Filling the holes from the old ladder?

[Stamey]

The boarding ladder on my deck boat is mounting to the floor of the swim platform. On this design boat it is fiberglass and a straight shot down into the engine compartment. I got a new ladder that mounts a bit narrower so when I install the new ladder I will have 4 holes (3/8") from the old ladder I need to fill in so that water can't get inside the hull and in a way that will be durable. I know I could put some silicone or other sealer in the holes and smooth it over, but I'm thinking that would be a temporary solution.
Will I have to do marinetex or resin and then new gelcoat over each hole to make it right?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

I would use Thickened Poly Resin, and Gelcoat.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

This is what i have use in the past for bigger holes.

Buy Bondo Fiberglass Resin Jelly (1 qt.) 432 at Advance Auto Parts

 

[Stamey]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Thanks for the info.

Chris

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

The boarding ladder on my deck boat is mounting to the floor of the swim platform. On this design boat it is fiberglass and a straight shot down into the engine compartment. I got a new ladder that mounts a bit narrower so when I install the new ladder I will have 4 holes (3/8") from the old ladder I need to fill in so that water can't get inside the hull and in a way that will be durable. I know I could put some silicone or other sealer in the holes and smooth it over, but I'm thinking that would be a temporary solution.
Will I have to do marinetex or resin and then new gelcoat over each hole to make it right?

Thanks,
Chris

It would depend if your holes are exposed after the new ladder is installed.

If your holes are in line and covered by the new ladder .. then you dont have to do much aside from glass packing them and sealing the ladder rung properly.

YD.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

In this case, the new ladder is narrower than the old one, so all four old holes will be exposed. My current plan is to examine the resin label to see what the operating temperatures are, then wait until I have a day warm enough for that.
Next I will set and drill new holes for new ladder. I will not mount new ladder until old holes are fixed, so I have plenty of room to work. I will tape up the old holds from the bottom so that the resin can't drip through.
Put resin in, almost to top and let harden.
Go back with gel coat repair kit from West Marine to cover the resin.
If this goes right I should not be able to tell the holes were there, if I match the color right, and it will be sealed properly.
I think I'm done at this point, except for mounting new ladder, with 5200 around bolts.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Chris

I would not use just resin unless you are using epoxy resin. Poly resin needs a substrate to properly harden without cracking in the future. All it would take is a little saw dust if you wanted to do it cheap or get some cabosil when you get your resin. This would also thicken the resin to keep it from running out the bottom but the tape on the bottom is still a good idea. I would gel coat both top and bottom too if the bottom is exposed to the water or elements.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

You need to at least glass them old holes up IMO ..

Just small chopped mat glassing over the filler.

Hope for the best on the matching.

YD.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Matting for 3/8" holes? I kinda thought such a small area wouldn't need anything but resin. I do have some matting so maybe I can use a hole punch to give me a few little pieces to put in there. I'll cut pieces exact to the holes to embed at the top.
My worry is that I'll build it up too much and be able to see through the gel coat when I'm done. That's how my first repair went. It looked perfect until I sanded it down to match the rest of the surface (this was on the side if Dad's boat). While I got it down perfect and got it to shine like the original, if you looked directly at it you could see "ghosting" of what was under it.
I'm still trying to learn how much recess I need to leave to get the gel coat thick enough. I read that it needed to be thin, and apparently I went too thin the first time around.
Another learning experience.

Thanks for the good advice.

Chris

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Gel needs about 2-3 mils of thickness. That's about the thickness of a penny. I'd just use some sicissors and cut up some very small threads of glass and mix it in with the resin and poke it into the holes.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

OK, I'm taking notes on this.
Thank you for the advice.

Chris

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Gel needs about 2-3 mils of thickness. That's about the thickness of a penny. I'd just use some sicissors and cut up some very small threads of glass and mix it in with the resin and poke it into the holes.

Sure about that Woody ? Gel needs 2-3 thousanths of an inch coating ?

Try my above post to do it right please..

You should consider patching your 3/8 holes with glass .. then cover over with your gel.

YD.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

My bad, I should have type .020 to .030 mils. Sorry OP!!! This is above the water line and the Holes are the diameter of your little finger. Filling with "Tiger Hair" as YD calls it, will do the job and the gel paste will finish it off. YD has his way and I have mine. Either one will work IMHO. He's a PRO, I am not!!! It's your boat and your decision on how to effect the repair.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Filling the holes from the old ladder?

Im just suggesting here Chris, that if you only fill the holes with some putty .. at some point its gonna fail.

Especially on a swim platform where there will be standing water.

I know that its not what you want to hear .. but glassing is the only true solution.

YD.