Quote:
Originally Posted by gilbertslake
Is it a fiberglass boat?The main reason for a marine inspection on a fiberglass boat is to check for de-lamination, particularlyof the hull. Delamination is a lifting of the layers of fiberglass weakening the hull. Apparently it is more common in warmer areas and in salt water.
I have a 1998 26ft sail-boat and do an annual inspection of the hull, out of water, by myself. I check for any signs of delamination such as softness, a springy feeling of an area, obvious lifting or blistering etc. So far, I have not had any issues that I can identify.
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Delamination is extremely rare in a fiberglass boat, if it is properly laid glass. If it is done with a chopper gun, all bets are off; they are fine for tub surrounds, but not boats, although some manufacturers still use that method.
Your right about the softness, but that is usually a result of a core material on the deck... balsa wood or plastic... and water intruding in it. The usual culprit is deck hardware. Important on boats is your seacocks... if they are suspect, your boat can sink, and my guess this is what the insurance company is really worried about.
The issue that some boats have is with blisters on the hulls. Your correct, this is more an issue in warmer climates, and normally they do not affect the safety of the boat, although they will affect resale. Localized blisters can be fixed, if they are widespread, the hull may need to be peeled and redone, which costs $$$.
Here is a
link to an article on blistering, osmosis and its repair.
Boat Inspection
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