Fibreglass & resin as temp solution to pinhole

[Conachair]

I have a patch of rust inside of the transom above the water line about 2' x 1'. There's a pinhole at the bottom of the rust patch aprox 1' above the waterline. I've ultrasounded the area and the thinnest areas seem to be about 1.5mm. Would covering this area with fibreglass matt and lots of resin work as a temp solution? I'm in Canaries and want to get across to Caribbean, would cut the piece out there and weld a new piece in. Seems to be sound steel around the patch, 3.8mm min and below the waterline seems sound. I've given the offending area a good going over with a hammer and apart from the pinhole the metal seems sound, just a bit on the thin side in places, already sanded back using anglegrinder with wire cupbrush with a coat of interprotect. Boat is 33' Ebbtide steel cutter. All thoughts welcom. Thanks. Paddy

[tazmann]

A fiberglass patch might work if it stays conected to the metal, but thats a big if. I think I would be inclined to sandwich the bad section with sheet metal trough bolted as a temperary fix.
Tom

[welder/fitter]

Paddy,

What do you have/what is accessible to you in the way of tools & materials?
(welder?, drill?, silicone?, rubber padding(1/8" or? thick), JBWeld?, etc.)

What is location of problem area in regard to framing?

Mike

[Conachair]

Tools available but getting some plate is proving difficult. Also would need to get lifted out to do any welding/painting which I don't really want to do where I am now. Here's the prob-

Interprotect (international 2 pack epoxy primer) seems well bonded.

[welder/fitter]

Paddy,
If my eyes don't deceive me, you are talking about the area that the wire brush is pointed at? If I am correct & the metal surrounding the pinhole is sound, how about drilling the hole out a bit larger & use a nut & bolt through with ss & rubber washers? put the bolt through from the outside, sandwiching the rubber washer between a stainless washer & the hull. Tighten up the nut on the inside - use rubber & ss washers here also - and you're done. Crude, but effective. I'd tend to agree with Tom, regarding the risk of losing the epoxy. JBweld is a pretty good fix-all & can be found in most hardware stores, but, if it's a pinhole, I'd go with the nut & bolt, as the risk of losing the filler does exist.
Hope this helps!
Mike