What are blisters and how does one get rid of them?
Doug King explains blisters as follows: “What are blisters” (you may already have better answers, but here’s mine) Blisters form in fiberglass hulls for several reasons- basically because the laminate is adsorbing water one way or another. Salt water can have a chemical reaction with some of the materials used in some boats, and can form acetic acid inside the blisters. These are usually the largest and worst kind. Smaller (dime sized) blisters can form with the separation of the gelcoat from the cloth laminate. Cycles of freezing/thawing can exaggerate blistering, and cause severe hull damage. Blisters are not necessarily a indication that the boat is worthless. They can (and should) be fixed by grinding out the blisters, patching the hull appropriately (sometimes a little putty is all it takes), then applying a sealer or barrier coat to the hull. This is not an inexpensive process, but it is cheaper than a whole new boat. There are also health and environmental concerns with grinding
