[Public-list] Thru Hull Questions

[Michael Grosh]

>So that means there are two thru hulls that I no
>longer need.  So what is the sensible thing to do?
>Just plug the hoses?  Take out the thru hulls and put
>in some kind of plug?  Or remove them and glass the
>holes shut?  Something else?

At one point I decided the same thing as you. I removed the thru hulls and 
glassed in the holes. After pulling the thru hulls, make the cross section 
of the hole concave (I used a dremel drill with grinder bitt) because the 
bond will be mechanical and you really, really, don't want a 1 1/2" 
underwater plug popping out. The hull is really thick; I laid in layers of 
mat and roving; don't fill the hole in all at once, because polyester 
shrinks a little as it cures (I'm not sure about epoxy).

I have since come to my senses (carting off 3 gallons of poop slurry to the 
nearest toilet for a couple of seasons will do that) and have reinstalled 
everything with holding tank, macerator pump, deck discharge, etc.

>When the boat was pulled, the flange/plate that the
>bilge drainplug screws into was weeping.

That's an owner installed option , I don't think Whitby put them in at the 
factory. 5200 is probably the sealant of choice. Pull the whole assembly, 
let it dry for the winter, wipe it all down with acetone before rebedding. 
you might want to consider how badly you want that removable plug,  though. 
For what it is worth, USCG outlawed docking plugs on commercial equipment 
long ago-caused too many problems.

Myself, I pull the knotmeter paddle wheel so the bilge can't get but so 
high, and splash some antifreeze in the remaining part of the bilge. 
Paddlewheel knotmeters are an endangered species, themselves. If I didn't 
already have it, I'd go with a GPS readout instead.

I suppose it depends on the expected severity of the winter

MichaelGrosh
#220 


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