| Author | Message | ||
     Mike Bergmann Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I have an early 1984 boat. When I bought the boat in 1996, the surveyor found virtually no moisture in the laminate. After that season, I stripped the boat completely bare and allowed the hull to dry out over the winter. There were about a dozen very tiny blisters under the starboard settee (fresh water tank.) I fixed those blisters and barrier-coated the boat in the spring, and have had zero problems since. | ||
| Deborah Davenport New member Username: Ddavenport Post Number: 31 Registered: 04-2001 Rating: N/A |
Davie, When I communicated with the Tiara factory (formerly S2) this spring, they told me they began using AME 4000 in 1984 for layup below the waterline; and starting in 1985, all 9.1 and 10.3 were constructed using AME 4000 throughout. I had no interest in other models, so did not ask. Our experience with one of the AME 4000 boats was that it was blister-free after 19 years, of which 12 years were in salt water and the balance in fresh. There is information about contacting the S2/Tiara factory elsewhere on this web site. Best of luck | ||
| davie white Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I'm considering offering to buy an s-2 35 center cockpit; 2 boats, one an 86, the other and 87. Did these models experience blister issues, and if so, was there anything unique to them and/or the "cure"? Also, altho I will of course inspect prior to purchase, none are available in my region(pac n/w) that i've been able to inspect. Are they a beefy enough boat to withstand open ocean crossings, say west coast to hawaii, if standing rigging appropriately beefed up? Thanks. | ||
| Deborah Davenport (Ddavenport) Rating: N/A |
The resin change was implemented at the same time S2 built a new building at the factory, at the start of the 1986 production year. It's easy to identify which resin was used in building any given 9.1 -- the 86 and 87 boats all have the wide grey trim stripe in the gelcoat. The grey stripe means it's an epoxy resin boat. | ||
| Scott Corder (Commodore) Rating: N/A |
(the following was provided by a member of the S2 6.9 Class regarding resins used by the factory): This much we know. S2 definitely switched from common polyester resin to AME4000 at some point in 1984. This was done because of blister problems their early boats were exhibiting. AME 4000 was a hybrid resin which had properties similar to vinylester and epoxy. S2 referred to it as a "modified epoxy". I spoke with someone from the Gougone Brothers (makers of WEST) when I redid my bottom. They were familiar with AME4000 and referred to it as an "excelent product". |
