Repairing larger holes

[TNTriton]

Have done some small repairs that turned out really good, but am thinking about tackling this....I have maybe a 1" dia hole that was drilled thru to mount an antenna on my boat (before I got it). I removed the cd player (didn't work anyway) and was getting ready to install a new ram mounted depth finder in the area that the antenna is. I thought that I would remove the antenna & fix the hole while I was at it. I thought I might be able to flare out the edges, make a wood insert that wedges close to the bottom & use a gelcoat kit to cover it up. Will that hold up or is that too big of a hole for that type repair? or should I just leave the antenna there?

PS. There is nothing but air on the backside of the hole (side hump of the console)

[BASSCAT7]

The plug will work, just be sure to cover the plug with resin to waterproof it so it does not absorb water and swell up.

[TNTriton]

OK..thanks. Is the process I described the best you know of? I can get to the backside of the hole if need be...

[BASSCAT7]

For a 1" hole it is probably the easiest, you'll probably have the back end of the plug sticking out a little but if it is hidden it's not a big deal, tap the plug in about 1/8' into the hole and gfll with gelcoat like you did for your smaller repairs.

Other option is to laminate a couple layers of glass on the back side of the hole and then gelcoat the top side.