Filling in 1/8" rudder winter drainage hole

[Robert1224]

Hello,

Drilled a 1/8" hole in bottom of rudder last fall to allow water to seep out if accumulated. To my pleasure there was none. So now, as I recommission for the upcoming launch I must fill in the 1/8" hole. Any recommendations for filler? Marine Tex, Epoxy, Epoxy and glass fiber? What's the consensus?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[kloudie1]

A prime place for a little 5200.. Softer than surrounding glass so you can easily drill it out if you feel like doing that.. very tenacious so it won't come out.. waterproof..

 

[sandpiper10471]

Marine Tex, or epoxy thickened with cabosil. Might want to mix it thin and insert with a syringe. Piece of tape over the bottom of the hole should keep it from leaking out until set.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Don't plug rudder.

Do not fill it at all!

I know it sounds loopy; but despite my own preconceived notions, my 40+ years experience in this business reminds me that I have seen few spade- and skeg-hung rudders that have not absorbed some water. If it hasn't happened yet, the operative word is 'yet'.

Your best bet is to fit a screw-in plug to the hole and make its removal a regular part of seasonal haul-out. A plain bronze drain plug will screw into the fiberglass and can be held in with 4200 or something. If you are concerned about its stripping and falling out (and this would not be a catastrophe anyway), 'fill' the hole with epoxy and filler just before screwing it in and the epoxy will form proper threads.

This is what I've done with my boat and what we've been doing at Cherubini with all the boats that come in requiring any attention to the rudder at all.