Dinged Bow Below Waterline - What to do?

[67Therapy]

I was snorkeling back from the anchor set in the T & C's and saw this ding in the bow.

It is approximately the size of my thumb and best I can tell 1/4" or less deep. There is NO indication inside the boat of any cracks, flex, etc. The hole almost looks like a ding on a gelcoat void?
We had just finished a passage from Georgetown, Bahamas in some decent seas and I must have either hit some flotsam or jetsam or it is from a prior anchoring or anchor retrieval, but I don't remember that ever happening.

Regardless, I'm in T & C and would like some wise forum advice.

1. Do I need to haul right now?
If no:
2. Can I put some type of underwater epoxy over the hole as a temp fix until next haulout?
2a. I'm enroute to the Caribbean for the next several months...any recommendations for repair yard?

The pictures are a bit "stretchy" looking since I took them with my GoPro.

[Stu Jackson]

What's underneath the hole? Just fiberglass?

[Vasco]

What kind of boat is it?

[Hartleycruiser]

67Therapy

The hole does look like a ding on a gelcoat void . The bow is usually very thick with lots of glass in this area . There are some underwater epoxy type products the plumbers here in Australia use . Maybe a short term solution . Will try and find a link.

[Hartleycruiser]

link to waterweld This may be ok for a temporary repiair .

[roverhi]

Most hulls are laid up in two sides and then joined by internal laminates. Makes the bow an area that could have small voids. Because of the internal laminates, any voids are probably just cosmetic and can wait till it's convenient for you to do a scehduled haul out and fix then.

[67Therapy]

Thanks all. It is a 2007 Bene. It is an air space then fiberglass underneath...hard to see in the photo's. Love my boat, but I've had a couple of gelcoat voids on the deck, so I didn't think it unreasonable for them to exist elsewhere.

I have some Waterweld onboard...a 2 part putty. I didn't want to go jamming it in there if someone had a better idea.

[Vasco]

Seeing it's a mono and depending on how far down the ding is (can't tell from the pic) invite all the cruisers in the anchorage over and seat them in the cockpit and the bow might come out of the water enough to get at the ding.

[donradcliffe]

Its not a big deal. You can ignore it until the next time you haul. Then grind it out a refill with epoxy putty, sand smooth, and paint.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Its not a big deal. You can ignore it until the next time you haul. Then grind it out a refill with epoxy putty, sand smooth, and paint.

Agreed

[67Therapy]

Great. I love this site, a true wealth of knowledge. As you can imagine it was a bit disconcerting to see a hole in the bow when I first discovered it.

I'm working on arranging a get-together to see if we can get the bow up.

If that fails, does anyone have a yard recommendation in the Caribbean...say starting at PR and going clockwise?

[Mirage Gecko]

That is a scary looking anchorage.Are they rocks and some sort of post in the background.
Maybe the photo changes the perspective but it looks as though the rocks or. Post will hit the hull.

[shipleft]

Originally Posted by 67Therapy

I was snorkeling back from the anchor set in the T & C's and saw this ding in the bow.

It is approximately the size of my thumb and best I can tell 1/4" or less deep. There is NO indication inside the boat of any cracks, flex, etc. The hole almost looks like a ding on a gelcoat void?
We had just finished a passage from Georgetown, Bahamas in some decent seas and I must have either hit some flotsam or jetsam or it is from a prior anchoring or anchor retrieval, but I don't remember that ever happening.

Regardless, I'm in T & C and would like some wise forum advice.

1. Do I need to haul right now?
If no:
2. Can I put some type of underwater epoxy over the hole as a temp fix until next haulout?
2a. I'm enroute to the Caribbean for the next several months...any recommendations for repair yard?

The pictures are a bit "stretchy" looking since I took them with my GoPro.

The way it chipped, off it looks like it might have been fairing compound or a previous repair of some dings. Fortunately, it is where the hull is thickest because of the overlap of the fibreglass materials comprising the port and starboard hull layup schedule. in other words the bow/keel is usually twice as thick (or more) than the actual hull bottom/sides. Epoxy patch it if you want to or wait until your next haulout to do bottom paint,etc. My advice.

[Force Five]

I have used Pratley Putty, the standard setting not the quick set. it can be used underwater, just mix up the 2 part putty and press it into the void it will set hard as a rock in 24 hrs. I am not sure if obtainable in your area. I have used it on my swimming pool that developed a hole, it is still there after many years, probably will stay there for life. I also had a similar problem on my bow and used the same putty, works like a charm. I believe it was taken to the moon way back in '69 for tests. It is a South African product which I think is obtainable in most places around the world

[Force Five]

It is not a marine product so can be purchased at any Hardware stote