I am an owner of a R33 and recently my boat was parked at a dock overnight. When I returned the next morning I discovered a small round whole in my tramp. It appears someone got on the boat while smoking and either accidentally had ash drop onto the tramp or deliberately put a whole through the tramp with their cigarette. The edge of the whole are burnt and does not appear it will fray but still I am trying to figure out how to put a patch on it or something to prevent future problems. So does anyone have any ideas how to put a patch on or something like this without removing the whole tramp for a repair? So far I have talked with professionals related to this type of work and I have received no suggestions how to fix it.

Thanks,

Miles Moore
www.sail-s.com

If it's a cigarette burn size, then how about putting a brass eyelet (available from most hardware stores) in it? It won't look very pretty (depending on where it is of course) but it will protect the severed material strands which are probably sealed anyway by the burn.

You could treat it as a temporary repair and get a patch done properly when you next have the tramp off - or you could find a use for the hole!

you could put a grommett there, although doing that without removing the tramp would be difficult.

The hole will probably be OK if left as is because the heat melted the tiny ends of the fabric threads. Next time the trampoline is disconnected from the boat, you should take it to have a patched placed under the hole (most sail makers can perform this repair).

That sucks, I know because I had the same thing happen to mine when left on the beach between race days.
It's been that way the last two summers with no problems, it seems it's melted around the edge.
It's a nice way to thank us for a rest on our boats.

Is it a heat sealed tramp? Or is it standard stitched?

In a moment of extreme stupidity while hungover, I put my small torch down on my tramp without turning it off and it melted a nice 1.5 inch hole in my tramp.

The good thing about a hole like this, and your cigarette hole, is the edges are welded together and shouldnt fray. You have at least the rest of the season before you should have it patched. A sailmaker should be able to fix it easily once its off the boat.

I wouldnt worry about it.

Bill

Bless you Bill! I thought I was the only one who. . .

I recommend hand sewing a repair by stitching from side to side across and around the burn hole. Just run the needle through the tramp weave openings until they are all filled in around the hole (alternate every other stitch one weave opening farther in from the hole than the closest one)and it will probably end up stronger than the original and not take long to fix. You can probably find some thread close in color and material to the existing tramp locally (yellow pages) or via Google. It probably will be fine if left alone and certainly would not be worth having it fixed professionally.

Are you sure it did not happen on the last scorching sail?! ;-)

Mike

I suggest making a sandwich patch of two 3" diameters of tramp material, or woven fiberglass cloth, and a "filling" of 3M 5200 sealant/glue.

Follow this up with two or three circles of circumferencial stitching around the burn hole, using a hand operated manual stiching needle and spool, available at W. Marine.

Allow 7 (seven) days for 5200 to cure. 4200 or fast cure 5200 is not as strong.

GARY

the last thing I'd do is use 5200 on your trampoline.

You'll never get it off without destroying the tramp in the process.

It'll be fine until you can take it off to be professionally repaired.

Miles - I am utterly surprised at the answers you have received here. Don't use the boat again, ever! This has ruined the whole thing, and it is now completely unsafe. As it is completely ruined, you won't even be able to sell it. But, being the good guy that I am, I'll take the boat off your hands. Let me know when I can pick it up. It's a sacrifice for sure, but this is an example of the lengths I'll go to to help my fellow sailors. No thanks are necessary...

Marine Goop will do a pretty good job of preventing ravelling, if the heat didn't. Goop seems to last for years, its flexible enough, you can thicken up the patch to suit. It can be removed with solvent if necessary.

Exactly why I suggested it! You'll never get it off; it is tenacious.

GARY

Thanks for all the greaat info its very appreciated. And Keith thanks for the offer but my family would kill me if I gave it away:) The R33 is totally awesome....

On a formula 40 I was on...the owner replaced the stock tramp with a commercial grade spectra fishing net.

The advantage was: Strong, light, less windage, easy to repair. As it was a 'net' you could not rip it....HOWEVER....if you dropped something small...say goodbye....a couple of cell phones...and a shoe were victim once....other than that...it was great. Another advantage is that you can weave the bitter ends of the sheets thru the net...always keeps the 'deck' clear...


maybe an idea for you?