Small hole in the hull

[elpez]

Looking for some advice on how to deal with this, found a small bilster, about 1/8" in the hull, at the keel, about 3' from the back of the boat, it seemed wet so I pushed on it, water started comming out so I probed it with a nail and it went right though, it's been dropping water for two days, but apperars to be almost dry, I can't reach from the interior so any repairs will have to be done from the underside, probably will drill out a bit bigger, clean with acetone, and fill with a fiberglass resin/matt mixture, sand and regelcoat, any suggestions???

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Is this on the 1998 21 CC or on the 15 footer??
FellowShip

[elpez]

its on the 21', hole is forward of the in-deck livewell, btw just edited the profile as the 15' skiff was sold

[FELLOW-SHIP]

My first concern would be Why did it keep on dripping for 2 days??? Is it from water in the bilge or is it from water within the layers of the fiberglass kind of like a water pocket in the glass or is it coming from the transom itself. If the hole is 3 or more inches from the transom than it should not be water from the transom seeping down and causing the hole but if it is real close to the transom lamination it could be. I would drill a hole large enough to either run I wire up and confirm looking through the bilge it is Just through the glass or shine a light either down through the bilge or have some one shine a light up and you look into the bilge to confirm what is happening there. If no light or wire coming up then you could have a hole (if it is close enough) in the transom lamination of your boat.
Then you need to determine if it is just through the glass & Why??? Poor glass work, or what. If it is a fluke and everything else looks good I would bore it out on a angle use epoxy and glass if big enough and start filling it in with thickened epoxy, then pre pair for gel coating. I will say that if you bought this boat new I think you have a 10 year warrantee and I would have them fix it But Before You Do I would first confirm what caused the problem first before you TRUST them. I have heard lots of stories regarding boat companies that say it is just this little thing but turns out to be a much bigger problem then they were willing to admit to.
FellowShip

[elpez]

Thanks, seems like water comming from the bilge as soon as the water ran out, the dripping stopped, I will let it dry out all week befor doing anything to it,seems like it was drilled through, the rest of the hull is solid, no blisters or soft spots, may have been a fluke in the glasswork, I did not buy new so no warrantee, will try the light and see what shows up, drill at an angle? which way, towards the fron or rear? how big should I drill?, have plenty of experience with glass so I feel confident of doing a good job, just want to explore all angles, did not notice this last Sept. when I went through the bottom in details

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I probably should have said bevel like a V to help fill in the hole with ample epoxy.
FellowShip

[Briguy]

For god sakes, don't drill into the fuel tank. A local here in the Sarasota area was cutting a deck and the blade hit the gas tank and kaboom. He lived with burns on 85% of his body for a week before he croaked. Talk about pain.

[elpez]

Roger that! there is nothing 5" from the bottom where the hole is, wish I could access from the top but no chance, will repair this weekend, thanks to all for your advice.