Hello,

I'm considering using CF X 4 layers to reinforce the location of a rudder tube's
penetration through the hull and cockpit deck on a sailboat. I'm wondering a
few things:

1) Am I kidding myself in using something I feel is superior to FG, when it will
ultimately be bonded to FG? What I mean is , I'm considering placing a circular
patch, (shapewise like a pizza with a hole in it, down over the rudder tube, covering the numerous
small cracks in the deck in the cockpit that radiate out from the rudder tube's present
location.
Q:
 The extremely short radius where the cracks
are located now: would they simply reform farther away from the rudder tube if I
use CF?
 Q:
If I continue the CF all the way to the walls of the cockpit deck, would this be a superior
plan of progres?
2) If I use CF, will it bond well to the fiberglass surface? What preparations should I
perform?

I am looking to greatly increase the strength of the rudder tube's interface with the hull
AND the cockpit floor.

Thank you for any reply/s.

I would definitely go for some sort of CF and Kevlar sandwich when trying to reinforce such a "through hole" i Glassfibre..

Also try to build up a suitable "radius" using som filler, or just winding some CF tow around the "hole" the build up a radius from the flat deck up the side of the tube going through.

If you sand down the glassfibre and clean and degrease it thoroughly, the epoxy will bind to it very well, especially if the styrene has had time to completely evaporate from the GF.

If you as you describe, have cracks "radiating" out from the hole, then you will need to let the new reinforcement go some distance past the ends of the longest cracks.  It then becomes a matter of taste (look of the repair) and economy ... (cost of CF /kevlar)

If I were to do this I would buy enough Carbon Kevlar crossweave to do a proper job 

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