Osmotic.blistering - Four winns FUNSHIP Owner's Manual

structural.integrity.of.the.boat..In.most.cases,.they.are.
cosmetic.and.can.be.treated..Cosmetic.surface.dam-
age.can.be.repaired.as.follows:
1. S and the surrounding area with medium or fine grit
sandpaper..Clean.all.marine.growth,.dirt,.antifoul-
ing.paint,.etc..from.the.immediate.area..DO.NOT.
excessively.scratch.or.gouge.the.surrounding.area.
2.. . U se.a.hard,.pointed.tool.to.open.the.gel.crack..
Take.care.not.to.damage.the.surrounding.gel.coat.
3.. . S and.the.crack.or.gouge.so.the.edges.are.smooth.
and.will.allow.proper."feathering".of.the.area.
4.. . C lean.the.area.thoroughly..Make.sure.the.area.is.
dry.before.proceeding.
NOTICE
Be sure the structure and the ambient tem-
perature are above 0 degrees F ( degrees
C) and the relative humidity below 0%
immediately before, during, and after the
repair.
5.. . I f.the.nick.or.gouge.is.deep.and.penetrates.
through the gel coat, fill the area with fiberglass
patching.paste..Follow.the.directions.on.the.can.
when.mixing.the.paste.with.the.catalyst.
6. A fter the gouge is filled and has dried, sand the
patched area. Begin by using medium-fine grade
sandpaper. Progressively use finer grade sandpa-
per.until.the.surface.is.very.smooth..If.necessary,.
add filler and then sand the surface again.
7. A pply two or three light coats of matching fiber-
glass.gel.coat.to.the.repaired.area..Enough.gel.
coat.should.be.used.so.that.the.entire.area.is.
covered.
The.gel.coat.must.be.catalyzed.using.up.to.2%.MEK.
Peroxide.which.can.be.purchased.at.a.supplier.han-
dling fiberglass reinforced products. Contact your Four
Winns.dealer.for.assistance.
8.. . A fter.ample.drying.time,.sand.the.area.using.very.
fine wet/dry sandpaper. If the appearance of the
area.is.still.not.satisfactory,.repeat.steps.2.through.
8.as.necessary.
9.. . I f.above.the.waterline,.polish.the.area.using.a.
fiberglass rubbing compound and then wax. If
the.repaired.area.is.below.the.waterline,.the.area.
should.be.primed.and.painted.in.accordance.with..
the.antifouling.paint.manufacturer's.instructions.
Fiberglass and Hull - Section P
Gel.coat,.like.paint,.will.change.colors.with.time.
and.exposure.to.sunlight.(ultraviolet)..For.this.rea-
son,."matching".gel.coat.obtained.from.Four.Winns.
may.not.match.the.gel.color.of.a.boat.that.has.
been.exposed..However,.this.is.the.closest.match.
commercially available. A fiberglass/gel coat tech-
nician.can.tint.the.gel.to.be.used.in.the.repair.to.
provide.a.closer.color.match..
More severe fiberglass damage, especially when
structural,.requires.the.expertise.of.an.experienced.
fiberglass repair technician. See your Four Winns
dealer.for.assistance.
NOTICE
Improper repair techniques can lead to further
fiberglass component damage.
C. Osmotic Blistering
Osmotic.blistering.or."boat.pox".is.an.unfortunate.but.
not uncommon occurrence in fiberglass boats. Fiber-
glass.is.water.retardant,.not.waterproof..When.a.boat.
is left in the water for a period of time, the fiberglass
will.absorb.water..It.is.a.natural.process.that.can.not.
be.eliminated.in.production.methods.or.material.selec-
tion.and.usage..However,.there.are.ways.to.control.
and.possibly.prevent.blisters.(see.Section.P-6)..If.you.
do.encounter.blisters,.be.assured.that.the.blisters.are.
merely.cosmetic..They.do.not.indicate.a.defect.in.the.
boat.structure.or.lamination..Four.Winns,.along.with.
most.boat.manufacturers,.regard.gel.blisters.as.a.
standard.maintenance.item.
The.repair.procedure.for.gel.coat.blisters.is.similar.
to.the.procedures.outlined.in.the.previous.section.on.
cracks.and.gouges..There.is.an.exception.however,.in.
that.the.hull.must.dry.out.for.several.days.or.possibly.
weeks.before.repairs.can.proceed..
To determine if the hull has dried sufficiently, tape one
square.foot.of.household.plastic.wrap.securely.to.the.
hull.bottom..Make.sure.all.edges.are.sealed.and.let.it.
stand.for.twenty-four.hours..If.condensation.has.ac-
cumulated.under.the.plastic,.the.hull.is.still."wet".and.
must.be.allowed.to.dry.longer.before.repairing..
When.the.repair.is.completed,.an.application.of.an.
epoxy.barrier.coat.should.be.considered..This.will.help.
prevent.the.possibility.of.reoccurrence.of.blisters..Your.
Four.Winns.dealer.or.local.ship.store.will.have.informa-
tion.on.barrier.coat.products.
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