Boat Osmosis on a Hull Bottom

Thinking about a buying a boat and want to know if the little blisters on the fiberglass bottom are a big deal? Maybe you already own a boat and now you are starting to see small osmotic blisters appear. What are they ? Are they bad? How did this happen? If I am shopping for a used boat should I avoid osmosis on a hull? In this video we will cover:
1. How to spot osmosis on a boat hull. 0:53
2. How osmosis occurs. 1:23
3. Issues with having a boat with osmosis blisters. 3:06
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[@boatinglessons]

Have you owned a boat that has bad osmosis? How did it affect your boating?

[@Thomas-gc4xb]

I as a fiberglass tech of 40 years and having been trained by Gougeon Brothers West System, Mini-Craft and many other fiberglass/gel workshops and technical courses, this video was very good at explaining a blistered boat, but I think you missed the boat on what causes the majority of blistered boats. I have repaired hundreds of blistered boats over the years and peeled complete hulls and epoxied many, many boats and all of my training has taught me that the blisters come from a boat that had uncured or improperly catalyzed resin that then, and because gel coat is porous, mixes with water and that in turn turns into a gas; the gas then expands and the weakest link is the gel coat. That is why a boat may have blisters. A void in the hull can get water trapped inside it and freeze in the northern states causing a blister but it is the exception rather than the rule. It’s the uncured resin and water that make a gas that primarily causes blistering.

[@mattiasarnesson2284]

Good and informative, as always! Keep up the good work!

[@boatinglessons]

Thanks for the encouragement Mattias!

[@mikeb8688]

Thank you for this useful information much appreciated

[@boatinglessons]

Our pleasure Mike! Glad it was helpful :-)

[@patl.5504]

Interesting !

[@boatinglessons]

Thanks for saying so Pat!

[@suzieandrews1840]

I have randomly found this video due to my hot tub having the same issue 😂

[@toupsclassroomtoupsclassro9557]

had a guy who knew fiberglass and boats and said to just drill a small hole around the drain plug and the water would find its way out? do you agree?

[@tomf4547]

Thanks, my minds at rest. If osmosis isn't an issue I'll leave well alone.

[@gabereiser]

I wish buyers knew this

[@btgym]

If the gelcoat is not waterresistent why is used under waterline. Why not epoxy instead?

[@averageguydude3833]

Boats are usually made of Polyester resin and gelcoat because it's cheaper.
The downside is then risk of osmosis.