boat need repairning - any ideas?

   Hi!
Just had my first sail in my new lark and managed to break it!! The kicker runs along the centreboard casing though a block before coming up to the thwart to be cleated off. the Block in question however has been screwed down and the screws were pulled out last night. I would bolt the fitting down but only way that would work is havin nuts on the underside of the hull - no way that will be happening! 
Problem is how do I now fit the blocks in place? was thinking about drilling the holes the screws came out of out to make them wider, fill them with epoxy then re screw them down (or put bolts into the wet epoxy) Could this be the best way forward or would there be a better way to go about this? i would post pictures but never had my camera with me.
Cheers

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C. Petrie Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 17 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote C. Petrie Report Post Quote Reply Topic: boat need repairning - any ideas? Posted: 04 May 06 at 6:22pm
	Hi! Just had my first sail in my new lark and managed to break it!! The kicker runs along the centreboard casing though a block before coming up to the thwart to be cleated off. the Block in question however has been screwed down and the screws were pulled out last night. I would bolt the fitting down but only way that would work is havin nuts on the underside of the hull - no way that will be happening! Problem is how do I now fit the blocks in place? was thinking about drilling the holes the screws came out of out to make them wider, fill them with epoxy then re screw them down (or put bolts into the wet epoxy) Could this be the best way forward or would there be a better way to go about this? i would post pictures but never had my camera with me. Cheers

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 06 at 8:05pm
	It sounds like your best bet will be to fill in the old holes with epoxy (make sure they are dry) and then put the fitting back on 1/2 an inch away from where it currently is, if possible. If there is no possible way of moving them, then your idea of filling the holes might be worth a try, but you might find the whole lot pulls out. If you want to bolt them, put the bolts into a countersunk hole on the outside of the boat and put the nuts inside the boat on top of the deckeye. Then fill the bolt heads with gelcoat filler.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Granite Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 May 04 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 476	Post Options Post Reply Quote Granite Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 May 06 at 10:40am
	Opening out the holes and filing with epoxy could work as long as the fitting is not too highly loaded. Everything needs to be clean and dry and you will need a filler like micro fibers to go with the epoxy so it is not as brittle. For a more serious solution What you could do is make up a glass plate with about 5 layers of glass tape. Then cut so it is about 1-2cm bigger than the fitting drill and bolt the fitting to the plate. Cut the bolts so they are flush with the nuts Then stick the plate to the bottom of the boat with a mix of epoxy and microfibers or other filler to about peanut butter consistency with the nuts and bolts still in place. The nuts will now be captive in the epoxy and the fitting can be removed and replaced. If it is a particularly high load fitting you can put a layer of glass over the whole thing again then carfully drill through the new layer to open the holes up again.
	If it doesn't break it's too heavy; if it does it wasn't built right

Garry Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 536	Post Options Post Reply Quote Garry Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 May 06 at 1:28pm
	I think there's a wooden core under the glass where your screws went in. If this has rotted then you might eventually have to replace the whole section. As I see it you have 2 or 3 options. 1. Fill the holes and relocate the fitting slightly. 2. Cut out a larger area and epoxy in a plug (so, for example, drill out a half inch hole and epoxy in a half inch dowel of mahoganny) then screw into that. 3. Try and glass in a nut/plate you can bolt into. As the numbers go up repair is more difficult. Edited by Garry
	Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk