Problems with Fiberglass Delamination?

by Brad
(Aurora, OR)

Is fiberglass delamination a common problem with older ChrisCraft Aquahomes? I am looking at a 1969 ChrisCraft Houseboat, Aquahome model, and there seems to be a lot of fiberglass patching on what looks like seams. Is delamination of the fiberglass common problem?

Thanks Brad.


Reply - Answer
Well Brad, as with any older houseboat, especially a 30 or 40 year old one, certain problems can arise, and delaminating fiberglass is one of them.

Fiberglass delamination is an issue that a lot of older houseboats can suffer from which can be due to water infiltrating between the layers of fiberglass matting. It is repairable, however it requires time and money.

Some of this is due to poor manufacturing techniques and materials, or the differences between some of the older fiberglass resins.

Areas to look at for damage, stress, delamination or rot would be the transom, motor mounts, stringers, roof, decks, upper structure and all areas where water can sit.

Today, many of the houseboat manufacturers have worked very hard to improve their manufacturing techniques, and have applied new modern materials in the construction process which results with better built houseboats.

The best tip of the day would be to have any prospective houseboat purchase inspected by a marine surveyor before agreeing to buy it.

I also highly recommend having a look at these excellent new dvd's on finding, surveying and buying a houseboat. The dvd covers important topics such as:

60 Tips on Buying a Boat,

the Purchase Process,

the Pre-Purchase Survey,

and the Roles of Brokers-Dealers-Surveyors.

The dvd's will save you thousands of dollars in the purchase, lots of headaches & problems, and will allow you to become a knowledgeable purchaser.


Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their fiberglass houseboat experiences.


IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com