[C320-list] 1995 C320 Buyer Information Requested

[Larry Frank]

Pat,

Sorry for the delay in answering - just returned from an extended business
trip overseas.

The blisters have appeared randomly distributed from stem to stern and port
to starboard.  Some are at the waterline and some are along the bottom fore
and aft centerline.  I have tried to look for a pattern but have not picked
one out.

What makes these blisters somewhat different is that they are rather large,
but few in number.  Think of slicing off 1/4 to 1/3 of a tennis ball, and
you will get the approximate picture.

Every time the bottom is repainted I have to repair 10-15 of these.  They
didn't show up until WindSwept was about 5 years old, but are now appear at
each bottom job.

A talked to Peter a few years ago about the problem and his experience is
similar, as is his hull number.

It is probably worth noting that both Peter and I sail in very warm salt
water environments.  He is in south Florida if memory serves me correctly
and I sail around Corpus Christi, TX which is very south along the Texas
Gulf Coast.  In the summer water temperature exceeds 85 degrees for 3-4
months, peaking at about 88 degrees.

When the problem first arose, Catalina contributed some money for the first
blister fix since it was still covered by warrantee.

These early Catalinas were not built with the blister resistant resins that
are used now.  Instead they had a barrier coating applied at the factory.  I
am thinking that the barrier coating may have been damaged during an early
bottom painting job, perhaps even the first one during commissioning by the
local dealer.

At the factory tour during the Catalina rendezvous a few years back, Gerry
Douglas recommended to me that the barrier coating should be renewed after
around 10 years.  WindSwept is now about 13 and I may do that this year, but
when I review the problem with the boatyard that does my work, and an
independent marine surveyor the advice is redoing the barrier coating is not
worth the cost with this type of blister.  The advice has always been if the
blister is repaired correctly with vinyl ester resin there is no degradation
to the structural integrity of the hull.

My main reason for repairing the blisters is that I will sell WindSwept some
day.  I would expect a prospective buyer will discount the price they will
pay because of the blisters, so why not pay the bill myself now and avoid
the recurring repairs that are inevitable at each bottom job.

Larry
WindSwept C320 #246


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of pat reynolds
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 4:14 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] 1995 C320 Buyer Information Requested

Larry I have hull 249 and never had a problem.  What
areas were involved

Pat R
--- Larry Frank <WindSwept at stx.rr.com> wrote:

> Peter,
> 
> I have hull number 246 and remember when you
> repaired your blisters and
> applied the barrier coat.  I am glad to hear the job
> was a success.  I too
> have a very similar blistering issue to what you
> described when you were
> doing your repairs.
> 
> This year I am considering the same repair job as
> you described in the past.
> 
> 
> After making your repairs and applying the barrier
> coat, how long did you
> have the boat?  Have you heard anything from the new
> owner in this regard?
> If I am not mistaken you have a different boat now,
> correct?
> 
> I agree with your assessment of a 1995 320.  Any
> thirteen year old boat may
> have issues and a good surveyor and survey should
> bring them to light.
> 
> Larry
> WindSwept C320 #246
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Peter Clancy
> Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 1:02 PM
> To: C320-List
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] 1995 C320 Buyer Information
> Requested
> 
> Joe ...... I owned 'AROBAN' for 8 years, a 1995 C320
> hull #222. First, I
> believe it's essential to have a thorough survey
> done on the boat. The
> shallow bilge was never an issue with me as I
> switched to GFO packing which
> seldom dripped. Others have gone to the dripless
> shaft seals with good
> results. The key is to keep water from accumulating
> in the bilge and under
> the bilge tray. The boat probably has the Perkins
> diesel and was presumably
> used in salt water. I'd ask if the exhaust elbow had
> ever been replaced. I
> had to replace mine at 400 hours. Take a look at the
> refrigeration
> compressor unit in the port aft lazarette. Mine had
> rusted quite a bit but
> still worked fine.  I also had a blistering problem
> as Catalina had not yet
> started using vinylester resins in 1995. I repaired
> the blisters myself and
> applied an epoxy barrier coat which eliminated any
> recurrence. I never had a
> problem with the aqua lift muffler. Check for leaks
> around the chain plates
> which may need to be re-bedded. I don't think
> there's any issue especially
> unique to the C320 that a good surveyor wouldn't
> identify. Good luck. Your
> friend is getting a well-made, solid sailboat with
> pleasing performance.
> 
> Peter Clancy
> 'AROBAN' Hull #222 (former owner)
> Miami, FL
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 



 
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