Patching holes

C

coopejon

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Feb 6, 2012
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C Dory Year
2004
C Dory Model
22 Angler
Vessel Name
no name
I just purchased a 2004 22 angler. There were some rotten plastic rod racks attached to the cabin beside the door, I am replacing them with new ones and the holes dont line up does anyone have any tips on patching the old bolt holes?
 
There's this gelcoat patch paste made by Spectrum (the company that made your gelcoat most likely), but they don't ever seem to have the C-Dory color in stock. Maybe try to find a color that is close.
 
I have been guilty of covering up unused holes by installing a stainless steel fastener of some kind - Bolt, canvass snap, etc.

It might look better than a patch job and nobody needs to know that the fastener isn't serving any real purpose!! :D

Regards, Rob
 
Another trick is to just use a dab of a caulk, like Boat Life. I've been known to do that for holes that don't show.
 
I just replaced our rear lazarette covers and the new covers while they fit the cutouts; the mounting holes were different. I bought a tube of two part epoxy that you can buy a replacable mixing nozzles at West Marine. This product fits into a standard caulking gun. I drilled out the new holes and under cut them with a dremel tool vacuumed the holes clean and used this epoxy fill both the old and the new screw holes. I usually take a tooth pick into the newly filled epoxy holes to make sure there are not any air bubbles and top off with epoxy as needed. The nice part about this new epoxy is that you can unscrew the mixing applicator dispose of it and replace the original plug and cap save the remainder of the the tube for another job. New mixer tube applicators are sold so you don't waste the whole tube on a small job. I waited 24 hours and then drilled the new epoxy filled holes for the new mounting screws and then installed the new covers. If you are looking to cover the holes with jelcoat later I would leave the epoxy about a 1/16th of an inch below the surface so when you add the jelcoat you won't sand thru it showing the epoxy again. Holes on a vertical area will require the use of masking tape and a syringe type applicator poking the syringe through the tape to apply the epoxy if it's a through hole make sure to tape both sides. Syringes I found for this purpose at West Marine Keep some acetone handy for the clean up and mask off your work area. Try to avoid buying acetone from marine stores. Rip job. I 'm sure there are better ways of doing things but I bought an Evercoat match and patch jelcoat repair kit from Defender Marine for about 37 dollars and the instructions are not bad. I had never done jelcoat work before either. You would need to get some extra popsicle sticks for mixing plus some 400 and 600 grit wet sand paper with a sanding block.. The hardest part is using the tints that come with the kit to get the color match. Just don't go crazy and mix up small amounts, go easy with the color tints. I actually smear some on just to get close. Acetone cleans it right off. You want to get the color right before you add the hardner. Follow the instructions and cover the area patched with release paper that comes with the kit or just use wax paper when that runs out. Remove the release paper after an hour I think and let it harden up sand with 400 and then 600 when it looks good start waxing it. Not all that hard,just don't be in a rush it's got to look better than the hole. Looks bad sand it off and try again. :D
D.D
 
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