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survey needed


conger king
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The need for a survey may be a requirement for insuring vessels over 20 years old and is advisable if you are parting with large wads of folding currency for a change of craft. My broker asked for a survey because my boat had reached 20 years of age. I wasnt looking forward to it as there is timber (ply) encased in GRP below waterline and I reckoned there was a chance of water ingress. However I did not doubt the integrity of my craft having put her through some interesting scenarios in the past 10 years! In the end, unexpectedly, they wrote to say they had a company who did not require the survey and I changed to them.

For a small boat, stress cracks and osmosis are problems that might occur over time. Cracks can be caused by inappropriate use, impacts or inadequate lay up of GRP leading to excess flexing beyond the elastic limit of the gelcoat. Most cracking above the waterline can easily be rectified/repaired by increasing the lay-up behind the crack and grinding and filling the gel.

Osmosis occurs when moisture has entered the laminate, either through cracks or through ancient gelcoat. If the glass fibres have not been adequately soaked in resin the moisture may spread along the fibres compromising the strength of the laminate. As the moisture moves through the laminate it may leave salt behind. It is this salt that draws in more water by osmosis ( a process whereby water passes from an area of weak salt ie the sea to an area of stronger salt in the glassfibre). Osmosis happens more quickly in warm water. To cure osmosis the gel is ground off and the laminate either left to dry for several months or dried by the use of fans. The gel is then replaced by epoxy resin which is far more durable than gelcoat. The bottom line is that it is possible to repair plastic boats and they can last for many years if you spot he faults in time.

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