Too many holes in my boat how to close its?

[regatta]

Hello To Everyone!
I have a problem in my boat. Many holes!!! Drill here drill there.
The previous owner make the boat like swiss cheese
I want close some and one of those is very big !!
Someone try to repair it but with bad result as you can see on the picture.
My question is: how to close holes and maintaining the integrity and strength.
Thanks in advance!!!

[zboss]

There is an excellent book called "This old boat" which covers just about every system and structure you may find on a boat. It's quite extensive. You may consider buying a copy as I have found it extremely useful.

[mitiempo]

regatta

The proper, strong way to close a hole like that - I am guessing 2" to 3" in diameter - is as follows:

Grind a taper all around the hole top and bottom. The taper should be ideally a 12 - 1 bevel but you may not have enough room so make it as large as you can up to that amount. If the deck is not cored a puck of thickened epoxy will fill the middle section. If the deck is cored a circle of plywood can be used. Then circles of fiberglass cloth ( I would use 1708 biax both for its strength and because its thickness builds faster than with thinner materials) are added with the largest first, working to the smallest. Use epoxy for its better secondary bonding strength. Fair with epoxy mixed with a filler like West 407, sand smooth and paint.

The West Fiberglass Boat Repair and Maintenance guide can be downloaded here - scroll down a bit. WEST SYSTEM | Use Guides

Here is a diagram of what you are trying to achieve for strength and durability.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by zboss

There is an excellent book called "This old boat" which covers just about every system and structure you may find on a boat. It's quite extensive. You may consider buying a copy as I have found it extremely useful.

Don Casey wrote that, and also the Sailboat Maintenance Manual which I just bought. I'm really impressed, covers every aspect of boat maintenance I can imagine needing to know about.

[tommays]

It could be the picture BUT the furler does NOT look like it has a toggle ? which allows free movement as the head-stay flexes

[mitiempo]

Good point - I missed that.