Repair damage to deck - quarter-size hole

[KandD]

So I've tracked down a nasty leak to a hole in our deck. It's located on a corner, at the start of the inset for the hatch-track cover. I've found a similar boat online, it would be center photo, in the groove between the SS rail and hatch.

The damage is maybe the size of a quarter, can I just thicken some epoxy to patch this or do I need to grind it out and use some glass strips?

http://www.mcsailcharters.com/106_0538.JPG

 

[PaulK]

Since the picture isn't of the damage, it is hard to say. Water usually gets through holes in the deck and then soaks into the core until it's saturated, and THEN drips out where you can find it. The damage may be more extensive than just the "quarter-sized" hole. It could be hidden under the deck where you can't see it. Plugging up the hole with epoxy will stop new water from getting in, but you may be left with the old water still saturated in the core of the deck. If that's the case, the water will stay in there, rotting the core and/or causing delamination of the different fiberglass layers. It depends on how the deck was made. You may want to probe the area to see what you've got going on in there. If you can remove any rotten material and dry it all out, you may be able to fill it up with epoxy without grinding a bigger area open. Good luck!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The easiest way to find any deck leak is to pressuize the cabin and use soapy water with a brush to brush all fittings on the deck to see where the air bubbles are. Simple to pressurize the cabin by closing off everything and then take a piece of plastic taped over the companionway and then insert a leaf blower but do put tape around the leaf blower. Works every time when I was looking of the elusive leak

crazy dav