Repair of door latch

[alldodge]

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

 

[bakerjw]

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]

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]

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 before next season

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

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.

 

[alldodge]

Problem with just a backer plate is I'll need to cut about 1/4 inch further up and there isn't much there now

 

[bakerjw]

Can you finagle a piece into that void and slide it up?
Can you post a picture showing the entire area?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Problem with just a backer plate is I'll need to cut about 1/4 inch further up and there isn't much there now

hit the autobody supply store near you. get a pint or quart of tiger hair filler.

then fill the voids and give the screw something to bite into

it will hold for about 2 years after you sell it.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

This is what I'm thinking. Make a backer like the yellow square, push it through the large hole and maneuver it into place. Use some epoxy to glue it, and screw at the blue dots to pull it tight while it cures. A screw or two in the middle will give you something to hold while you get it in place. Once cured, pack the oversized holes with resin putty, maybe with some chopped glass mixed in. Then you can make new holes.

That wall behind it might be a problem.

 

[bakerjw]

What Mike said.
Might be able to remove some of the wall behind it. Just for some maneuvering room.

 

[redneck joe]

fill with Durhams Rock Hard and face plate it with maybe 1/16 aluminum with softened corners to match the piece that has been paint white.