Patching holes in deck

[andybussell]

I have a continuiing problem with patched holes where fairlead track bolts used to be in my GPR (deck painted) deck. The shape of the holes keeps coming through the paint and in one or two cases the resin patches pop out.

Can anybody give me a foolproof way of doing the patch so that this doesn't happen. A first class bond between the patching material and the deck, maybe with a feather edge contact between the deck and the filler might be the way????

Thanks in advance to respondents

 

[Jabs]

Countersink the holes from above and below so that the repair is mechanically held as well as bonded.

Clean the area and the bore with Acetone.

Stick a strip of thick aluminium tape to the inside face.

From outside half fill with liquid resin. You can get twin tubes which have a mixing nozzle.

Allow to harden.

Fill the upper half of the hole just slightly proud.

Stick a similar strip of tape across the hole and allow to go off.

Once set, remove the tape.

You should have a solid plug with a nice smooth finish.

Tony.

 

[VicS]

Cleaning off old sealant esp if a silicone has been used is important,

I'd clean thoroughly before boring out the hole a little to expose fresh laminate and countersinking or counterboring as suggested.

Its not easy to get rid of traces of silicone!

 

[TQA]

Make sure you use EPOXY resin and not POLYESTER.

Countersinking from above and below should do it for small holes say 12mm.

 

[VicS]

Make sure you use EPOXY resin and not POLYESTER.

Countersinking from above and below should do it for small holes say 12mm.

Epoxy will stick better but for most purposes polyester will be adequate.

Various small holes on my boat are filled with car body filler then the top surface drilled out again with drill ground to a very shallow angle ( Grinding with a Dremel would probably be better but I don't normally have a power supplly set up when going little jobs like this) and the depression so formed then filled with gelcoat filler and finished flush with the surrounding surface.

Some care needed if the "repair" will be visible but often hidden anyway by a new fitting or by a coat of deck paint.

 

[TQA]

I have to disagree with VicS on this one, The problems the OP describes are what you get trying to repair polyester with polyester, It just does not bond well.

OK you can put a skim of epoxy over the top but why bother. From the sound of the job you are only going to need a smal qty.

So don't spoil the ship ...................................................

 

[William_H]

Filling holes

If you put a filler into the epoxy like talcum powder you can make it stiff enough to have a raised top. When it is hard sand it down to flush with the deck and paint it. seems to work for me. olewill