UPDATE 2/19/14 - The hull blisters described below have been repaired. Several prospects were scared off because surveyors pronounced dire warnings. It turned out as I expected that the problem was superficial although one area did require more in-depth repair. Another surveyor who inspected the repair said he would do the same thing if he owned the boat and bottom job will probably out-live the next owner.
Mango Mama has superficial hull blisters which are cosmetic and not a structural concern. The bottom was previously peeled and barrier coated. For some inexplicable reason, it appears that a thin fiberglass layer was applied over the barrier coat. It's this thin fiberglass layer that is blistering. Below is a quote from the marine survey in December 2010. During this inspection, a number of blisters were lanced and the barrier coat below them was found intact.
During the time of wetted surface inspection vessel was sighted with surface blisters with approximately 30 blister sights per square foot noted in way of the wetted surface of the hull. Blisters were embryonic to ½” in diameter with some random larger blisters noted. No pattern or grouping of osmotic blisters were noted during inspection of the wetted surface. Blisters were evenly spread over the wetted surface.Complete repair would involve scraping or high pressure water spray to remove the thin fiberglass overlay. After a close inspection to ensure no further concerns, another barrier coat would be applied to ensure the bottom is properly sealed with bottom paint applied directly over the barrier coat. However, I don't believe this work is necessary. Normal hull maintenance is all that's required.
It appeared that the bottom wetted surface of the hull was previously peeled from the light water line down to the keel to address a previous blister problem. The blisters as sighted during this drydocking were surface type and seemed to be localized to the surface barrier coating applied during the previous blister repair. These surface blisters were not of the osmotic variety and were not into the laminates of the bottom wetted surface or the hull sides.
Mango Mama also has a problem with the pilothouse roof. From inside the pilothouse or from the deck outside, there is no visible indication. However, by climbing up a couple of the mast steps, you can see that the top of the roof has collapsed and rain will puddle in the center. This is a common problem with the construction of Krogen Manatees. One owner completely removed the upper skin and filler and rebuilt the roof which was a tremendous amount of work. Most owners take my approach; make sure the penetrations are well sealed and don't worry about it.
These are the kind of problems that may be encountered on an older yacht. However, with the gorgeous and roomy accommodations, excellent mechanical condition, and the upgraded systems, they will not be a deal-breaker for the right owners.
