Small Leaks - Best fix?

[Sea_Green]

Good Day CF Folks.

I'm performing minor repairs on my newly acquired Chrysler 22 and I need some input on the best direction to take the repair.

There are small holes throughout the cabin where it looks like old equipment was mounted. Some of these holes have shotty repair and are now leaking. Is the usual course of action to sand the leaking holes down and perform small fiberglass repair? Does this mean that I'll have to repaint? This boat is my first, so please excuse my ignorance.

Tape, glue, epoxy the holes?

Thanks in advance.

[David M]

Are the holes deeper than the gelcoat? If not you could try wet sanding them out with 1000 grit and then use successively finer grits, a rubbing compound and then a polish.

What caused the holes?

[sparrowhawk1]

For small holes like that I'd recommend Marine Tex. it's basically an epoxy type filler that is really white so tends to blend in with white gelcoat and I've had it exposed to sunlight for many years with no breakdown from ultraviolet. It comes in two parts that you mix 50/50 so you can make very small batches. its expensive but you're only using a little what you don't use Will last for a long time till you need it. And it's also sold in small quantities. I just realized you didn't say the holes go all the way through the cabin. if they're only on the inside then plugging them will just keep the water in. you need to find out where the water is coming from.

[Stu Jackson]

+1 on Marine Tex. First stuff I used, inside but mostly outside, lasts well, easy to use. I mix it up on a piece of cardboard with tongue depressors or ice cream bar sticks. It's not really 50/50, since it comes with gooey stuff and a brandy colored liquid, more like 25/75, mix till it's like peanut butter consistency.

[Dave852]

Marine tex is epoxy mixed at 5 to 1. Be aware that it can be difficult to get gelcoat to adhere if the white color is not the right shade for you. Great stuff for certain repairs. If you post a picture of the damage that would be helpful.
Whoops my bad, I see the pictures now! You could mix a small batch and check the color.

[sparrowhawk1]

Don't know why I said 50 50. Correct you cant put gelcoat or polyester over epoxy

[Cheechako]

It seems you are indicating that the holes go thru to the outside and leak...? If so then yes epoxy filler or something like Marine Tex is the way to go. If you are not into making things perect, clean the hole with a slightly larger drill bit, squeeze 3M 5200 sealant into it, scrape both sides flush and put a little piece of wax paper/tape over until it dries a couple of days.

[Sea_Green]

I'd need to double check, but I'm 98% certain that the water is slowly leaking through holes that are exposed to the elements on the exterior of the cabin. It appears that the holes are left over from screws that held on old hardware. There's not a tremendous amount of leakage, but its something I'd rather not be concerned about while underway.

Gooey stuff, brandy, and peanut butter. Sounds like one hell of compound. I figure I can take my dremel to both sides of the holes to roughen up the surfaces before applying the Marine Tex to make sure its got a tight bond.

[Sea_Green]

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[Sea_Green]

I was wrong. The holes don't go all the way through.

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[Sea_Green]

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Sea_Green]

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[sparrowhawk1]

Repairing minor holes is not your real problem. you need to find out where the waters getting in that's coming out of them. if you don't your cabin will delaminate or rot.

[Target9000]

Hey Sea Green, fellow New Orleanian here. If you need a second set of eyes on the problem let me know. I've been fixing leaks for a while now. Lots and lots of them.

[jongleur]

Could it be condensation?