Whats the difference between “osmosis” and “blistering”?
Just as wood rots, and metal corrodes, the process of deteriorating resins in the hull of a boat is A chemical process that is the result of, “osmosis”. While “osmosis” is the action the starts the chemical activity causing the deteriorating process, “blisters” are the most visible of the physical manifestations of the process of “osmosis”. The hull is sounded and visually examined for signs of blisters or delamination. The liquid content of any blisters is examined and tested. The History of the “Words” The term “osmosis” originated in trade publications in the early 1960’s as writers attempted to explain the blistering phenomenon. Early theories suggested that water entering through the gelcoat by osmosis causes a pressure resulting in “osmosis blisters”. Although technically incorrect, the name stuck and we’ll continue to use the term “osmosis” to describe the overall process resulting in blisters. Very little true osmosis was found to actually take place in the process. Instead, “o
