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How to finish bottom patch?

2071 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  mitiempo
I'd like to patch over an old below the water line through-hull. Actually, I rather not, but I've been advised that the insurance company might expect me to. I'm not sure why a capped off through-hull is unsafe but once you stick a seacock and hose on it, clearly adding more points of failure while removing none, it's ok.

I was planning to use system 3 epoxy and 1708 (too heavy?) biaxial cloth with mat. I was also planning on doing the patching from the inside since I have easy access and there will be a lot less fairing and painting to do that way. Also easier to keep the glass in place with gravity working for me instead of against me. It's a small through-hull, probably 1". On the outside I was planning to fill with epoxy thickened with phenolic microballons (e.g. west 407) and then fair.

What, if anything, do I put on after fairing and before bottom paint? I was planning on using gel coat, but I've since found that polyester gel coat does not adhere to epoxy very well. Should I just use nothing before the bottom paint? Or just paint on some unthicked epoxy over the faired epoxy?
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it's definitely recommended by most fiberglass experts to use a barrier coat like the 2000e. A quart is slightly expensive but worth the peace of mind.
1 - 1 of 19 Posts
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