Patching Screw Holes

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Excerpted from Fiberglass Boat Repair Illustrated

Patching a hole above the waterline in a single layer of laminate is relatively simple if the hole is small (such as that left by a screw) and you have access to the back. All you need to do is tape over the back of the hole and fill it with a thickened resin mixture. I prefer epoxy to polyester for this kind of repair because it is easier to thicken and sets up fairly quickly. By using fast-acting hardener when you fill small holes, you can get the repair to set within a few minutes If you have a lot of holes to fill, however, mix only a small amount of epoxy at a time, or it will cure before you are halfway through your project. Despite using thickener and fast-acting hardener, the initial repair is likely to leave a surface dimple when it hardens (due to shrinkage and absorption around the hole edges), in which case you will have to apply a second, surfacing coat to make the repair flush. Finish the repair with color-matched paint.

For more tips and techniques to help you maintain and repair your fiberglass boat, purchase Fiberglass Boat Repairs Illustrated from Practical Sailor.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him at darrellnicholson.com.