- Dec 30, 2009
- 680
I am in the process of rebedding all fixtures on my deck. I have several approx 1/2" holes where things I removed were, what is the best way to fill them. I will be painting the deck after... Red
Fill holes in the deck
- Thread starter redhead78
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Re: fill holes in deck
I have had several that I have tried the easy way out on and they all seem to leak a little. I am convinced that grinding and glassing is the only method that is certain to makea completely leak proof repair.
I have had several that I have tried the easy way out on and they all seem to leak a little. I am convinced that grinding and glassing is the only method that is certain to makea completely leak proof repair.
Re: fill holes in deck
I use West epoxy thickened with a fairing filler for mine. Be sure to have some Acetone handy for cleaning up spills and drops.
I use West epoxy thickened with a fairing filler for mine. Be sure to have some Acetone handy for cleaning up spills and drops.
For holes that small, I personally wouldn't go so far as to grind and go back with different sizes of glass. I think thats a little overboard for holes so small.
I would try something like djplatt suggested.
Take some epoxy and thicken it up with some filler material to about the consistency of mayo, thin enough where it will still seap a little into the voids. Place pieces of tape on the underside of the holes so that the epoxy will not fall through into the inside of the boat. Then just fill the holes with your epoxy and then sand them out once they have cured.
Check out my website in my signature and go to the "Sailboat Projects" section and check out some of those sites, you will be sure to find some good info there.
Good Luck!
I would try something like djplatt suggested.
Take some epoxy and thicken it up with some filler material to about the consistency of mayo, thin enough where it will still seap a little into the voids. Place pieces of tape on the underside of the holes so that the epoxy will not fall through into the inside of the boat. Then just fill the holes with your epoxy and then sand them out once they have cured.
Check out my website in my signature and go to the "Sailboat Projects" section and check out some of those sites, you will be sure to find some good info there.
Good Luck!
I may be missing something here, which would not surprise me. That said, I think the accepted procedure is to enlarge your holes, fill them with West, and drill needed holes. This leaves only epoxy, instead of deck core, to be exposed should the fitting leak.
I seem to have the impression that the holes in question are surplus to his needs since he suggests that he will paint over them. my experience with holes in almost everything is that sooner or later the plug shows up if it isn't covered with some material that bridgesthe edges of the holes.
Rehead, I would add one further step: slightly bevel the edges of the hole with a dremel to create a "dished" top with a slightly greater surface area before filling. Especially if the hole is distorted or jagged. It will prevent any future stress cracks. Then, seal with epoxy. It will be good as new. Best, Ron
Here are some step by step directions on home to re-bed deck hardware and alot of other hole patching techniques.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware
Red did you also seal the core with epoxy while he hardware is gone? If not consider doing so. Good insurance for future leaks. I'd also use thickened epoxy for the holes in question. I have a few places like that myself. SC
I also am in the process of pulling ALL old hardware, upgrading, redrilling, etc. The holes I am not using are beveled, redrilled and cleaned. Then, using some slightly thickened epoxy I use a syringe to fill each hole. As much as it seeps into the surrounding material I find it hard to believe that a "plug" will eventually pop out. Thanks...!
If your deck is cored where the holes are I would do the following.
1. Remove coring .25 inches or more from around the hole. (this will help keep the eventual epoxy plug in place)
2. Tape over top hole and leve enough overage to ask as masking to protect deck,
3. Use a countersink bit to cut theough the tape and also ease the edges of the fiberglass skins. (this will leave a nicely masked hole.)
4. Put tape on bottom of deck to hold in epoxy. (duct tape or gorilla tape)
5. Mix some west systems epoxy.
6. Fill hole with thin epoxy and probe around with a stick or wire to get all air bubbles outand let the epoxy penetrate the core edges some.
7. Use a syringe to remove thin epoxy after lettiing it penetrate the core for a couple minutes.
8. Thicken epoxy with your favorite filler, I use silica. Then reinject the epoxy into the hole and pull the masking after it kicks.
9. When cured, remove tape from bottom and fair the topsides.
1. Remove coring .25 inches or more from around the hole. (this will help keep the eventual epoxy plug in place)
2. Tape over top hole and leve enough overage to ask as masking to protect deck,
3. Use a countersink bit to cut theough the tape and also ease the edges of the fiberglass skins. (this will leave a nicely masked hole.)
4. Put tape on bottom of deck to hold in epoxy. (duct tape or gorilla tape)
5. Mix some west systems epoxy.
6. Fill hole with thin epoxy and probe around with a stick or wire to get all air bubbles outand let the epoxy penetrate the core edges some.
7. Use a syringe to remove thin epoxy after lettiing it penetrate the core for a couple minutes.
8. Thicken epoxy with your favorite filler, I use silica. Then reinject the epoxy into the hole and pull the masking after it kicks.
9. When cured, remove tape from bottom and fair the topsides.
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