Fixing small holes in fiberglass/gelcoat on bow deck?

[am_dew]

I have a 1972 17' fiberglass I/0 closed bow v-hull runabout which has some small holes in the bow deck where there used to be things mounted (VHF antenna and horn) which I have since removed, leaving several holes that go all the way through the fiberglass/gelcoat ranging in size from 1/4" to 3/4" in diameter, which I would like to plug or fill and have it at least come close to blending in with the rest of the bow. I have thought about pushing appropriate sized rubber corks up into the holes from below the bow deck and then cutting them off even with the bow deck, but the holes are not all perfectly round, so some corks would also need to be supplemented with something to fill the gaps, perhaps epoxy came to mind. Then I would paint the tops with some paint that matched the rest of the bow deck. The area on the bow deck where the holes are does not typically get stood or walked on so strength is not that important.

Ideas or suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Coors]

Re: Fixing small holes in fiberglass/gelcoat on bow deck?

Use Marine-tex, leave it a little low, then top off with tinted gel coat patch.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fixing small holes in fiberglass/gelcoat on bow deck?

marine tex.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Fixing small holes in fiberglass/gelcoat on bow deck?

Thanks. Is Marine-Tex thick enough so that it will stay in the larger holes and not drop though the hole, or should I partially fill those holes from the bottom with something (e.g rubber cork) before putting Marine-Tex into the hole?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Fixing small holes in fiberglass/gelcoat on bow deck?

It is pretty thick,but if you can tape the holes up from the bottom it will keep it from going thru...