Blanking off a skin fitting

[Patrick Vale]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm in the process of re-fitting and have moved some things around like the kitchen, which previously had skin-fittings, but now have them somewhere else.

 

My question is -what to do about the existing fittings/holes? A chap at midland chandlers suggested making a cork plug, which I guess would work (swell up if it got wet) but I wondered if there wasn't another way to do it.

 

I googled for 'skin fitting blank', but no-one popped up with the 'perfect product'.

 

Help?!

 

Thanks!

 

Patrick

[Higgs]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm in the process of re-fitting and have moved some things around like the kitchen, which previously had skin-fittings, but now have them somewhere else.

 

My question is -what to do about the existing fittings/holes? A chap at midland chandlers suggested making a cork plug, which I guess would work (swell up if it got wet) but I wondered if there wasn't another way to do it.

 

I googled for 'skin fitting blank', but no-one popped up with the 'perfect product'.

 

Help?!

 

Thanks!

 

Patrick

 

Don't think I'd go with the cork job. Another method would be to have a disk welded into place.

[Ray T]

Tap the hole, and screw in a suitable bolt with lashings of Boss White and or PTFE tape.

 

File down bolt head so it is not too obtrusive.

[Guest]

Get something like a fake rivet made with a hole through it. Countersink hole and put a counresunk bolt through to another drilled plate on the inside. Nut on and job done.

I agree welding is better if you can power up a welding set.

[larkshall]

I have made up a disk the same size as te aperture and welded it in place, then coated it in black. Had to do this one many occassions. Think yourself lucky its not a plastic boat !

[bizzard]

Easier to do on a plastic boat. No electricity or welding skills required either.

[larkshall]

Easier to do on a plastic boat. No electricity or welding skills required either.

LOL, I was thinking of invisible repairs to the Gel coat.

[GUMPY]

if the fittings are still in place, cut off the hose tail, if fitted, then screw on a bsp end cap of the same thread as the fitting.

[blackrose]

A chap at midland chandlers suggested making a cork plug, which I guess would work (swell up if it got wet)

 

 

That's what I did - but I used a plastic wine cork, pushed in with plenty of Marineflex. I wouldn't use natural cork in case it disintegrated over time.

Edited July 7, 2013 by blackrose

[DHutch]

You could probably do a lot worse the just capping it off, filling it with cork, etc. Its not going to be a huge hole, its been there yonks, and if its suitable above the water line would not cause me much upset.

 

That said, as a long term job or if you can get someone to do it now, I would be aiming weld it up and grid it off flush on the outside, which is what I did with the deck drains i removed from our boat.

 

 

Daniel

[blackrose]

Yes, depends on how close it is to the waterline. If it was close I'd want a plate welded over the hole.

[smileypete]

Threaded cap on the inside ideally then fill with cement maybe, smooth off and paint with favourite blacking goo once set.

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Edited July 7, 2013 by smileypete