Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

[toddkageals]

Well....I finally grew tired of my project F12X and decided to move on! Well sort of.....I still have the project but now I have another running F12X to ride come spring. I drove down to Atlanta and picked up a 2007 F12X. It's blue and has a boarding step. I got it from its original owner who bought it brand new in 2010 (2007 model). It only has two seasons and 50 hours of fresh water use on it. I was a little disappointed to see that it was pretty dirty when I arrived in Atlanta. I brougt it home, washed and polished it and changed the oil. It looks like brand new and runs smooth as silk. The engine looks like it just came off the showroom floor. Now.....if only I could get it out on the lake! I do have a question though......there are what appear to be bubbles in the gel coat on one side of the ski right below the removable panel and some more bubbles on the bottom of the ski. They are small bubbles and appear to be some sort of manufacturing defect. Anybody seen anything like that before on a Honda?

[hellcat66]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

they will buff out with a little honda wax...you being a honda owner should know this...if you wax the bottom of the hull, you will pick up an extra 15mph !!!!

[1fatlazysofarider]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Might be a repair?

[vnm02]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Yes its called boat pox, it is caused by moisture geting between the gelcoat and the fibreglass and then reacts with the resin/catalyst causing air bubbles.

Usually it is casued by water sitting in the footwells for a long period of time.

If you leave the ski to dry for a long long period of time they will reduce but not repair themselves.

The other option is grinding them out and then refilling the side of the ski and re gelcoat or paint.
Just make sure you do all of them and a bit of the sorrounding area or they wil come back.
Keep the skis footwells dry at all times and this should prevent this.

The resin that is used in the manufacturing is proberly not the best quality

[toddkageals]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

they will buff out with a little honda wax...you being a honda owner should know this...if you wax the bottom of the hull, you will pick up an extra 15mph !!!!

The bubbles are all the way throught the gel coat. If you were to shear one off, you would down to the "fiberglass". They would have to be ground off. They are in a spot where water would not sit so...........

[Derk]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Glad to hear you bought another f12x. I bought my wifes f12x(black metallic) up near you in Orange, VA. When you say Roanake, are you in VA or NC?

[toddkageals]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

VA. Usually ride on Smith Mountain Lake.

[JR IN JAX]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Just like was said above, the bubbles are where water is absorbed through the gel-coat and it reacts with the resin in the laminate under it. Any hull can have it happen if left in the water long enough. Many times the blisters will generate enough gas pressure to pop of the gel-coat. The best repair is to have a Pro grind them out and then use an epoxy to fill the void before re gel-coating the surface.

[M. Cole]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

they will buff out with a little honda wax...you being a honda owner should know this...if you wax the bottom of the hull, you will pick up an extra 15mph !!!!

Out of the 2544 posts you have made that was most likely your smartest and most original.

[mastermindpro]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Out of the 2544 posts you have made that was most likely your smartest and most original.

[wveers98]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

My brother left a 2006 unused for 4 yrs with only 17 hrs on the engine. If perfect condition except it has a case of the "boat pox". So glad this forum is here to confirm the cause and it does "happen". It does not affect its use, but I may try some of the remedies recommended, except expecting it to "just be buffed out"

[wveers98]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

One other question for the forum...there is also rust color discoloration in the footwells. I saw youtube videos using toilet bowl cleaner. I am confident it would remove the stains because I have used on rust stained porcelain plates, but will it harm the fiberglass> "The Works" brand is the best, but pretty strong.

[JR IN JAX]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Home Depot sells a rust remover made by Goop that does a great job of removing rust stains and will not harm the Gel Coat. Be sure to store the ski with the bow up high or the footwells will fill with water and spill over into the engine bay. All hulls should be stored bow up so no water can stand in them and ruin the laminate inside the hull.

[AirJunky]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Google the term "osmosis" sometime..... it happens on a lot of fiberglass boats when left on the water for long periods of time. The small bubbles are not typically any worse than rock chips on your truck. But eventually they can get bigger & this is when the bubbles can pop or crack & let water inside more easily, which will weaken the fiberglass & cause structural damage.

[wveers98]

Re: Picked Up "New to Me" Ski (bubbles in gel coat)

Google the term "osmosis" sometime..... it happens on a lot of fiberglass boats when left on the water for long periods of time. The small bubbles are not typically any worse than rock chips on your truck. But eventually they can get bigger & this is when the bubbles can pop or crack & let water inside more easily, which will weaken the fiberglass & cause structural damage.

Thanks gentlemen. I will try the Goop for the rust and be sure if I do not store them in my garage, I will have the front propped to avoid water in the footwells. Just really sad to see this otherwise pristine ski. Of course it is now in the shop getting the Honda tank recall repaired and then started after 4 yrs. Service is saying likely worse case is gummed up fuel pump and/injectors from the old gas sitting in it. I did not try to start it as I wanted all the old gas pulled in the recall to avoid drawing in anymore bad gas.