anti osmosis protection for my 21ec 2012

[Two killicks]

Good day,
I am going to leave my 21 EC tug in the water this year in a marina, in fresh water where growth could be an issue. I was going to get a local boatyard shop to treat the hull with some anti-fouling protection. They mentionned that for a better protection that I should consider the anti-osmosis treatment too.

After reading all the subjects related to this on the forum, I learned that all Ranger Tugs hulls are buit with vinylester resin and that it is less likely to have problem related to osmosis.

Now, before I spend so much on such a protection, I would like to know what you think about this? My boat has spent 4 years in fresh water so far and the gelcoat is still good looking, no blister or nothing else. Should I go ahead to prevent a future problem or just get the anti-fouling protection?

I kind of lean towards the anti-fouling protection only, as the hull seem to be in good shape, but I am wondering what you guys do with your tugs that are in the water full time?

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Scuffy]

C-Dory also uses the vinylester resin. On the C-Dory owners group site the C-brats recommended a couple coats of an epoxy barrier coat and then followed by a couple coats of anti fouling paint. Some use two different colors on the anti fouling so when they start seeing the other color they can see the outer layer is wearing thin. We had the same done to our R-27 by Wefings in Florida. We did not ask for the two different color of the bottom paint but wish I would have.

 

[Two killicks]

Scuffy, thank you for your reply,

Do you know if the anti osmosis treatment last for a few year?

 

[dclagett]

From my experience on the Chesapeake Bay boats that have had blister problems seem to be associated with specific manufactures. Carver is an example, up until the late 90s had significant blister issues, then they switched to vinylester resin and it seemed to eliminate the problem. Silverton was another popular boat on the bay which seemed to never have a problem. I kept my Silverton motoryacht in the water for up to 2 years summer & winter before pulling and repainting, then back in the water for another 2 years. Never a problem with blisters. The Range Tug has been around for a while, hopefully someone will chime in to provide their experience. Any boat can have problems, but it has not been my experience with our boat club and many boats over the last 25 years to be a significant problem that I would spend several thousand $$ on for protection. The process outlined by Scuffy is excellent if done properly, however I would make sure the folks that are doing the work have the right experience and reputation if you decide to go that route.

Good luck in your decision

 

[rt11002003]

I've kept boats in fresh water year round for the past 40+ years in GA. Osmosis blistering was a problem with several of the boats I owned. As a general rule, I'd say the quality boat builders' boats suffered less. The sounder (fewer voids) the structure, the less likely osmosis occurred.Then, vinylester resin came on the scene, along with vacuum bagging construction, a construction technique called SCRIMP (vacuum bagging under another name?) and a trend of manufacturers to reduce the amount of resin because of rising resin costs. These changes seemed to reduce blistering. I bought a new J22 with the vinylester resin construction; it had a narrow streak of blistering behind the keel. This resulted within a year. It was fixed under warranty.

I also had several boats that were treated with barrier coats. One in particular, I kept track of for several years after I sold it, never blistered in ten+ years. However, I've seen several barrier coated boat that did blister in a very short period. In almost every case it was due to inferior workmanship.

I've kept a 2007 R21EC, a 2009 R21EC and now a 2014 R21EC in fresh water without any problems. The 2014 model doesn't even have any bottom paint on it; at all. Bottom paint is porous and doesn't protect from osmosis blistering. I just clean the bottom. The next time I pull the boat, I may have bottom paint applied. Then again, I may not. Sanding the bottom, to help bond the paint and the gelcoat, breaks the surface of the hull. Why chance it on a boat that's so simple to haul and steam clean?