Body protection - Help

[skorpion]

While making the cutouts for the body, area's of plain glassfibre/polyesther are subjected to air/water...my feeling was this isn't the way I should leave it... so I looked on the internet and found this !
Osmosis !!!
What is Osmosis ?
Osmosis is a process of degeneration within a glass fibre laminate. It is caused by a chemical reaction between water and unreacted substances remaining in the manufactured hull. The water enters the hull through the gelcoat and once inside, reacts with the chemical components creating acidic substances. These substances create pressure behind the gelcoat, which causes blisters and eventually cracking. Once the gelcoat is breached in this manner, the underlying laminate is capable of absorbing water like a sponge.

Osmosis is not only caused by water on the outside of the hull - bilge water from the inside can also cause the problem. It is therefore worth making efforts to keep your bilges dry.

When Might Osmosis occur ?
Any unprotected hull is likely to show signs of osmosis eventually like rust on a car
The exact length of time before osmosis occurs depends on many factors including: the type of water in which the hull is moored, the temperature of the water and most importantly, the quality of the original hull construction.
In some cases, reactive impurities in the gelcoat and laminate will cause osmosis in the earlier life of the boat. This is a structural problem and should be referred back to the boat manufacturer. Approximately 15% of osmosis cases are accounted for in this way and will normally become evident within the first three years of the boat's life.


What can I do to protect the cutted edges ??
Can anyone confirm this ?

Regards,
Andy

[neil still building it]

hi andy
i'd have thought painting on resin would eliminate any problems on filed/cut edges to keep air and water out ?
NEIL

[Robin427]

Remember, that article was written about boats which are permanently submerged in water. I'm assuming your Cobra won't be...

[Cabo]

Osmosis occurs after lengthy submergence in freshwater. As long as you dont park it in a swimming pool you will be ok...

[Marc]

Hy Skorpion
Very interesting!!! I owned a boat ones with osmoses. The problem there was, that the chelcoat got damaged and hasn't been fixed proper. Over a matter of time the fiberglas felt like a sponge. And blisters occured on different places. This only happend, where the boat was frequently in contact with water.

If you don't park your ride in a lake, you should be fine.

by

[mikey]

So are you saying if you have a Ford engine the Fibreglass needs protecting from the Brine.
OOps.

[rsk289]

There are forty-year-old Lotuses, Daimlers and Corvettes out there (amongst others). They don't have any particular problems with osmosis (concentration gradients), so I don't see why more modern materials would.
Paint it, don't float it.