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Osmosis Prevention & Repair

Osmosis often reveals itself through blistering on the hull’s surface. To safeguard your boat, we offer advanced protection with our anti-osmosis gel shield and epoxy coating, effectively preventing long-term damage. If osmosis has already set in, our team provides comprehensive repair treatments designed to eliminate the problem and restore your hull to optimal condition, ensuring durability and peace of mind.

Osmosis Treatment for Yachts

Osmosis in GRP hulls is most often recognized by blister formation beneath the gelcoat. These blisters are the result of hydrolysis of polyester resins and the accumulation of hygroscopic salts within the laminate, which draw water into the structure. Left untreated, osmosis compromises both structural integrity and hydrodynamic efficiency. Our comprehensive osmosis treatment program restores affected hulls with proven methodology and advanced technology, delivering long-term results and guaranteed protection.

Hull Blasting and Peeling: Treatment begins with the controlled removal of the affected gelcoat and compromised laminate layers, using gelplane systems and slurry blasting. This exposes the intact GRP structure and creates the foundation for subsequent stages.

Steam Cleaning: The exposed laminate undergoes multiple high-temperature steam cleaning cycles to eliminate chlorides, salts, and organic residues. This ensures that no contaminants remain embedded within the hull structure.

Enclosed Drying Area: The vessel is relocated to a climate-controlled environment, where stable humidity and temperature levels prevent recontamination and create optimal drying conditions.

Drying with Infra-red Lamps and Hot Air: Using a combination of infra-red heating panels and forced hot-air systems, we accelerate the evaporation of residual moisture. In certain cases, vacuum-assisted drying is applied to achieve deep-core dryness while safeguarding laminate integrity.

Moisture Monitoring: Throughout the drying phase, calibrated electronic moisture meters and comparative test patches are employed. These precise readings track progress and verify when the laminate has reached the necessary dryness for recoating.

Anti-Osmosis Treatment: Once fully dried, the hull is coated with a multi-stage epoxy barrier system. This professional-grade treatment is backed by a five-year guarantee, providing long-term resistance against moisture ingress.

Epoxy Filling: Surface irregularities, voids, and peeling areas are faired using solvent-free epoxy fillers. This ensures a smooth hull surface, restoring both structural uniformity and hydrodynamic fairness.

Epoxy Coating: The hull is then sealed with multiple coats of high-build epoxy resin. The final coat acts as a tie-coat, delivering excellent adhesion for the application of antifouling systems. Typically, four coats are applied, followed by two finishing layers of antifoul for complete protection.

Preventative Treatment: For hulls not yet affected, we provide preventative protection by applying gelshield epoxy primers and multilayer barrier coats. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of osmosis, extending the vessel’s service life and maintaining its market value.

Specialized Osmosis Treatments & HotVac Technology

For yachts requiring advanced restoration, we employ high-performance technologies that go beyond conventional drying and coating methods:

  • HotVac Plate Systems: By applying controlled heat and vacuum pressure directly to the hull, HotVac technology accelerates deep-core drying of GRP laminates. This method removes bound water molecules and residual contaminants far more efficiently than ambient drying alone.
  • Vacuum-Assisted Resin Systems: In severe cases, vacuum infusion techniques are used to reinforce weakened laminate layers with fresh epoxy resins, restoring mechanical strength and preventing future osmotic activity.
  • Nano-Technology Barrier Coatings: For premium yachts, we offer nano-structured epoxy coatings that provide superior water resistance and chemical stability. These coatings dramatically reduce water vapor permeability while maintaining a lightweight finish.
  • Advanced Moisture Diagnostics: We utilize capacitance meters, ultrasound scanning, and comparative sample testing to identify problem zones, quantify moisture ingress, and validate treatment effectiveness with precise data.

By combining modern technology with proven craftsmanship, we provide a tailored osmosis treatment program that restores structural strength, enhances hydrodynamic performance, and offers long-term protection. Whether through conventional epoxy systems or advanced HotVac and nano-coating applications, our solutions ensure your yacht’s hull remains dry, strong, and seaworthy for years to come.

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