cried hard when I told them the news was true.

[@sailingmariposa7887]

“We’ll see what happens in 20 years, hopefully I’m around to see it”. . . thank you for your knowledgeable contributions

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for continuing to watch Patrick's videos...he sure did make some great ones!!!

[@nextworld9176]

Perfect video. I worked in a boat factory for a year, making fiberglass yachts. Your practical tips and technical explanations were exactly right on. We need more like this.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Nextworld. Glad to hear some encouragement on our blister repair job! -Rebecca

[@dmack1827]

What a massive undertaking. My shoulders couldn't handle it but with a little paid help, it makes a lot of sense to take it on.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks watching! I wonder why a sailboat blister repair video would be so popular? -Rebecca

[@dmack1827]

Patrick Childress Sailing I was really curious about the non-osmosis cause. I had a Fraser 30 I sold two years ago. Similar vintage so I am wondering if it was osmosis or a resin issue. Interesting anyways.

[@Stoic-of-Rome]

What a soul destroying situation. Great resolve and ethos. Wow what a great job you have done.

[@yukon4511]

Thank you so much for a wonderful video Patrick. You are truly a talent. You will be missed.

[@RVLifeNOW]

He was so great at making these how to videos. Yep…I miss him every day!!

[@westsail.makroro]

Looking up repair fibreglass repairs and youcame up. I had heard of you both and Patrick’s passing. He keeps teaching us new young sailors. Love it.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Ah thanks for letting me know… I’m glad…

[@soggybottom3463]

Superb video making light of a massive project. Densely packed information, showing true professional skills and tips, unmissable viewing - Skipper, you must have the patience of a saint. Congratulations to all and props to the excellent craftsmen at Richard's Bay.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes...I think they are all officially blister repair specialists now...or at least blister treatment specialists ;) -Rebecca

[@jochenpeiper6797]

between 1990 and 2004 i PERSONALLY restored and lived aboard 1969 camper and nicholsons 38 ft, ketch , 1982 german frers 38 ft. club racer and 40 ft. 1984 chris craft sport fish also a 76 stingray and 75 alfa romeo spider veloce, always had a paid for bachelor pad and bitchen daily drivers , your repairs are spot on and will last , just turned 65 , my current bachelor pad is 38 ft, motor coach at beach front RV resort with f type jag and car trailer , cheers from PADRE ISLAND TEXAS , fair winds following sea

[@RVLifeNOW]

Jochen, and people slave their life away in the hopes of one day having a water front view. Yet, others live that life without all the grind of a dreaded job. Good on you!

[@davidc6510]

OMG Patrick & Rebecca. That was one heck of a labor of love to get Brick House back to ship shape. Well done Patrick! You did a fantastic job. Totally impressed on your dedication and tenacity of you and your helpers to get all the nasty little blisters sorted properly and get Brick House ship shape! Pretty epic refit of Brick House with a lot of talented help. Thanks for documenting the process. Awesome video. Best Regards...

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for you nice compliment. I’m glad this resin blister repair job is behind us for a decade or two! -Rebecca

[@neemguy81]

Thank you guys for taking the time to produce these informational videos. I had no idea there were so many 'layers' involved in blister repairs.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I’m sure every blister repair is different...but our blister repair job sure did involves lots of layers of fiberglass! -Rebecca

[@keeldragger]

Learned a lot from this video! I though a normal peel job would have been sufficient.. what a project!

[@RVLifeNOW]

A peel job always seemed to be what some facilities have tried to sell but obviously, now, there is more to it than just taking off a thin skin of fiberglass. I think this boat will now be good for a very long time.

[@patrickhackett3878]

Actually, it's Herron resin- developed as a fire resistant military application. I did the same restoration on my 1978 Valiant 40, peeling, drying and relaminating with epoxy and Nytex. 20 years later, a few small blisters have formed, but far less and fewer. I am glad that I purchased this boat. There are stories of Valiant 40s stopping marina fires, by working as a fire stop! Actually super safe! Good luck and congratulations!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Patrick, that is good news. Since 1976, when our boat was built, this is the 3rd time the below the water line has been treated for resin blisters and 2nd time for above the water line. Grinding into these blisters to their origin, I have confidence we will have the same longevity as you have had. Previous treatment did not go so deep. Thanks for your information.

[@larryboles629]

What a long, high labor, tedious project. Kudos to you Patrick. There are several ways to go about "fixing" the blisters. All equally tedious. I do think that the process you used is more than sufficient to fix the problem. I sure hope you got em all and don't have to repeat this project in years to come. Onward on your most epic adventure. Be happy, be safe.

[@RVLifeNOW]

There is always that possibility of new blisters forming. I did what I could to find the tiniest ones and that is why we had drill holes with surprisingly little or no delamination or moisture. I think we are good to go, for as long as we could possibly own this boat....we will see. Thanks for your good wishes.

[@8028rsj]

Wow so much amazing information Patrick. Thank your for the attention to detail. You almost always answer the questions that are forming in my mind while I watch.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Glad it was educational and your questions answered. Blister repair...what a dry topic in my opinion...but Patrick’s viewers seem to like this! -Rebecca

[@mysurlytrucker7510]

A great bunch of people you have working there .

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes...they are the reason for our blister repair success! -Rebecca

[@Angeladc79]

Patrick seemed wonderful...I was so sorry to hear of his passing. I am weirdly obsessed with osmotic issues in fiberglass monohulls and this is one of my favorite videos about it. Fair winds and calm waters to you Rebecca.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I Hank you Angela. Patrick was indeed such a good guy.

[@brianjoyce9742]

You obviously cherish this boat. May it serve you well. Props to the fellas helping on, what appears to be, such proper repair work

[@RVLifeNOW]

It is our floating home. Thanks, Brian, for your comment.

[@johnwhite626]

Great advice and video, thanks. Also you very fortunate indeed to have the team that you could trust to do the work correctly.

[@RVLifeNOW]

The guys at Fleet Management were a great asset for sure on this blister repair, and on the Coppercoat too. But they were twice the price of the guys off the street, and some of those guys were super good. Yes, we had the time to find just the right guys as we progressed. Sip, Sipho, Talente, Emmanuel, and a few others were just key for completing this blister repair in a timely manner! -Rebecca

[@johnwhite626]

@@RVLifeNOW Yes I appreciate what it entails to find the best labour available and at the right price to have the project come in at realistic cost, that's where your good management and supervision pay off handsomely.

[@RVLifeNOW]

john white Patrick is amazing at Project Management, and this blister repair project was no different. More importantly because he is working side by side with them at all times,overseeing very detail, working twice as hard most of the time, there is a lot of camaraderie built, and the desire on all people to do the best possible job they can, and nobody is allowed to slack. He didn’t mention it, but we fired at least 3 people along the way for chatting on their cell phones, coming in late, or just not paying enough attention. Patrick is a great guy to work for, unless you stuck. I was the Coca Cola and burgers deliverer every once in a while too. -Rebecca

[@johnwhite626]

@@RVLifeNOW I totally relate to everything you say especially the parts "working side by side" and "twice as hard" with the workforce - often can be trying - but very necessary to get the proper result !

[@brogen100]

your videos are as gold as a hot canadian winter and your techno music skills are hot. i absolutely love your videos

[@user-wr8go9ee2n]

It looked like an overwhelming job. Great information. You give me inspiration and confidence to tackle jobs like that. I also like the fact that you discuss things that don't go right and what you do to overcome. Thanks.

[@RVLifeNOW]

It was overwhelming, but little by little, and with good help, we made progress. Thanks for watching.

[@rachels209]

My trade is not marine but aviation. We use coin tapping to listen for delamination. It is a very easy and reliable way to find and measure areas of separation by the change of a sharp note to a dull thud. I don’t know if a heavy coin would be adequate to hear deep delaminations in a thick boat hull but I think a nice well rounded 1/2 lb ball pein hammer gently tapped on the hull would give satisfactory results. Give it a try on a visible delamination and see if you can ‘hear’ the defect.

[@RVLifeNOW]

That would probably work with fiberglass. But these blisters were quite obvious. After so much work and taking care of all the visual blisters, enough was enough. Thanks for your comment. It will take a long time for any new blisters to show, if they show at all. We will see, and I will report back in 20 years.

[@pateallan7764]

What a huge undertaking. It amazes me what problems will surface after years of owning a boat. Even after a a lot of work from the previous owner (peel job). At least you are doing it yourself.

[@RVLifeNOW]

From what I have seen in many boat yards, a boat owner is far better off doing the work themselves, with good help. A lot of disasters can be avoided that way. Also, doing the work in some foreign countries makes such a project economically feasible. Thanks for your comment.

[@lazydays7470]

I worked at Ericson Yachts for 16 years, and was the customer service manager for my last 5 years there. I dealt with blistering that showed up on boats in the field. The cause of blistering is incomplete catalyzation of the polyester resin during layup of the hull. Keep in mind that the hull is laid up by hand. Long stretches of glass cloth or woven roving ( a very heavy weave cloth)that is 36 inches or more wide are laid on to the mold. Once the resin is catalyzed - usually in 5 gallon batches then there is only 15 minutes of working time. If the resin and catalyst are not thoroughly mixed, then the laminate is going to blister. The best cure is to let the boat dry out and grind out and fill any blisters and then coat the hull with epoxy resin. If I was buying a new boat I would immediately put on a coat of West Systems epoxy resin.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Lazy Days, all good information, thanks. In the case of the blister era Valiants, it was shown that a particular ingredient added to the resin to make the resin flame retardant caused the resin not to cure properly. For a vapor barrier, have you ever thought of using a very thick epoxy such as what is used to coat the floor and walls in a battery charging room or to coat the floor of a ware house where forklifts and other vehicles operate? It is much thicker and enduring than common boat epoxies. It would never be any good for penetrating fiberglass in a layup. Here in S.Africa, such an epoxy has been long used as a barrier coat before applying antifouling. Does this sound worth while?

[@michelebeck4311]

Polyester doesn't cut the mustard.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Michele beck yes...it’s certainly why we used epoxy resin...no polyester. -Rebecca

[@1SeanBond]

I sure enjoy how Patrick just digs in and get the job done! Thanks for all Patrick RIP ... Luv&Peace to you Rebecca i hope today is a better day then yesterday and look forward to seeing more of you & Brick House ...lol best boat name ever!, we are here if you need anything ....🙂✌⚘⚘⚘🇨🇦

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks so much. Appreciate that. Yes...he didn’t take no for an answer...that’s how he was with everything!

[@reverands571]

Excellent tips. As a private boat builder, I have to applaud you. I suspect, that in the USA, this boat would have been sent to a landfill, given the cost for all the work it needed. I applaud you again, for keeping this boat plying the ocean waters for years to come.

[@RVLifeNOW]

In the U.S., they would have wanted to do a peel job as that would have been the most economical but, from what we have experienced, not the best approach. For a fraction of that cost, this blister repair work can be done in Colombia, Fiji and so many other places where the economics make it all viable. Thanks for your comment.

[@williambunting803]

Amazing tenacity, Patrick, you’re a hero and an inspiration. The end result is fabulous. I notice the beautiful deep “v” pilot cutter lines of your hull.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thank you, William. A few more boat projects here in Cape Town, like new lithium batteries and a new water heater and then, hopefully, we can get cruising again!

[@williambunting803]

Patrick Childress Sailing. Looking forward to your battery install video. I’ve just taken delivery of my Victron 5Kwhr energy kit but will not be installing it for a month or so. My plan is to fit an Aero6Gen wind generator because the are mostly silent, though their power is less impressive. I’m keen to see any “ living aboard” videos (cooking, having friends aboard, playing cards, navigating, using the radio, provisions you like to buy (and don’t buy), etc,....... and looking forward to more sailing videos.

[@ErikWilliams-zt6ff]

Running into the same thing with my 1979 Morgan 382. Overwelming some days. Very helpful info you are sharing here. Thank you.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Good luck! it’s such an awful job. It won’t be forever though and someday your boat will be pretty, floating, and ready to go sailing!

[@speedfinder1]

I have to congratulate you on your approach. Systematic and thorough is the only real way to go! ..... I'm on in my 50s and I don't think I would still have the energy to do a proper job of repairing this type of fault. Big thumbs up, the finished result is one to be proud of!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Greg, it did take a lot of energy getting up early and working every day with the helpers. Nice to sit back and sleep in a bit now. Hopefully this will be the last major project for this boat. Thanks for your comment.

[@PanzerDave]

What a great video! I was very impressed with not just the quality of the work being done, but also the quality of the video, in particular the detailed explanation of what was being done and why. This is very helpful, enjoyable to watch, and informative. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for your nice comment, Panzer.

[@functionalartwork]

I'm currently refitting a 30' siedleman. Removed all the bottom paint and found hundreds of blisters and small cracks in the gelcoat. I was convinced that a gelcoat shaver was the only fix. After watching your video and reading the comments I'm going to start grinding out the blisters just as you did. One blister at a time, never looking at how many are left but counting the ones I have conquered. Great, informative video. Thank you very much.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Below the water line you most likely have osmotic blisters. I know someone who is doing the same as you, dealing with them one at a time rather than doing a peel job. Flip a coin. I hope it all goes well, and fast for you.

[@strietermarinesurvey1415]

If they are not dried properly they will come back and your work and money is wasted! Do more studying or hire a consultant!

[@TrailRider650]

Not a sailor but learning! Hoping to get my captainship after I retire to Thailand. Having this treasure trove of information at the push of a button is priceless. I never met Patrick but I miss him immensely. I truly hope there is something after we leave this mortal coil and I hope that Patrick is sailing and sharing his knowledge and is happy. RIP Patrick.

[@atschris]

A great recap of what must have appeared to be a daunting task and the patience of a saint. Looks like you had some great help along the way.

[@RVLifeNOW]

It is one of those boat jobs that looks difficult to start then spirals. One day at a time, with good help, and we could see a lot of daily progress. It was all worth it. Thanks for your comment.

[@neilphelan5296]

well done Patrick .... a lot of people would not have tackled that mamoth task. and more so, you have given the yacht a new chance in life ---

[@RVLifeNOW]

There is always speculation with these old blister boats as to whether the blisters are a structural problem or just cosmetic and can be left alone. Whatever, I feel much better with things being patched up and not having to speculate. Thanks, Neil, for your comment.

[@Ody-up6kg]

I love watching skilled craftsmen!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Me too :)

[@sdvten]

I always enjoy seeing an old boat get new life.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Well...watch the next video to see what happened with the hull blisters. Out next week ;) -Rebecca

[@lyfandeth]

If you start a hole saw in reverse, it scores a ring that will trap and hold the blade when you switch back into forward.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Now you tell me. 😀 Hopefully I won't have any more blisters to try that out on, but the tip will be well remembered.

[@faircompetition1203]

You can also first drill a hole in some wood then use the hole as a guide for the hole saw without the drill bit in it , make it large enough to have a handle to hang on too

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@faircompetition1203 Sounds like you did not watch that part of the video?

[@faircompetition1203]

@@RVLifeNOW Been a while since I watched it , comment came up on notifications - is that what you did - don't recall .

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@faircompetition1203 This is a new video. Thanks for watching the other one though.

[@MrOlddave]

I had a guy at my marina with the same issue. He sanded down the blisters and filled them with autobody filler. What a mess. Autobody filler is totally porous and never meant to be underwater. Anyway, he finished, painter it and headed for South America . I named it the SS Colindar.

[@RVLifeNOW]

There was a contractor here in the yard who said if he were doing this job he would just fill all those craters with putty! And that putty would have been some sort of polyester. I could not believe what I was hearing. Thanks for your comment.

[@patrickhackett3878]

Patrick's last big boat project--and a nasty one! God's speed, my friend.

[@RVLifeNOW]

That’s for sure!

[@ratusbagus]

You'll be around in 20 years Pat. You just made a warrantee. Get well as soon as you can mate.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yeah I told him to hurry up. This isn’t a holiday to say the least...

[@faqtum]

I had the same problems with my boat. Thank you for this excelent video. Good stuf

[@RVLifeNOW]

We’re you able to cure your blisters, or has it simply been a treatment that returns? -Rebecca

[@jacoreyneke]

I love this blog, i left my native SA a long time ago, but in my student years i used to work in a factory building houseboats alongside incredibly skilled men who trained on the job and did an excellent job at fiberglass, cabinet making and vacuum press lamination and moulding. I miss those days.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thank you for watching...South Africa is proving to be one of my most favorite countries.

[@jinxharlequin1773]

Sailing Brick House - Rebecca & Patrick Childress I’m so sorry for your loss

[@robinhodgkinson]

Excellent job. Looks like you had a good crew as well.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes...Fleet Management has some tremendous workers..but the ones we found off the street were pretty darn good too, and cheaper. But all of them are the reason for our blister repair success, for sure! -Rebecca

[@tonywpiche2263]

Unbelievable that you have this legacy and knowledge shared. What a life. RIP

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Tony!

[@advancednutritioninc908]

Perseverance wins when many other attributes don't!! Awesome job you did !! Subbed !! Liked !!

[@RVLifeNOW]

AN, Thanks for your comment and for subbing.....and like!

[@bullhippo9023]

Damn, I feel a lot better about our boat now! I am recoreing the deck, everywhere I grind a tapper for glass there are large delaminates areas in the glass. Now the repair gets bigger and bigger and .....I guess I have company in my grief

[@RVLifeNOW]

Bull, what make of boat do you have and what year is it? Nearly all the side decks of our boat have been ripped out because of saturated balsa. A lot of that is now solid fiberglass. Doing this work in foreign countries, where the labor costs far less than in the U.S., makes it possible.I can't imagine what else will ever need to be fixed on this boat.....but boats can have a terrible list of surprises.

[@bullhippo9023]

@@RVLifeNOW my boat is an 1981 Oday 25, not really in the same class as yours . But strangely it suffers the same ploblems? The delaminations I have all through the deck may be from poor building . The surface of the glass/resin is shinny in the void areas.the layers never made contact with one another.your boat is worth the repairs,mine is a throw away boat. But I did decide to repair it. I have alot of glass experience from the aviation industry,so the work is not new to me. There is an individual were I work who has a powerboat catamaran that has the same issues in his glass laminate,his boat was made in the 1990's. I am starting to think it is a production flaw. Boat companies hire unskilled labor at the cheapest price. Who knows how much experience or understanding the person had who laminated our boats . If you grow tired of your boat ,I will trade with you ! Lol

[@alanduffy7993]

Thanks, very interesting and informative video. Great trick with the hole saw using plywood guide, definitely putting that in my memory bank....

[@RVLifeNOW]

For the hole saw, someone else suggested to run the drill in reverse to first etch in a hole as a guide. Thanks for watching.

[@MattyMattnj1]

Oh man I remember having to do this bottom job on my 31 tiara in the middle of one of the hottest Summers here in New Jersey! I feel your pain on this one lol... I used a small Dremel die grinder to grind out each and every blister which were thousands and then use a similar two-part epoxy to fill and then I went with awlgrip with a feather and tip method for the final paint. I am a general contractor and I take on all types of projects and to this day I consider that one of the hell jobs of my career LOL great videos by the way Pat you seem like you know what you're doing and I really enjoy binge-watching your adventures as I can relate to all the maintenance in the Boating World! Keep up the good work stay safe 👍

[@raaah]

Bless you! No one would go through all that did for this small boat

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelMechsner]

As always, love your videos - chock full of great information, and explained thoroughly. Thank you.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thank you for your tip 5 minutes ago! We appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed this video. Blister repair doesn’t rate very high on my interest level, but people do seem to be liking it! -Rebecca

[@bevantweedie5129]

Having worked in boat yard on Gold Coast Australia have done many blister and osmosis repairs. Time consuming repairs but worth the effort.Im not a fan of machining the hull ,much prefer to repair by grinding out and glassing same as you do.Keep up the great work.Time to enjoy the boat now.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I am happy to hear my off the cuff blister repair approach is similar to what you more experienced pros do. Yes, now we can cross some more oceans and head for Tierra Del Fuego with no worries about the boat. Thanks for your comment.

[@UmadumSailing]

Great instructional video, Patrick, well done, now have fun in SA and Namibia

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks Umadum, we won't be moving fast but maybe we will catch up to you!

[@EgilWar]

I had a C&C 41 which had many blisters. Patching estimates was approaching that of a new fiberglass laminate skin and with the possibility of missing some blisters we went for a complete re skin.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I would be very curious as how well it all worked out for you and if the applicators gave a guarantee.

[@dodgefree1400]

The perseverance of boat folks amazes me. Like a rotten F150 is there ever a point at which you throw in the towel? Great video.

[@RVLifeNOW]

This shows how forgiving fiberglass can be. There is nothing structurally wrong here. But definitely some old boats should be left alone as the repair cost more than the boat is worth. There are much newer steel boats in haul out yards around the world that will never float again....fiberglass is far more forgiving.

[@dodgefree1400]

@@RVLifeNOW I imagine with the modern materials it is stronger after the repairs. Best wishes on your next venture out!

[@sollasollew3208]

Nice job Patrick

[@zippyearth]

Wow what a job! True Captain that saves the ship!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes, He’s my hero! -Rebecca!

[@BrianAz]

I dont know how I got here, but it was fascinating and educational! I would love to know what this cost you but that is, of course, a personal question that not everyone cares to share. I used to work for Sea Ray boats many years ago. I worked as a maintainer of the molds and the experienced guys worked on the large fiberglass repairs. The skill is high and much respect to these guys! I have a 21' Bass boat and hope I outlive and need to do things like this to her! Thanks for sharing!

[@RVLifeNOW]

It would take a long time to go through all our receipts and worker time cards to figure that out. Maybe one day we will. But I’d estimate about $2000 labor for 5 months, and about $1,500 in materials, but that’s a wild guess. South Africa is a good place to do a blister repair job on a sailboat, though the visa renewals make it a little problematic. Colombia, Fiji, Malaysia are also good blister repair locations because of the reasonable labor rates -Rebecca

[@raymondheath7668]

Wow, that's an extensive amount of blistering. I hadn't realized there were alternatives to the standard fiberglass resin back in the 70's. I had done a little fiberglass work back then but nothing like a boat!

[@RVLifeNOW]

The builder of this boat was also making power boats for the U.S. military, in which a fire retardant resin was required. They used the same resin for making the sailboats and unfortunately, it did not work out.

[@jhcali71]

I would fix them. We bought a Catalina 30, that hadn’t been showed much love and have decided to set her right. We got a great deal on her, and don’t have the scale of issues you have had on you boat, but it still at times get a bit overwhelming. I get a lot of inspiration and information watching your videos, and it is much appreciated!

[@RVLifeNOW]

The Catalina 30 is a good, worth wile, boat to set right. Thanks for your comment.

[@z_actual]

thanks Patrick I thought I knew everything about this but still found plenty of things I just didnt know at all, for one I thought osmosis was the only cause even small details like laying the filler flat on the board so it doesnt heat up thank you ...

[@RVLifeNOW]

SV Zaya, I am happy the video was a help.

[@Jack-wr5wg]

Best video on blister repairs. ❤

[@RVLifeNOW]

Wow, thanks! Yeah he went through a lot to fix those… and to film it too!!!

[@stephtraveler7378]

peelply is an awesome product. I started using it after i first heard about it... halfway through my blister overhaul project.

[@RVLifeNOW]

It is like a miracle product that saves so much terrible sanding. Amazing that someone didn't invent this long ago. Now it seems so obvious. Thanks for your comment.

[@MrZachalewel]

That's a good lookin boat!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Haha..you mean before or after the blister repairs?

[@PanzerDave]

@@RVLifeNOW Good looking before, great looking after!

[@rogerbayzand4455]

I must have done one of the first blister repairs in the mid 60's. There was little known at the time and the recommendation was to grind out the blisters and use a polyester filler(P38) to fair the hull then seal with two pack polyurethane. I can't imagine it lasted too long, I would think your epoxy/fibreglass repairs will be the best parts of the hull.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes, they have learned a lot about fiberglass and repairs since those early years. There is so much epoxy on this boat, throughout, it is a far better boat than the day it rolled out of the factory. Thanks for your comment.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

A lot of mid 70s fiberglass boats suffered from the oil embargo. In Annapolis there are a lot of boatyards that have job security due to this exact problem. It's labor intensive, so if your game and the yard will let you, do as much of the labor as possible.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Donald Parlett jr Deale Maryland is where we had the first blister repair job done, in 2001, from the water line down. One of the best yards in the country to have it done. $25,000 worth. Yes...definitely better to do a blister repair job yourself with lots of helpers. And obviously it doesn’t come out better even if you hire a pro to do it. So why not do it yourself....oh yeah...the blister repair job must be the god most awful boat repair job we ever did! -Rebecca

[@JamesW971]

good video Patrick, glad I never had to do anything like this to my boat, so much work, good job.

[@RVLifeNOW]

James, great to hear from you. At least now I think all the major issues have been dealt with on this boat. Now we can start enjoying cruising again! Just arrived in Hout Bay, on the other side of Table Mountain from Cape Town. Great tourist area and very scenic. Hope you are doing well!

[@retiredinbali9565]

Kudos for a daunting task well done. It would be too overwhelming for me at 66 years old.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Patrick has amazing energy levels to tackle a blister repair job like this, for sure! -Rebecca

[@reloadncharge9907]

Excellent video Mr Patrick! Big job! And looking pretty fine....thanks, Andrew

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks...glad to have these blisters gone for a while. I was about to rename her freckles...or zits...-Rebecca

[@DStrayCat69]

Wow! Fantastic work :-) Btw: On Facebook, I recently joined the Robert Perry Fan Club. Knowing that Brick House (BH) is a RP design, I pay close attention to his most recent work as well as boats the age of BH... It's all great knowledge and I look forward to Part 2... :-)

[@RVLifeNOW]

Glad to hear that. Blisters era sailboats certainly can be bought for a lot less, but people need to know the work that may be ahead for them when they buy a boat with resin blisters, that’s for sure! -Rebecca

[@RVLifeNOW]

PS..Would you mind sharing this video on the Facebook site. For some reason Facebook is not allowing us to share it. I’m sure a number of people would like to see that there. -Rebecca

[@DStrayCat69]

@@RVLifeNOW Consider it done :-)

[@DStrayCat69]

@@RVLifeNOW I just asked if I could Post it in the RP Fan Club Group... Waiting for a response... :-)

[@DStrayCat69]

I posted your video to the RP Fan Club and have been getting a lot of feedback... Not Negative - just informative... One member posted that, "...a fire retardant resin called Hetron was used on a few of the Valiant 40’s and 32’s.." Another suggested that, "...they are not osmotic blisters. From my reading, uncatalyzed resin is hyper osmotic and pulls the water into the laminate." If there are any other responses, I'll pass them on... Btw: Bob Perry said that he's suspect of some of the feedback... I think he's referring to the second bit about "Osmotic Blisters"... He didn't qualify it...

[@smyers8535]

Congratulations on the repair, looks like a fine job. It's remarkable how our boats (mine is an early 80's Panda 40, similar to BH) can still be actively cruising (not being a museum piece) even as they reach their fourth or fifth decade. The financial dynamic is unlike anything else I know. You can literally sink 2X the purchase price into maint items, and the selling price would barely budge. But... it would still be well worth it vs the cost of buying new. Old fiberglass boats: low cost, high value. As long as it's actively maintained, I think BH should last indefinitely.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I could never imagine paying the cost of a new boat. Used is a far better value. Every world cruising boat that we know of, that was properly maintained, that was put up for sail after a circumnavigation, sold instantly for near the asking price. That is a secondary motivation for making sure everything is right on this boat. The cost of doing this work, in many of these foreign countries, makes the financial equation work out very favorably in the boat owners favor. Thanks for your comment.

[@marcvuilleumier1322]

Bravo à toute l'équipe pour ce beau travail ! J'apprécie beaucoup toutes ces explications détaillées. 👍

[@RVLifeNOW]

Merci d'avoir regardé et de votre gentil commentaire.

[@hallofo8107]

Very nicely done - that's a lot of hard work that will serve you well for years to come!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks, Hallofo. We feel very good about the repairs. Maybe this will be encouragement for others to do blister repairs and fix up old boats in locations which makes such work affordable. Thanks for your comment.

[@batto1962]

Great respect for your skills, patience and hard work. I have done a 22 foot sailyacht suffering from osmose myself and that was a lot of work. 👍👍👍

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks fo RT our comment on our rotten blisters video. -Rebecca

[@shanebrowne2439]

A tip for future... hire a good quality infrared (thermography) camera or a service provider. A quick scan of the hull would have picked up the small temperature change of the blisters. Food for thought 🙂

[@RVLifeNOW]

Interesting theory. Do you know if there is one in South Africa? How much do those run? -Rebecca

[@shanebrowne2439]

Patrick Childress Sailing hi pat rich. I am from Australia so can not help with a Soutth African service provider for thermal imagining. I am certified thermographer in Australia and are fairly confident a good quality infrared camera would be able to detect the temperature difference of a blister that has air or water trapped from the main hull. I’m am sure if you contacted any condition monitoring in SA they could help. Could save many hours of physical work to find blisters. Or perhaps you could try purchasing an entry level infrared camera which these days are quiet cheap. Look for one that has a resolution of at lease 0.5 degrees C. If you can not not find the blisters with it you can use it on your yacht for checking any temperatures ie motor. Water. Oil etc. good luck. Shane

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks, we have one..maybe that would have been an interesting experiment, though I’m not sure on the quality of ours. Patrick May try it on the parts that are above the water line one of these fine days. -Interesting way to find blisters ;) -Rebecca

[@RobertSuttonOfAnacortes]

A 70s Valiant. Can't think of any other model/era with such bad blister problems (probably THE issue that sank maker UniFlite). Kudos for your resolve.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Yes, it was a sad, unforeseeable problem which did initiate the demise of Valiant....for a while.

[@juanlynching3807]

I learned something new again!!!!!! Thanks, Patrick.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks for watching.

[@luism.raposo5138]

I wish you many more years of life on the ocean. Thanks for your help.

[@СергейВасильев-е7и8с]

Спасибо хорошему человеку который вставил русские титры👍

[@RVLifeNOW]

В этом случае хорошим человеком является Ребекка. Она усердно работает, чтобы получить переводы. Мы только надеемся, что перевод точен. Спасибо за просмотр нашего видео.

[@crapthisisalongusern]

Next time you do this use denatured alcohol, it will draw out the water and you will not have to wait so long. You could also use a shop-vac and a large suction cup to draw out the moister in each blister. Very well done, I loved your video.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Very good ideas to help with blister repairs... Thanks.

[@984francis]

Wow! That's an impressive undertaking.

[@RVLifeNOW]

I am glad it is over with! Thanks for your comment, 984.

[@louisvanrijn3964]

Hi , comment nr 400 is here. If you apply vacuum, under a taped plastic blanket, the remaining water in the blister and laminate cooks away very fast. That are physics: At 0.05 bar pressure the boil-boundary of water is 36 degrees C. If you can apply lesser pressure (more vacuum) on a hot day, all the water is gone within an hour. Pressures higher than 0.05 bar can be applied , but the drying will take longer. Working on a hot summer day is preferred. You will have to shift the vacuum blanket from spot to spot to dry the complete hull. Use tacky-tape to seal the blanket on the hull. And a good, professional vacuum pump. You end with a cork-dry laminate to work on, assuring best adhesion to the repair laminate. Succes (for the next boat.) Louis van Rijn, the Netherlands.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Louis, thanks for being an even number 400 commenter on this video! Thanks for your vacuum bagging information. Possibly someone else doing this work can set up the system to make their drying process faster. A very good idea.

[@MarksWorldofEngravingandMore]

Had a Cheoy Lee with a similar problem but it was pretty much only below the waterline. Ground out the blisters ( about a quarter of an inch in) and let it dry out for about a year. I rinsed with fresh water every week until it was dry. Fixed the blisters with polyester let it offgas awhile and then sealed with epoxy which I believe at the time was mad by Shell I rolled on the bottom paint while the epoxy was still tacky.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Sounds like you did a very thorough job. I’m sure it will last for many years! thanks for watching this channel.

[@ameringer1]

Good morning and happy Sunday, i really enjoyed your video and appreciate your patience and take on things, as well as your willingness to take things on. Just for grins i started reading the comments and had to stop after the first few. Thank you for sharing this experience.

[@RVLifeNOW]

Comments like yours help to keep our motivation up. Thanks!

[@rwess]

Wow, the name of that game is perseverance!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Roy, I built a boat once, and that was a tremendous amount of work. Fixing them can be difficult but a lot faster and easier than starting from scratch.

[@rwess]

@@RVLifeNOW I hear you - and there is always the pride of accomplishment when the job is well done. Also, that hull design alone is worth the effort of fixing it. (My 2nd, and last, boat was a LaFitte 44 - similar design below the water.)

[@RVLifeNOW]

@@rwess I have a friend who owned a LaFitte 44. I helped him paint it. I like that boat a lot and would not mind owning one. Perry did use the same, below the water line, Valiant concept on the LaFitte 44 including the same bronze skeg boot.

[@cathytodd3996]

Amazing job, thanks for sharing,

[@RVLifeNOW]

Thanks, Catoodle for watching.

[@tamaralee4108]

In the late 1970's Uniflight Boats were famous for severe hull blisters. The problem was determined to be a fire retardant additive that included bromine. The bromine dissolved the resin over time. There was no cure beyond continued repair of blisters as they occurred. There is extensive info on this on the internet. Google Uniflight boat resin blistering, or similar. Greg

[@RVLifeNOW]

Over the next 20 years, it will be interesting to see what happens with this hull.

[@mandostudent]

You are definitely tougher than I am! I would be boat shopping with the added experience of the present situation!

[@RVLifeNOW]

Hopefully this is the last of the major problems with this boat so we can settle back a bit and enjoy cruising. It isn't always sun drenched decks and exotic ports.

[@murrat]

Looks like a big job. Thanks for sharing.

[@gwwinder]

We have a Valiant 32 with blisters. We would not have been able to afford such a stout seaworthy boat if not for the blisters. However, being a boat that has spent most of it's life in a colder climate, the blisters are much smaller, but, MUCH more numerous. When we tackle our blister job, we will be looking for some way to drill out, or grind many smaller areas quickly. I was imagining a drill bit that looks like a counter-bore bit, but, has a 1-in-12 bevel, and is about 3 inches in diameter. I will need to think about that for a while...

[@RVLifeNOW]

Maybe a peel job for your blisters will be sufficient? If they are small blisters ...maybe they are not deep blisters? -Rebecca

[@markbailey6051]

I look at small blisters like bumps on a golf ball, they are not detrimental to the structure and maybe make the boat go faster. As far as a peel gose, you are weakening the hull. Apply bottom paint and go sailing. If I attack a blister I use a skill saw and rake the blade carefully, faster and effective.