Oops! I drilled a hole in my hull!

[CaptGentry]

Ok, I did it. I drilled a nice 8th inch hole in the bottom of my boat installing a bilge pump float switch.

So.. How do I repair the hole without pulling the boat out of the water?

[Jeff_H]

In the short run, stick an 1/8" diameter bolt through the hole (head out) with a large fender washer and a rubber gasket washer under the fender washer under both the head and nut. Use a Nylock nut in the inside of the boat so it won''t back off. You shouldn''t have much of a problem if you maintain your zincs and haul out in the next year or two unless you have a cored hull. If you have a cored hull you risk getting water into the core of the boat.

Jeff

[loki]

If you can''t get to the water side of the hole get an 8-32 stainless steel or bronze machine screw and an 8-32 tap. Tun the tap into the hole to thread it, then screw the screw in. A bit of caulk on the screw threads before inserting it will help seal it and prevent its vibrating out.

[loki]

If you can''t get to the water side of the hole get an 8-32 stainless steel or bronze machine screw and an 8-32 tap. Tun the tap into the hole to thread it, then screw the screw in. A bit of caulk on the screw threads before inserting it will help seal it and prevent its vibrating out.