Deck cap and liner holes - suggestions for filling

[stevebrownell]

Following up on the same theme, does anyone have a method for backing up inaccessable deck and hull liner panels, prior to filling with epoxy/cloth, to allow for general repair and fairing? I removed cleats and routed-out the machine screws/nuts, but there are now a good number of holes left. Basically, I'm wondering if anyone has had to fill some holes in their deck cap where where fittings were removed, but left 1.2 - 3/4" holes. I can't get behind most of these little buggers in most locations, and I don't want to install additional access plates to fill them.

I was thinking about some kind of fiberglass drywall backing screen that could be inserted from the top side, and tensioned until the first coat of filler is in, but was interested if anyone had a better idea or similar experience/workaround?

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I used oblong type pieces of fiberglass sheeting then drilled a small hole in the middle of the oblong piece tied a piece of mono through the little hole then put thickened epoxy around it pushed it through the hole pulled tight and then tied off the mono to hold tight until dried. That gave me the backing you were asking about. This will only work ware there is no lamination most of the cap has a cored end grain balsa lamination. On the small holes just open it us like a V and just thickened epoxy should do it.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[stevebrownell]

Makes sense, that's my Saturday. Many thanks again for the tip on both of these repairs.