Which two patches cover the scenarios of a straight pinhole leak and a hole with jagged edges inward?

• A. Soft pipe patch; Box patch
• B. Box patch; Ring patch
• C. Duct patch; Rubber patch
• D. Ring patch; Soft pipe patch

Answer: (A)

Patching choice hinges on the shape of the hole and how the edges behave. A straight pinhole leak in a piping system is tiny and circular, so a soft pipe patch is ideal here because it’s flexible and easy to wrap around the small opening, sealing quickly with the patch material and fasteners.

When you’re dealing with a hole in a hull plate that has jagged, inward-edged contours, a box patch is the better option. The box patch provides a stiff, bordered surface that covers the irregular damaged area and helps distribute forces around the hole, giving a reliable seal until a permanent repair can be made.

In this scenario, the soft patch handles the small pipe leak, and the box patch handles the irregular hole in the plate.