[C320-list] Anti Blister protection

[Allan Field]

I talked with Gerry Douglas about this last evening at the Philly Boat Show.
According to Gerry, the 320's are laid up with a 3/16" outer layer of
vinylester.  Vinylester is 100% impervious to water penetration; he was most
adamant about this.  There is no water osmosis through vinylester.  Under
the vinylester is the old polyester that, if water was to get to it, would
react with the resin, form acid and blister.  He was unsure of the year that
the 320 went rubrail-to-rubrail with vinylester but that seems to be
addressed below.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Blue Canute
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 12:02 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Anti Blister protection

Ahh, blisters and the Catalina 320.
Catalina had a major blistering problem on hulls built in late 1995 and 96.
All C320s have been built using vinylester laminate which is a vapor barrier
against osmotic blisters. The blisters that were a problem were not osmotic
blisters and the hull was dry.  The blisters formed in a blue "back up
material" that is between the gelcoat and the "skin coat" (vinylester
resin). There were many, many small blisters the size of a pencil eraser.

I have records, gathered from this list, on 26 hulls between #319 and #419
that reported the problem.
Gerry Douglas published a 2 page detail fix for the problem. The fix was
basically peel the gelcoat including the blue material then rebuild the
outer hull (that is a gross oversimplification). As I understand Catalina
paid for everything.

Sadly, I know more about this than I would like, but Blue Canute has a
bullet proof bottom.
John
John & Jeanine Giddings
Blue Canute   C320  # 380
Greenwich, CT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephane Rousseau" <stephaner at gmail.com>
To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 3:13 PM
Subject: [C320-list] Anti Blister protection


> Hello,
>
> I have a Catalina 320 1998, this year, I have remove all the antifouling
on
> the bottom. It can be a good time to make an antiblister protection
> (Interprotec). I know that some boats and years need it. Does Catalina320
> boat need this protection to be added?
>
> Thank
>
> Stephane
>