A little hole

[drJ]

Hi
Can someone please tell me how they would repair a hole about 2 inches in diameter that is missing glass and has some rotted wood on the surface. I dug out some of the wood. Should i fill it with polyester resin and then re laminate the hole surface?
thanks

 

[Mark42]

Re: A little hole

Ohhh, thats a rough one. What wood is rotten? A stringer? I know you don't want to read this, but chances are if you found rot where there was damage, there is a lot more rot.

Can you supply more detail on the boats condition, the location of the hole, how the boat got a hole, and the make/model/year of the boat?

That info will help other members give you outstanding advice!

 

[Coors]

Re: A little hole

First, keep digging out the rotted wood, then come back and tell us how big the hole is.
Try to do it from the inside, saving the exterior fiberglass and gel coat.

 

[drJ]

Re: A little hole

Hi guys thanks for the quick reply.
it is a stringer running the width of the boat so maybe is it a bulkhead? it buts up against the gas tank and that is how i found it through the gas tank inspection cover. i don't know how the hole would have gotten there but it looks like it was not from deterioration of the fiberglass but for some reason someone made it. i have only had the boat for a week and it is a 1978 well craft v-20 center console. I am really hoping that it is an isolated incident. i am in the process of restoring and the only other rot on the boat is a little in the transom and the platform for the battery. that is why i think it was something someone did and not natural. ill see if i can get a picture tomorrow.
thanks again guys.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: A little hole

A side to side support is called a frame or a bulkhead. Normally the bulkhead next to the gas tank is plywood and 9+ inches high. If so, grind out the rotten wood and pack it with polyester putty. It should be strong enough. If you feel it really weakens the bulkhead, grind out the rotten wood and either cut a new piece of wood and glue it in and glass it over, or fill it with glass and resin.