Repair of door latch

alldodge

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Suggestions on how to repair the latch hole?

Yes this is my Craparral where looks like they used a drill bit to cut the hole instead of a jig. Anyway the chrome latch piece is to low but raising it any means there is no place to screw in bottom screw

@MikeSchinlaub

Latch 1.JPGLatch 2.JPGLatch 3.JPG
 

bakerjw

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Apr 3, 2013
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Can you get access behind it?
Do you have some resin on hand and glass?

I'd fabricate a backer plate and see if I could fish it in place behind the current fiberglass. Put a screw into the new glass backer to be able to pull it against the existing glass to test the fitment. If it fits well, mix up some thickened resin and cut glass to put in the hole and pull the backer forward and let it set properly. Fill everything and recut the hole and screw holes.

I can draw a picture if that helps.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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That looks fugly

Do you want easy or good?

@MikeSchinlaub may have other ideas

Easy would be epoxy in a chunk of aluminum in the opening behind the screw holes and then fill the large drilled screw holes holes with reinforced epoxy

Good would be resin in the aluminum, then grind out the holes a bit and patch with 1708 and chopped strands. Dress off and touch up the gel
 

alldodge

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Thanks both of you have good ideas, similar to my initial thoughts. Mike does some nice work so thinking maybe he has another idea out of the box

On the side im going to trade in the boat and get a 270 Formula bowrider fore next season
 

MikeSchinlaub

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Jan 14, 2025
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I have to agree with the others. It's all covered up anyway right? So I would just put a backer piece in and call it good. Other options are way more work for basically the same end result.
 
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