BOTTOM

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:07 am

Bertram- Blisters doesn't compute. This is the first I heard the two in the same sentence. Although it is not uncommon, or really a problem. I had a Wellcraft prior to the Bertram. It had about a dozen about the size of nickels. I ground them out, and used a Interlux epoxy, put on 2 coats of Trinidad. Never saw another problem, and it surveyed out when I sold it. I say fix them, it will make you feel better knowing they're gone. E.W. Dugan

sbeer · Post by **sbeer** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:36 am

I had redone the bottom of my 33 1981 sf in may. Loaded with blisters is an understatement. I did all the repair myself. Stripping the bottom, grinding out the blisters and repairing, and barrier coating. The blistering was so bad I had to remove the gelcoat on the transome from the water line down. Yes bertrams do get blisters. The one good thing is I used the condition of the bottom as a bargaining tool to lower the price of the boat when I bought it. Doing the bottom was something I will never do again, but I did save a bundle. About 8 thousand. If you do buy one make sure your surveyor has the paint removed down to the gel coat, about a 3 foot square, so you can see for yopurself what the bottom looks like. You could have them and not know it. When the boat is first pulled they can be seen easily, but let the boat sit for a day and dry out, those same blisters will disappear. Just my 2 cents Stu

Post by **dougl33** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 4:04 am

When I bought my 86 FBC in 2002, there was a lot of paint built up on the bottom. The first year I just lightly sanded and added another coat. That off-season, I stored the boat in an un-heated shed. Once it got warmer at the beginning of April I started to strip the bottom myself with Peel-Away. Although this stuff is very tempermental (i.e. very temperature and time sensitive) it does work. I had used it before on my 81 28 with poor results. I later on found out it was because I had not followed the instructions to the letter. Since I had a lot left over I decided to give it another try and to follow the instructions to the letter and in the process came up with a few additional ones. Don't use the stuff if it will be less than 50 degrees. In fact, I would suggest not using it if it will be less than 60 degrees over-night. Also, don't put on more than you can take off in a single day. Starting from the keel and working my way up, I would do one 2 foot wide section on each side from stem to stern each day. The next day (if it had been warm enough over night) I would take off what I put on the previous day and then do the next section up. I was laid off at the time and could take my time and choose my days. If the conditions had been right, using a big t-handled razor, the paint would come off right down to the gel-coat like a hot knife through butter. I'm talking no effort at all. If it been a little cold it was more work. If had gottn really cold, I would leave it on for another 24 hours. Thats the great thing about this stuff. No matter how long you leave it on it won't hurt the gel coat. After 4 weeks of picking and choosing I had all the paint off. Once I washed the entire bottom down with acetone, you would have sworn that the boat had just popped out of the mold. I then washed it again with inerluxes solvent/wash since interlux told me that the acetone dried to quickly and could leave a residue that the Micron CSC I had planned to use might not adhere to. After 17 years, there was not a blister to be found. ALthough it killed me to do it, I lightly sanded the bottom with 80 grit and applied 3 coats of the Micron CSC. That was in 2003. Now, I just wash the bottom when it comes out in the fall and touch up any spots that wear away the next spring. Bottom line. Peel Away works if you've got the time. Also, if you go to Home Depot, you can buy Peel Away 7 which is the same thing as the marine grade stuff. It costs slightly less. If I wasn't laid-off and the boat hadn't been inside, I wouldn't have tried it. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

TonyNJ · Post by **TonyNJ** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:19 am

Getting my bottom Soda Blasted the beginning of next week...I'll post the results as soon as it's done. Tony

sbeer · Post by **sbeer** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:38 am

so how did the bottom come out tony

TonyNJ · Post by **TonyNJ** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:23 am

Weather set me back...Trying for next week