There was this numb skull....

In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? Cheers, Dan

Ummmm... I'm unfamiliar with 5400. If it were my boat I'd want to pull it and reglass the inside and outside of the hole properly so as to have consistent structural soundness. From: Dan <sa… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 4:33:25 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull.. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? Cheers, Dan

Hi Dan - Patch the hole with underwater epoxy and go sailing. Joe DeMers Sound Marine Diesel LLC www.soundmarinediesel.com From: "Dan" <sa… [at] yahoo.com> To: <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:33 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? Cheers, Dan ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.54/2056 - Release Date: 4/13/2009 5:51 AM

You have realized my greatest nightmare. At least it wasn't a 2" keyhole saw. A 3/32" hole is kinda small and if you gooped it up pretty well with 5200 (which is what I assume you used) I think you are good to go. A 3/32 hole with a screw in it will not make any difference to the structural integrity of the hull. You would only worry about water impregnation of the laminates if they were not well wetted out in the construction process right at the point where you have the new, though diminutive, thru-hull. Anyway the 5200 will seal it all up nicely. I would put it nearly out of my mind until haul out. Just watch the screw for weeping. At the end of the day 3/32nds aint much of a whole. From: Dan <sa… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:33:25 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? Cheers, Dan

I like Joe DeM's attitude. Goop it up and go sailing. Well... maybe buy a bigger bilge pump. Cheers Charlie From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Wayne Gillikin Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:06 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... You have realized my greatest nightmare. At least it wasn't a 2" keyhole saw. A 3/32" hole is kinda small and if you gooped it up pretty well with 5200 (which is what I assume you used) I think you are good to go. A 3/32 hole with a screw in it will not make any difference to the structural integrity of the hull. You would only worry about water impregnation of the laminates if they were not well wetted out in the construction process right at the point where you have the new, though diminutive, thru-hull. Anyway the 5200 will seal it all up nicely. I would put it nearly out of my mind until haul out. Just watch the screw for weeping. At the end of the day 3/32nds aint much of a whole. From: Dan <sa… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:33:25 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? Cheers, Dan

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Husar, Charlie [USA]" <husar_charlie@...> wrote: > > I like Joe DeM's attitude. Goop it up and go sailing. Well... maybe buy a bigger bilge pump. > > Cheers > Charlie > > ________________________________ > > From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Wayne Gillikin > Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:06 AM > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... > > > > > You have realized my greatest nightmare. At least it wasn't a 2" keyhole saw. A 3/32" hole is kinda small and if you gooped it up pretty well with 5200 (which is what I assume you used) I think you are good to go. A 3/32 hole with a screw in it will not make any difference to the structural integrity of the hull. You would only worry about water impregnation of the laminates if they were not well wetted out in the construction process right at the point where you have the new, though diminutive, thru-hull. Anyway the 5200 will seal it all up nicely. I would put it nearly out of my mind until haul out. Just watch the screw for weeping. At the end of the day 3/32nds aint much of a whole. > > > ________________________________ > > From: Dan <saltybob2@...> > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:33:25 PM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... > > > > In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. > I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. > And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? > > Cheers, > Dan > If it was my boat I would pound a wood dowel in and forget about it but then again my boat is wood. The only question I would have is does 5200 set up when wet. If it does, and the data sheet does say it is good under the water line, your only problem will be getting the screw out when you haul it. If it won't set up under water, there are epoxy products that will and you could take the screw out and use them. For total piece of mind, take the screw out and plug it with bread, dive down and put some under water epoxy in and sink a screw from the outside but you are probably fine just with what you have done. Allen

Koppers Splash Zone (Brolite) available at West Marine and other chandleries, is underwater epoxy developed for repairing Offshore drilling rig legs and military use. This stuff is "god-like" extremely durable, in fact we had to mix it underwater when used in refineries. It is so tenacious that it sticks to everything. It is a bit spendy, but is so awesome, that we carry a kit on board in case we hit a whale, to fix his teeth if one gets knocked out by the mighty Cal. dEmO From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of xhpspd Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 4:03 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: There was this numb skull.... --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com>, "Husar, Charlie [USA]" <husar_charlie@...> wrote: > > I like Joe DeM's attitude. Goop it up and go sailing. Well... maybe buy a bigger bilge pump. > > Cheers > Charlie > > ________________________________ > > From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf Of Wayne Gillikin > Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:06 AM > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... > > > > > You have realized my greatest nightmare. At least it wasn't a 2" keyhole saw. A 3/32" hole is kinda small and if you gooped it up pretty well with 5200 (which is what I assume you used) I think you are good to go. A 3/32 hole with a screw in it will not make any difference to the structural integrity of the hull. You would only worry about water impregnation of the laminates if they were not well wetted out in the construction process right at the point where you have the new, though diminutive, thru-hull. Anyway the 5200 will seal it all up nicely. I would put it nearly out of my mind until haul out. Just watch the screw for weeping. At the end of the day 3/32nds aint much of a whole. > > > ________________________________ > > From: Dan <saltybob2@...> > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com<mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 7:33:25 PM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] There was this numb skull.... > > > > In a moment of fatigue and carelessness, I drilled a 3/32' hole into my Mk lll 34' hull this weekend. I was finishing up a stellar job of an all new bilge pump system: new pump, float switch, ABYC color coded wires and drain hose. As a finishing touch I intended to tidy up and fasten the flexible conduit along the top edge of the bilge, up along the underside of the sole with a stainless steel screw and conduit bracket. > I was working in that area just under the sole and couldn't get the screw started. I slipped a bit in my cordless and in less time than it takes to say "Aw s@*t!", I had a steady stream of sea water squirting into the bilge. I expected the hull to be just as thick there as the rest of the hull. It si not. It had to be less than ¼" thick. I grabbed the s/s screw and a tube of 5400 and stopped the flow. > And now the $54,000 question: Is this sufficient to get me through to my planned 2010 haul out or am I rotting the hull from somewhere else invisible to the naked eye? > > Cheers, > Dan > If it was my boat I would pound a wood dowel in and forget about it but then again my boat is wood. The only question I would have is does 5200 set up when wet. If it does, and the data sheet does say it is good under the water line, your only problem will be getting the screw out when you haul it. If it won't set up under water, there are epoxy products that will and you could take the screw out and use them. For total piece of mind, take the screw out and plug it with bread, dive down and put some under water epoxy in and sink a screw from the outside but you are probably fine just with what you have done. Allen