Hole in hull. Worth Repairing?

So...some pesky rodents decided that my kayak would make perfect bedding and chewed a giant hole in the keel of the boat.

My questions are, is it even worth repairing? If so, is there someone willing to tackle that size of a hole? I thought of cutting a hole in the top to add a hatch, and that could be used as donor material, but I know it's a pretty big patch job for anyone.

It's a Field and Stream Talon 12, so not a super pricey boat (definitely a part of the "worth it" equation), but when it didn't have a hole, it served me well on multiple fishing/dive trips.

Pics should be attached.

Thanks all!

-Eric

Rodents did that!?!?!  OMG that's terrible!!!!  I don't know about repair, personally it would be too much of a worry for me thinking about a repair failing.  But maybe if you did something like fill the the cavity with expanding foam after repairing would give some peace of mind.  Sorry that happened, I'd offer my dog's rat finding services. she loves to do it 

I'd offer my dog's rat finding services. she loves to do it 

The other day I started my wife's car and it started violently shaking followed by an abrupt "thud" somewhere near the passenger dash....and here is the blower motor  please pencil me in for your dog's rat finding services.

My questions are, is it even worth repairing?

I vote no. I wouldn't want to be out on the water on it if/when the repair failed...

Funny, I just found a ketchup packet from camping that was eaten by some rodents in my truck.  She's not doing her job    But going to get some moth balls in some key areas I don't want chewed.

I think it's saveable, depending on what your time is worth. Definitely limit it to pond or tender use and don't sell it.

If I was going to fix it: I'd clean up the pre-gnawed taper, then cut a piece of plywood to cover the hole from the inside (assuming there's enough flat-ish area inside to land it on). If it's a compound shape, you might have to beat a piece of sheet metal into shape instead of wood, and it's harder to attach. I've seen people use window screen held in place with screws with fender washers as a backer too, but pretend I didn't tell you that, because it's a terrible idea and I don't want you to drown.

Drill and countersink holes from the outside. Use a liberal amount of 5200 inside the hull and screw thru from the outside w/ flat head stainless steel wood screws into the plywood. Make sure you see ooze everywhere. Now you've got a base. Add two layers of cloth and resin on the outside, second bigger than the first, then use chopped mat and polyester resin or epoxy to build up the thickness (or epoxy and one of the West fillers if you have it...). Let it cure so you don't overheat it, sand, fill more if you have to (or care...), then another layer of cloth over all that. Wipe with acetone between coats, do it all on consecutive days so you get primary cure, and when you're done, check all your edges to make sure they're stuck to the hull. And maybe add a rubstrip/keel of wood or Al strap to protect it all.

If you don't have materials already, you could spend $200 and several hours repairing a $350 boat, and it'll always look repaired. But, if you have time and have material already, it's one less thing in the landfill. I like the adding foam idea too, if you can keep it dry.

I think that is a plastic , not glass hull. Resin and cloth will not really adhere well to polyethene.

I'd offer my dog's rat finding services. she loves to do it 

The other day I started my wife's car and it started violently shaking followed by an abrupt "thud" somewhere near the passenger dash....and here is the blower motor  please pencil me in for your dog's rat finding services.

I had something similar happen to me last year. Needed to have my Sequioa smogged.  Made the appointment on Friday for smog check Saturday morning. That night I checked all the fluids, belts, hoses and changed the air filter and the motor oil. When I get to the shop Saturday morning the first thing they do is a visual check. He pulls the plastic cowling off the engine and there next to the throttle body is the huge rats nest! In one night that rat bastard went from the backyard where we were drying blankets on the line, to my truck. The little shit had chewed up half a queen comforter and shoved it in my engine bay! I was never so surprised and embarrassed in my life! Luckily the rat didn't have time to chew any wires or hoses. Could have caught fire but I was lucky and the shop was only a few blocks away. After getting all of the shit off the engine it passed smog with flying colors.   

Sorry for the hijack scubatuba99. Sorry about the kayak. Give repairing it a shot. At the very least you could tie it behind your new kayak and use it carry the pony keg!

No worries! and thank you!

I appreciate the feedback.  @Eric_in_SF that was a very thorough walk-through, but definitely is a whole lotta effort and I do not have the materials nor patience to pull it off.

The pre-cut hole should make it easier to convert to a home bar setup with tap-lines running through it. Right?

I think that is a plastic , not glass hull. Resin and cloth will not really adhere well to polyethene.

Yeah, that's why you back it up with wood and 5200. The glass is there as backup and waterproofing.

West System makes toughened epoxy GFlex 655 that works ok on plastic boats--that's what I used when my gf introduced our ABS 'yak to a parking garage.

No worries! and thank you!

I appreciate the feedback.  @Eric_in_SF that was a very thorough walk-through, but definitely is a whole lotta effort and I do not have the materials nor patience to pull it off.

The pre-cut hole should make it easier to convert to a home bar setup with tap-lines running through it. Right?

Come on. Everybody knows you put the ice and the beer in the seating area. The rat hole is where you hang the tiny disco ball and the LED lightstrip.

Skulk around and find a like plastic bit, big enough, Cut to size plus 1/4" Torch melt all that shitty edge and form the plastic to fit. Get a plastic soldering kit and finish it all up good as new then build it up some more. Also a good time to mess around and put a wheel in the keel! iT IS ALREADY F'ED UP, PLAY WITH IT! Watch some vids on utube, get good at it and offer to fix others yaks. perfect time to learn. great boat to do it on (ie, not a 3000.00 hobie) using kitchen spatulas of silicone type can give you invisible edges of repairs. the torch, heat gun and soldering iron are perfect tools to do a good as new repair Go for it! nothing to lose!

I would not bother.
Not that it cannot be done, but guaranteed every time you are OTW and the tiniest thing doesn't seem right you will always be wondering, "Did the patch fail?"
For me it would be worth the peace of mind.
Also, my life is worth at least the cost of a new hull.
I am gettin' up there on the age scale so I would gladly pay not to have to swim to shore.
Bite the bullet and not have to cry about it later.

Skulk around and find a like plastic bit, big enough, Cut to size plus 1/4" Torch melt all that shitty edge and form the plastic to fit. Get a plastic soldering kit and finish it all up good as new then build it up some more. Also a good time to mess around and put a wheel in the keel! iT IS ALREADY F'ED UP, PLAY WITH IT!

And, never go on the ocean with this boat!  Have Safe and be Fun

May I suggest, a planter box?

Bushy

A few years ago I brought a guy in in really rough water on the Marin coast after watching his yak tombstone and go to the bottom, not fun

It had been professionally repaired by a good shop according to him

Glass I can see repairing but not sure about plastic, maybe it works. Some of the people here probably know better, I’d just be nervous about it