On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:09:28 -0500, Brian Whatcott
wrote:

On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:54:30 +0700, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote:

... all my thru-hulls are essentially two washers
and sealant and the radio ground plate is essentially a large plate
with four bolts through it, with sealant. Given that the boat was
built in 1971 and hasn't lost a thru-hull or the ground plate yet just
how hazardous is it, really.

In addition, it is common practice for steel hull tugs and fishing
boats to plug holes with a wooden plug. You don't really think a
working boat runs for the ship yard just because it has a small leak
do you?

Bruce-in-Bangkok

Hmmmm... there are people who try to minimize the number of
thru-hulls for just this reason. And plugging a leak pro temp with a
wood wedge is not what anybody in their right mind would call
'perfectly sound' practice for permant repairs, Bruce.

Brian W

There may be "people who try to minimize" but they damn sure aren't in
the boat manufacturing business. Every "made to sell" yacht I see in
the yard has more holes in it then a honeycomb.

Seriously Brian, do you really believe that a tugboat, fishing boat or
other working boat stops work and hurries off to the yard when they
discover a small leak? If you do then you are miss led as they don't.
They keep on earning money until they can't work any more.

Nobody, except you, talked about permanent repairs. Not the OP nor I.
He specifically asked about an emergency, or short term repair and
with that in mind I answered him.

Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)