Filling bolt holes in deck

[roblpm]

Just removed the mainsheet track from the deck of my boat as a new one is going in the cockpit.

I am left with 4 small holes through the deck. Only a few mm diameter.

I assume i should fill these with epoxy resin filler but there seem to be about a hundred different types!

Any simple solution?!

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I use west systems, google it lots of info on their web site. You can buy a small starter pack if it is only a small amount required which I found very useful.

 

[BERT T]

Countersink the top and bottom of the holes. Put a couple of strips of masking tape over the bottom of the hole and fill from the top, that way when it dries it is like a rivet and won't fall out.

 

[roblpm]

I use west systems, google it lots of info on their web site. You can buy a small starter pack if it is only a small amount required which I found very useful.

Filler? White pigment? Or just the 2 basic things!!

 

[oldsaltoz]

Araldite is an epoxy based product and will do this, you do not to buy a small one litre epoxy pack for such a small job.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[William_H]

Almost any epoxy or polyester resin or filler will do fine. You can put a thickener in in the form of talcum powder to make it thicker although not necessary if the under side of the hole is filled. Your biggest problem will be painting or colouring the filler to make it look good. You can get a pigment which is suitable for both epoxy and polyester but it is still hard to match the colour. good luck olewill

 

[Fantasie 19]

Countersink the top and put a counter sunk bolt through with a knob of butyl tape wrapped round the shank/head... tighten from below until the butyl bulges, clean up the excess, jobs a good'un.. do the epoxy thing when the weather warms up (if you still want to)

 

[roblpm]

Countersink the top and put a counter sunk bolt through with a knob of butyl tape wrapped round the shank/head... tighten from below until the butyl bulges, clean up the excess, jobs a good'un.. do the epoxy thing when the weather warms up (if you still want to)

Actually thats probably the best idea as there is the small possibility that someone might want to move the track back to where it was in the future

 

[alahol2]

As my decks are white I now use milliput superfine to fill any screw holes. It more or less disappears except that it won't quite shine the same way gelcoat does.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Milliput-Superfine-White-Epoxy-Putty/dp/B002CNEWAM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1424106131&sr=8-2&keywords=milliput
It's handy for lots of small filling/mending jobs.

 

[AndrewL]

I've also been using milliput superfine and would recommend it. You get 2 sticks of putty in the pack and just knead together equal amounts. With a wetted putty knife / scraper you can work it until the hole is almost invisible and no sanding is needed. I have noticed that with the cold weather it is taking much longer to fully harden though.