X

Sign up to TheYachtMarket newsletter

Receive the latest news and offers from us and our carefully selected Marine partners

Sign up to the newsletter >

or

Please don't show this again

Example mailer

Thousands of boats for sale on the world's largest network of marine classifieds websites

Advertise Your Boat

Advertise your boats to a worldwide marketplace.

  • Unlimited photos
  • Quality sales leads
  • Quick and easy
  • Low cost

Selling or chartering boats has never been easier.

Private>

Trade>

Yacht Broker
Business website
from only £299 +VAT

View details>

Marine Forum

Login to your account / register | Forgotton your forum password?

Boat Maintenance Forum


Holes through the hull

Anonymous user

01 November 2009 03:55:40

Joined: Unknown | Posts: Unknown

Hi, I have a catamaran constructed using the WEST system and fibreglassed on the outside. I am looking at putting a new through hull fitting as well as screwing a new transducer into the stern. What is the best method to ensure water does not seep into the timber
Quote > Reply >

Re: Holes through the hull

Gerry Doyle

08 November 2009 11:48:32

Joined: 07 November 2009 17:14:10 | Posts: 2

Hi, I have a catamaran constructed using the WEST system and fibreglassed on the outside. I am looking at putting a new through hull fitting as well as screwing a new transducer into the stern. What is the best method to ensure water does not seep into the timber

Hello Catamaran owner-There are various ways to do it but they all boil down to common sense. In your case the type of wood inside is a factor. A neoprene,or other good quality gasket inside and plumbers thread tape or loctite on the threads are obvious. How to fill the airspace inside is less obvious but is the back-up when the fitting ages or gets damaged. In one boat we done the owner was an engineer and his solution was to bore the hole 2mm larger, fill hole with "Chocfast" and rebore to size when the Chocfast had set. We wre able to lay that boat on her bilge so that we had a horizontal workpiece. White lead would be the traditional way to do it and is still pretty effective, but in any case, if you do not fill the little void between the fitting and the timber the water will get in for sure, given time. White lead is very warerproof stuff and would be the most practical. Boring the Chocfast needs good gear but of course you could bore the hole say, 4mm bigger and have more tolerance. In our experience, silicone rubber as osed in bathrooms etc. will not stand the test of time and if you can obtain White lead it is the most practical and is hard to beat, but it would need to be well buttered into the timber. the surplus will also contribute to its efficacy so don't spare it. Gerry Doyle, from Ireland.
G. Doyle
Quote > Reply >

Re: Holes through the hull

Gerry Doyle

08 November 2009 11:51:47

Joined: 07 November 2009 17:14:10 | Posts: 2

Gerry Doyle wrote:
Hi, I have a catamaran constructed using the WEST system and fibreglassed on the outside. I am looking at putting a new through hull fitting as well as screwing a new transducer into the stern. What is the best method to ensure water does not seep into the timber

Hello Catamaran owner-There are various ways to do it but they all boil down to common sense. In your case the type of wood inside is a factor. A neoprene,or other good quality gasket inside and outside and plumbers thread tape or loctite on the threads are obvious. How to fill the airspace inside is less obvious but is the back-up when the fitting ages or gets damaged. In one boat we done the owner was an engineer and his solution was to bore the hole 2mm larger, fill hole with "Chocfast" and rebore to size when the Chocfast had set. We wre able to lay that boat on her bilge so that we had a horizontal workpiece. White lead would be the traditional way to do it and is still pretty effective, but in any case, if you do not fill the little void between the fitting and the timber the water will get in for sure, given time. White lead is very warerproof stuff and would be the most practical. Boring the Chocfast needs good gear but of course you could bore the hole say, 4mm bigger and have more tolerance. In our experience, silicone rubber as osed in bathrooms etc. will not stand the test of time and if you can obtain White lead it is the most practical and is hard to beat, but it would need to be well buttered into the timber. the surplus will also contribute to its efficacy so don't spare it. Gerry Doyle, from Ireland.
G. Doyle
Quote > Reply >