Old line for live well now a big hole in hull

[capndan]

my '89 Crestliner used to have a livewell. Today I took the boat out and the bilge was running, as if I had no plug in it. When I got the boat back on the lift, water was flowing out of hole that used to have a flow through fitting, but is now mysteriously gone. I don't use a livewell on this boat. I just want this hole plugged up. I can see where the fitting used to be because it's a place in the hull where the years of surface stain are not there, like a tan line. It must have just happened because I have been using the boat all summer.
The diameter of the hole is 1".....I am looking for a piece of hardware to plug this hole up. It also looks to me like there is another similar fitting that hasn't fallen off yet, which I would also like to replace at the same time.
Thanks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the plastic thru-hull fittings have about a 15 year life expectancy, just like the plumbing on most livewells.

get a new thru-hull fitting. seal it, then cap the end. and in 15 years, if you still have the boat, replace it.

 

[dingbat]

the plastic thru-hull fittings have about a 15 year life expectancy, just like the plumbing on most livewells.

Where did that figure come from? Past experience puts the figure for nylon fittings closer to 5-6 years.

My boat was not quite 5 years old when I bought it. Upon closer inspection, I found 7 out of 12 thru hulls where cracked. Needless to say I replaced every thru hull and both scuppers with stainless

Concerned with what I found, I wrote an article in our club newsletters letting people know what I found with the recommendation to inspect their thru hulls. The number of positive responses I received was alarming.....

https://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_78/features/Plastic-Through-hull-Warning_12215-1.html

 

[Scott Danforth]

YMMV.... approximate rule of thumb based on an article in plastics engineering from a few years ago. however age / temperature / UV / /hose support / etc. will all degrade the plastic used thru-hull fittings.

you have aging of material based on time
you have temperature aging of material causing embrittlement
you have photo-chemical degradation from UV and Ozone
you have material fatigue from flexure.

the consensus....plastic sucks

 

[dingbat]

YMMV.... approximate rule of thumb based on an article in plastics engineering from a few years ago. however age / temperature / UV / /hose support / etc. will all degrade the plastic used thru-hull fittings.

you have aging of material based on time
you have temperature aging of material causing embrittlement
you have photo-chemical degradation from UV and Ozone
you have material fatigue from flexure.

the consensus....plastic sucks

Given the threat of life from a thru hull failure, you would figure life expectancy would be based on the worst, not best case scenario.

Then again, its a trade magazine....

I agree, plastic suxs

 

[harleyman1975]

A piece of aluminum, some sealed pop rivets and some 5200.