magpie patrick Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 A small one, and well above the waterline, but a hole nevertheless. Juno is GRP, about 35 years old, no other signs of distress. Is there a GRP weevil local to Somerset? Can I expect more holes? This is near the back, on the left/port side, Internally it's in the battery compartment. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, magpie patrick said: no other signs of distress. No signs of crazing or star-cracks in the gel coat ? Is there any deformation on the inside (flakes / strands pushed inwards) ? Is it a perfectly round hole ? Size of hole ? Edited March 26, 2022 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Battery compartment ventilation/drain but you have just noticed it? Did it ever have a rubbing band or corner fender fitted there so a blocked up screw/bolt hole where the filler used to block it has fallen out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st ade Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said: Battery compartment ventilation/drain but you have just noticed it Beat me to it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 There are three holes where the corner fender should be - this is a fourth. There's never been an external fitting here in my ownership. It may be as you say that I've only just noticed or that the previous owner plugged the hole and the plug has fallen out. To answer AdE questions, it looks drilled, it's big enough for the prong of a meter probe but not the shaft. There are other far bigger holes for ventilation! Nothing to worry about then, unless my neighbour is drilling them... 😮😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, magpie patrick said: To answer AdE questions, it looks drilled, it's big enough for the prong of a meter probe but not the shaft. Have you upset anyone ? Could it be .177" or .22" diameter ? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 You suggesting I'm being shot at? I have occasionally upset the odd person here but I don't think they'd be that subtle... But yes it is about that size! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 I thought I'd attached pictures of the hole but I hadn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 I worked with a chap who drilled a row of holes in the bottom of another chaps boat, it wasn't in the water at the time. I can't remember what the magistrate said about it 2 minutes ago, magpie patrick said: I thought I'd attached pictures of the hole but I hadn't I wonder if the previous owner had some wonderful idea of hanging an anode in the water and that is where the wire went out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Looks deliberately drilled to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 18 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said: Looks deliberately drilled to me. Agreed and judging by the flaking of the gel-coat it was drilled from the inside to the outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 2 hours ago, ditchcrawler said: I worked with a chap who drilled a row of holes in the bottom of another chaps boat, it wasn't in the water at the time. I can't remember what the magistrate said about it I can't imagine the magistrate said anything kind 2 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said: Looks deliberately drilled to me. 2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said: Agreed and judging by the flaking of the gel-coat it was drilled from the inside to the outside. Okay so someone in the past for some reason has wanted a hole there. Do I worry about it? Is filling urgent? Pointless? Or something to do "when I get round to it "? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 1 minute ago, magpie patrick said: Okay so someone in the past for some reason has wanted a hole there. Do I worry about it? Is filling urgent? Pointless? Or something to do "when I get round to it "? It doesn't look to have affected the structural integrity, if not anywhere near the waterline just fill it with some 'plastic-padding' filler next time you have a batch mixed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 When Fulbourne was converted in the 1960s, holes were drilled in the upper part of the hull for bolts which held angle iron frames which in turn supported the wooden cabin roof. When the boat was deconverted in the 80s the holes were just left and are still there today. Now you can lie in bed in the windowless under-cloth camping fitout and just about see what is going on outside. And on sunny days you get a nice upside down pinhole camera image on the opposite side of the hull! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Tape a piece of acetate film over the outside and fill from the inside. While you push filler in from the inside massage the film so the filler ends up flush with the gel-coat and nice and smooth. A really posh job would be to countersink both sides so the filler could not fall out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 A really short term fix (if you're concerned) would be a round head set screw with the nut on the inside and washers as appropriate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awayonmyboat Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 There is no GRP dust on the inside so that rules out you having upset the neighbours enough that they are attacking your boat with a drill. It's probably been there all your ownership and you just have not noticed it - it is amazing how good the brain is at filtering things so that you see only what you expect to see/want to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted March 27, 2022 Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 just fill it with any old car body filler and get on with your life. Torque about a storm in a teacup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinz Posted March 27, 2022 Report Share Posted March 27, 2022 Was the previous owner a DIY expert? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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