Rosalie B. wrote:

When we hauled our boat for the pre-purchase survey, the surveyor
found blisters, which he showed to me. I saw them. We've never seen
those blisters since on any subsequent haulout. They've disappeared.
This was a (at the time) 19 year old boat.

So I'm not sure all blisters are caused by poor wetting of the
skincoat. Bob thinks that the ones we saw were in the paint.

My perception is that any "blisters" that don't penetrate through the
basic layup are inconsequential.

On the Tanzer list, we've had a number of complaints of "blisters" at
the waterline, all less than a dime's size; almost all less than a
quarter inch. As I read the descriptions, they were simply gel coat
expanding and contracting differently than the substrate. That sort of
thing is no problem; I know of no cases that got worse than that.

Blisters extend into the hull's structure. The "blisters" that only
affect the surface are of little consequence.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/