Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

Z

Zoob

Seaman
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
52
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

ezmobee said:
I really like this little guy. http://www.iboats.com/SeaSense-Auto...9220238--**********.072765352--view_id.392307 Has a built in float switch so it works on automatic or manual. The pump easily pops out of that gray part on the bottom. I 5200d that part to the hull, let it dry a couple days and then popped in the pump. Super easy.
Click to expand...

I was looking at that very one, when I was scouring the internet for bilge pumps. You just cinched it for me, that's the one I will get. Thanks!
 
H

HappierWet

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
839
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

The Epoxy will not adhere to silicone. Even the residue that gets left behind will compromise the bond. I had silicone in several holes from a previous owner and actually dilled the holes slightly larger just to be sure I was bonding to fresh material.
 
TBarCYa

TBarCYa

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
781
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

It's kinda funny that I found this post today since I just finished sanding my hull after running a screw deep enough to damage the gelcoat. The screw was supposed to be holding the bilge pump float switch but after realizing just how thin the hull is in that spot, I used 5200 instead.

I will probably hit it with the sand paper a bit more over the next couple days because it's not perfectly smooth but it'll work.
 
Z

Zoob

Seaman
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
52
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

Follow Up:

Boat went into the lake today, the patch job held up just fine. No leaks. YAY!

I ended up drilling the holes clean, cramming in epoxy up as much at would take, then more flattened out to the surface of the hull, to help grab. I sanded it all smooth, then did a single strip of fiber/resin patch (about 1.5" by 4" covered both holes), let it set, sanded it down, then shot it with some primer and then banana-yellow (that's the color of my hull).

All in all, turned out really well for a couple tiny holes I punched through with the drill.

I figured I'd do it up right the whole way through, and since I was installing a bilge pump, wiring in new trailer lights and wires, as well as rewiring the boat, I didn't mind.

Thanks again, everyone, for the advice, tips, and help. You all made a worrisome "oh !@#$, did I really just make this floating thing - not?" into something I felt confident about tackling.
 
Z

Zoob

Seaman
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
52
This_lil_fishy

This_lil_fishy

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Messages
841
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

LOLS, the PO of my old 14' fiberglass did the same thing, with all the seat mounts...and just covered the screw tips with silicon. Took me forever to figure out why there was always water in the boat when I took it out. Pulled the screws out, used a flapper wheel to sand the holes down and used bond-o fiberglass repair putty to fill the holes..sand marks. Sanded, painted with Krylon Fusion plastic paint and to this day the boat is water tight...I was just talking with the new owner the other day...that plastic paint is amazingly hard when cured.

Ian
 
reefrunner7

reefrunner7

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
124
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

best way is to fill in with cabosil and gel coat over for a real long term fix, fix fiberglass with fiberglass and get either a prevail sprayer or a kit and re-gel coat over the holes like new, don't mess with fillers, gel coat is actually fiberglass resin colored. fix it right
 
Z

Zoob

Seaman
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
52
Re: Stupid Move - Drilled Hole in Boat

NYBo said:
Nope, they're legitimate.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I won't be giving them a crusty-eye then. :)

It's been bobbing like a cork tethered to my dock for a week now (no boat lift), and believe it or not, this 30-yo boat is bone dry in the bilge. The first day I was checking it every hour, now I just check it once a day. It's all kinds of dry. My bilge pump is sad and lonely.

I didn't gel-coat paint it (just used some banana-yellow spray from the hardware store to shoot a tiny spot on the lower hull), but probably will in the spring next year - what I shot it with looks fine, and is below the water line, so I'm not even worried about it.

Thanks to everyone again, for the tips and advice. Here's a shot of it just before dropping it into the lake this year:

28705_392260149558_667544558_3933308_2100470_n.jpg


PS: the 3-yo aptly named it, "Rubber Ducky"
 
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