Richie compass died, suggestion to repair/cover the hole

[eaglecreeksailor22]

Hello all, well my 36 yr old Richie compass has died as well as a 3"x3" screen depth finder mounted above it on the cabin cockpit side. I do not intend to replace them, but would like to remove and make the cabin cockpit wall comfortable to lean back against. Near flush as possible, suggestions please.

AS always thanks in advance, this site has solved a lot of my issues.

Rich,
Central Indiana, land locked on a P21, Nepenthe

[Brian N.]

A picture might help, but after you remove the mounting brackets I believe you would just need to fill in the holes from the screws or bolts.

[eaglecreeksailor22]

This one is through the cockpit/cabin wall approx 3-4 inch cut out as well as the depth finder. I will read up on posting pics, I can on other sites so maybe?

[Captain Kidd]

I've never filled a hole like you're describing, but I believe I would bevel the edges, put a backing plate on one side with a non-stick plastic cover, and then fill the opening with layers of glass and epoxy. Finish it with gel coat, wax, buff, and presto!

Edit: I did repair a some damaged fiberglass that resulted from my boat being dashed against a piling. It was pretty serious. As I recall (it's been many years ago) I believe I followed this basic plan.

[Riggerdood]

This one is through the cockpit/cabin wall approx 3-4 inch cut out as well as the depth finder. I will read up on posting pics, I can on other sites so maybe?

Rich, for posting pix, see the pinned post at the top of the group topic list.

[Captain Kidd]

I went back in my files and found the pics of my repair on my Macgregor which I sold over 13 years ago. You can see the rash on the rub rail and you can see the line from my paint job. You can also see "spider" cracks around the area. I used spray enamel versus gelcoat. I think it turned out pretty well. The damage was nasty. I knocked off $500 when I sold the boat.

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[eaglecreeksailor22]

The hull of my 1989 Precision is the factory cream color, I am not trying to fill and match the hole. I would like to cover it and be able to lean back against the cabin wall and it not look like Bubba has been involved! 

[Riggerdood]

Rich, you could just cover the hole with a flat, screw on deck plate. I cut a 6" round hole in the cockpit pan to gain access to the pintle bolt nuts, then screwed the 8" plate over the hole when I was finished re-bedding the pintles. It's sealed with butyl tape, so easy enough to remove/replace should I ever need access to that area again. I think I got the plate from Defender, but I don't recall for sure. Lots of boat stuff suppliers carry them in various shapes and sizes.

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[eaglecreeksailor22]

YES! Thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking. Easy for this old guy with bad RA hands.

[Riggerdood]

YES! Thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking. Easy for this old guy with bad RA hands.

No prob! I also have a hole in the companionway bulkhead where an old, inoperative Humminbird was. I covered it with a screw in type inspection port I had lying around just because the hole happens to be the correct size, but I might change it to one of these.

[Quantico Frank]

Rich, you could just cover the hole with a flat, screw on deck plate. I cut a 6" round hole in the cockpit pan to gain access to the pintle bolt nuts, then screwed the 8" plate over the hole when I was finished re-bedding the pintles. It's sealed with butyl tape, so easy enough to remove/replace should I ever need access to that area again. I think I got the plate from Defender, but I don't recall for sure. Lots of boat stuff suppliers carry them in various shapes and sizes.

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Hahaha, I've done a few of those—- they come in handy!