Quick Fix Help Please!!!

[jfholijr]

I just purchased a bass boat to go with a motor that I was given and fixed. The hull has a nickel size puncture just under the water line when the boat is resting in the water. I'm so anxious to just start using the boat that for right now I just want a quick fix that will be dependable for a while untill I can do the repair propperly. The puncture is not a clean circle hole although it is a clean circle, just about 1/2 of the perimeter of the circle actually cracked through that will allow water to leak in. <br /><br />btw the boat is a 1977 15' Arrow Glass Lark Bass Boat. Thanks for your help.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Spread some 3M 5200 over it.

 

[jfholijr]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

HI quantum how do I prepair the area before applying the 3m? I don't want to put it on then have it fall off in the water while we are out. and where do I get this stuff? Thanks

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

That sounds like a job for marine tex.<br />Scuff the area around the hole clean with paint thinner. slap some marinetex putty on it and you are good to go!

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Yeah I second that motion, marinetex would probably be stronger if you would accidentally scrape the bottom. You can get it at just about any boat dealer or they could order it for you. I bet you could order it here on iboats!

 

[jfholijr]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

tankyouvedimuch all. Will try the marinetex.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Absolutly not!<br /><br />That hole is to large.<br /><br />Go to your local auto parts and pick up a quart of polyester resin and one of those small bags of fiberglass cloth. cut out a chunk about 6" square and glass it to the inside of the hull over the hole. Let it set up and then cut out a bunch of small patch pieces, the size of the hole, and wet them out and stack them in the hole unti it is level with the outside. Then wet out another square of matt a couple of inches square and slap it on the outside. You can redo it next fall by simply sanding the outside fare and painting it. <br /><br />The thing with the 5200, aside from the fact that its really the wrong stuff for this job is that not only will it not stay in place but you'll never in your life be able to fill the hole with it - the stuff will just sag and leak its way out. By the way, even if its nice and warm where you are its gong to take at least 3 days for 5200 to harden, and if its cool it could be more like a week.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Terry H]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

If you don't want to do the f/g repair like ThomWv says you can get a couple of large fender washers and bolt/nut. Sooner or later you will have to do it the right way...it's really a quick fix anyhows...just a Thought

 

[jfholijr]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

It's not that I don't want to do the f/g thing tom is saying here, in order to do that I will have to remove the top of the boat then remove the floor in order to get to it. That process is tiiiiimmmmee consuming, to say the least.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

One way you might try is push some glass in the hole soak it with resin, keep putting in small pieces untill you are flush with the outside then put a couple larger patches over it, unless the hole is in a high stress area it should hold untill you can pull the floor and do it right, just keep a eye on it and make sure the bilge pump works. You will tell right away when it starts to leak if it does. I have done this several time and got away with it, i had one little boat that had eight patches on it by the end of the year, you will have to do a little more grinding when you fix it right but it might get you through the summer. Hope this helps

 

[Hooty]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

...or you could use the fender washers and the Marine Tex. Sand around the hole, inside and out, put the Marine Tex on both washers and cinch 'em up. Skip using the paint thinner or any solvent for that matter as they tend to leave a greasey "tail" or film behind. If you're gonna wash it with anything, use Dawn Liquid Detergent, Rinse with hot water and dry it with a clean rag, not compressed air.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

I really like that idea of two fender washers and a bolt. I never would have thought of that. I certainly won't forget it.<br /><br />I don't think I'd put marinetex inbetween it though I might use some cheap silicon sealer inbetween. The reason I say that is that somewhere down the line he will want to do a permanent fix and that marinetex would be quite hard to remove, or more importantly it would make the washers and bolts mighty hard to remove. A cheap sealer will keep every drop of water out until he's ready to make it pretty but will be easily removed later. That's what I would think but obviously its just speculation on my part.<br /><br />Thom

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Unless I misunderstood he didn't want to do the complete fix because he would have to pull the floor, how you going to get the washer on the inside of the hull and tighten it down? The f/g repair I was talking about is all done from the outside, a little messy but works i've patched small holes like that for years and haven't sunk yet, unless i forgot to put the plug in.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Not a real problem, and it would probably be a permanent fix. Go to your local autobody supply store and buy a quart of Duraglas, Its a waterproof bondo like stuff that contains fibered glass. Bevel the edges out aboat a half inch from the edges of the hole, mix the two together and force some inside the hole and smear the rest around on the outside. Put a peice of duct tape over it to hold it flat and keep it from running out untill it is hard. When it is dry, peel the tape off and go boating. When you have time to finish it, just sand it down smooth and paint it or whatever you decide to do.

 

[jfholijr]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

WOW!!! This is awsome. So many terrific ideas. Well I went ahead today and tried the marine-tex. I think it will do the job well. The area that I've done is only in the water while the boat is at rest, and when on plane it will be out of the water, so that's why I went with the marine-tex. Also it was extremely easy to apply. Thanks to all!

 

[Hooty]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

I think you'll find that the Marine Tex will work for you as a final fix, not just temporary.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Whit]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Don't use 5200 even for a temporary repair below the waterline. I watched someone's boat sink who tried using that method. The 5200 plug will work it's way loose. It may work if you use it with the bolt and washer but that is unsightly and will create more work when you go to make the permanant repair. (ever try removing a bolt that was glued with 5200- not fun) Do the repair the right way. Temporary fixes are trouble and tend to become permanent fixes as your list of new projects grow. The permanent repair is not difficult and won't require removing the floor. Grind the hole out so it's clean and you have fresh glass exposed. The repair is similar to those for drywall holes. Work some backing (Wood fiberglass etc) into the hole using a string to hold it in place while the glue dries. Afterwards fill with thikened epoxy and layers of glass. Fair it out and paint. Aside from blending the color, it will take about an hour longer than the 5200 or marinetex repair and you can cross it off your list permanently.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

Absolutly not!<br /><br />That hole is to large

ThomWV- unless I'm reading his post wrong, there is no complete hole, just a crack around half of the outer diameter that is allowing water in? Am I misunderstanding the damage?? In the case of a crack, the marinetex would do the trick and could be ground out later. To everyone else, I recanted the 5200 suggestion after I re-read the post and saw the this was below the waterline. Although many use 5200 to seal fitting below the waterline and if I am correct on my interpretaion of his damage, It too would probably seal up the crack. BTW a picture of the damage would have been ideal.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

I myself would have bevelled the damaged area, and using epoxy and cloth layers in progressively larger pieces to bring it flush with the hull surface (I fixed an eight inch by 1/2 inch gash this way, but I also filled the opening with thickened epoxy), but for your damage, the Marine Tex is more than adequate. I actually plugged a small 1/4 inch drill hole in my hull (previous owner did it, not me) with 5200 and it held for a month until I fixed it with epoxy and cloth. Not recommended, but it was below waterline all the time and it never came off.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Quick Fix Help Please!!!

I'm with you JasonJ, posted about the same thing but you have a better way with words.