Bethos,

I'm currently building a new set of timber hulls.

I have added a kevlar patch where the hole will be drilled and also further distributed the load with a layer of 3oz glass and the inside of each ply panel. The glass goes back around 300mm and almost to the keel. (Kind of, to complex to explain exactly what I did here.)



When I drill the hole I will drill it oversize and wrap a bolt the right size with several layers of glass.

With a washer either end I will tighten the nut conpressing the glass forming a glass sleave in the hole.



Prior to this the part of the hull on the inside that will have the hole drilled will be filled with glue mix so I drill through 4mm ply, 6oz kevlar, 3oz glass, glue, 3oz glass, 6oz kevlar 4mmply.

To complicate the explanation even further you must remember the glass that goes on the outside of the bow (so far not mentioned) will be also drilled as it will come back far enough.



Now if it was a timber hull already built I would just drill the hole oversize do the glass sleave thing and see how it goes. I think it will hold up OK.

In my case I have the opportunity to reinforce the new hulls, So why not?

This is just the way I tackled the problem.



Regards,

Phill