Removing a thru-hull fitting

[Todd D]

My carvel planked boat has a couple of thru-hull fittings that I would like to either move or get rid of. The planks the thru-hulls are in are in good shape, so I don't want to simply replace the planks.

I am wondering what the best way to do this is. My current thought is that I will remove the bronze mushroom fitting and grind the hole into a taper largest on the ourside. I will then make up a tapered plug and epoxy it into the hull. I also plan to screw a backing block just a bit narrower than the plank inside the boat, possibly with a bit of 3M 4200 or similar caulk between the backing block and the plank.

[Hwyl]

That's the way I'd do it too. I wouldn't bother with the 5200, but I would mechanically fast the plug to the butt block (honking big screw)

[Bob Adams]

Gerry's got it!

[jimmy]

My boat has had several thru-hulls moved or removed and just has plugs glued in. This was done before I bought the boat and I haven't worried about it. There's nothing wrong with the belt and suspenders approach, but my boat also has many hundred plugs covering the fasteners only held in by paint and friction. As far as I know none have ever popped out, but you can't be too careful.
J