posted 05-23-2015 10:29 AM ET (US)        

---

Unbeknowst to me, some years ago--perhaps four--a yard employee installing a pump in the rigging tunnel of a classic Nauset drilled four holes in the glass to fix the bailer in place. This week, while checking the status of the float valve, I found that this had been done when the small pump came free leaving four small screw holes in the very spot most likely to accumulate water and lead to penetration into the foam of a very old but well preserved, classic Nauset. The boat is dry sailed in the summer and stored inside in winter and I have no idea if there has been intrusion of water into the foam but it is surely likely to happen now with the loss of integrity caused by the four screw holes. What should I do? Fill the holes with wood pegs? MarineTex? Put four screws back in the holes allowing access to the foam for drying purposes when the boat is out of the water and the weather ?

Dick Heilman, South Hero, Vermont

posted 05-23-2015 10:42 AM ET (US)            

---

I would not worry too much about water having already entered into the foam via those four small holes. If you can fit the hose of a wet-dry vacuum over the holes, you can probably suck out any water in them.

When you are satisfied that any water in the region of the holes has evaporated or been removed, fill the holes with some sealant. Since the holes are mainly concealed from view, there is not too much concern about their appearance. I would use some thickened WEST System epoxy resin. Unless you plan to mount another pump there, I would not replace the screw fasteners.