Hello...I now own a Bristol 29.9 and am wondering what the small hole in the lower hull is for?
- Thread starter paulbotzler
- Start date
Probably a garboard drain plug. Is the hole threaded? Is there a bronze plug sitting around somewhere?
Definitely find where it goes on the inside and then if you still can't figure it out, post pics from the inside also.
dj
p.s. A much better close up photo from the outside may also help.
If dlochner's post is identifying the hole, I would suspect someone was draining water. The question would then be does the hole go into the bilge or is it only in the the fairing material around the keel? If it is not through to the bilge, then clear away the surrounding fairing compound and refair. If it goes into the bilge then plug it from the inside with West Epoxy making sure it seeps all the way through. A syringe might help with that.
The purpose of a garboard drain plug is to allow any water that might accumulate in the bilge while the boat is on the hard to drain. The water can come from condensation, leaks, or with keel stepped masts through the masts. Plugging the hole defeats that purpose. Before launching a plug is screwed into from the outside. The plug is usually a ½" bronze plug.