topside blisters

[JSmith]

As some might know we had a huge alwgrip job done last spring on MUSKRAT- a few might have heard that when we hauled her last fall and put her across the street she grew a large number of blisters- from 1/8th" up to 1" size- all above the waterline, mainly on the stb side (she was on a mooring all summer) but did face east after the haul out so the stb side faced south.

Before the job she had a few small blisters around the stem, and when the hull was prepped, we got a call to come up to the yard. There we were told to do the job right would now involve high-build & a whole lot of sanding/prep to the tune of $5000 more. Well, ok, we were told if we were just going to own the boat one or two years then just prime and top coat. But if we intended to keep her, the blisters would re appear in 2-3 years without the additional sanding and high build. Obviously we went with the high build.

The sanding/grinding was started May 2nd while the boat was outside. Intermitent work continued and on May 26th the high build was sprayed- multiple coats on that day. From the 2nd to the 26th the humidity ave was 62% and we had 2.5" of rain. The boat had a tarp drapped over it during this time.

From May 26th to June 11th the high build was faired and a small amount of awlfair applied. None of the sanding was started the first week so it was tough as the high build really set up. During this thime the boat was under the same tarp and we had 2" of rain and 72% humidity. On the 11th she was moved into the building (now there was finally room) and fairing was continued and on the 19th of June the 545 primer was applied.
After that the decks & cabin top were done and the final topcoats were applied on July 14th. While in the building there was no heat on.

My question is whether the high build could absosrb moisture while the boat was outside in those conditions. It seems I have read of this here but cann't find it and apologize if I'm asking the same questions twice.

After saying he would take care of the blisters and make it right he wants to split the cost and we pay $5000-again... If this is indigenous to these designs then so be it. But there are tons more blisters than before the job and being told we had to do it to prevent them rubs us the wrong way.

Thanks for any input, Jon

[Tim]

This doesn't really help you now, of course, but to my way of thinking "doing the job right" on a 40 year-old boat should include "high build and a whole lot of sanding/prep" in the first place.

What is the nature of these blisters? Are they in the paint, in the primers, or something inherent to your hull? What was the nature of the blisters that existed before your paint was applied? Are they the same thing, or something different? It sure sounds like there might have been some issues with the prep, with all the rain and whatnot. I don't think the prep and primer stages should have been happening outdoors by a professional.

If you specifically paid extra for additional prep and primers that the boatyard indicated were required to prevent reformation of these blisters, then I really don't see how they could do anything but re-do the job at this point, under one year later. I don't see why it's even up for any negotiation. Maybe I'm missing crucial parts of the situation, but it'd be nice if people would stand behind what they do for even a minimal/reasonable amount of time. An expensive, premium paintjob ought to come with some sort of assurance that it would last longer than one year, particularly when you did exactly what the yard recommended. Sounds like it's their problem, not yours.

(Indignant on your behalf...)

[JSmith]

Thanks for the back up- things are still being looked at and checked to find out how deep the blisters . I hesitate atthis point to fi the coatings due to the time of year and the need to have the boat inside.