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Emergency Hole Patching Material

2K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  billyruffn 
#1 ·
Okay,
Here's a question for the experienced sailors here--What, if anything, do you keep on board for temporary repair of holes in the hull. I mean the type of damage that will probably require haul-out to repair, but you have to get it back to the dock to make it happen. Have heard of lead sheets and wood screws and using a sail to hold one of the berth matteress in place to slow the water entry. Any other good ideas to keep on hand?
 
#3 ·
underwater epoxy
a couple wax toilet rings.
Spray foam
The two part stick plumbers epoxy you knead together.
 
#4 ·
nighthawk,

Like Tempest, we carry a collision mat with 6 lines attached that are long enough to come up the sides of the boat with the mat under the keel. After that wood plugs and a supply of Pettit Splash Zone underwater epoxy (VERY STICKY STUFF!!!). I bought a kit and divided it up into smaller manageable parts.

Having said that, so far it all still sits in our aft cabin ready to (and never) use.

Greg
 
#5 ·
And Greg, I'm sure that we al agree that it should be the best place for it on all our boats--in a locker collecting dust forever and ever! Have to check out collision mats tho--I assume its the same concept as sying a foam pad or matteress on with a sail.
 
#7 ·
Minnewaska,

WOW, what a GREAT batch of info! THANKS for showing the videos.

I think you have made my life a bit easier with this info.
I think I will offload our dedicated mat in favor of a blue tarp. I always keep a couple of small ones aboard any way. It was great to see how well it worked.

My new plan will be to use that tarp as step one. Then use the Splash Guard on the inside as step 2.

THANKS again. :)

Greg
 
#8 ·
wet dry 700 kevlar reinforced epoxy putty has saved a lot of sinking boats and floating homes (as well as leaking swimming pools). Carried by a lot of offshore sailors. use with our without fiberglass cloth or as a glue to seal and attach patches. Of course these coatings pretty much have to be applied on the outside using the water pressure to hold and push them into place.
 
#11 ·
I presume the wax toilet rings are a take off of the Stay Afloat product, which does have that consistency. The product has been tested to effectively seal off thru hull type leaks and seems much better than wooden dowels, which can only be effective if you have a perfectly round hole to plug. Odds are that whatever broke the thru hull could have distorted the hole. However, this stuff isn't going to be much good on a sizable hull breach.

stayafloatmarine.com
 
#13 ·
I was thinking of using it as a gasket material. Like with a long non round hole similar to the Yacht Monthly's video I would smash a bunch of that wax into the hole, then make a nice glob on a piece of wood and brace it from the inside and let the wax form a gasket to the hull.

The problems with the plastic on the outside of the boat...Unless it is large enough to come up over the bow and still cover the hole you are dead in the water. Once you move the plastic is going to get water behind it and it will release/compress/release/compress against the hole and end up sinking you. Also I wouldn't rely on a standard blue tarp from Lowes/HD because those are the cheapest things ever. The water pressure will make them fail. If you are going to rely on this then you need to use a thick plastic material like PVC coated fabric or similar. I used to make above ground holding tanks out of that material for the koi pond hobby and it is very strong.
 
#16 ·
Looks like you did not watch the video posted. They did that in the video and showed how it worked. Nit something I would count on. Also, as they said in the video, how do you then patch the hole so you can get home with that stuff sticking out of the hole, inside AND outside.

Greg
 
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