What filler to use

[steplift20]

I went down to check on my baby(1978 steplift) cause a had to modify my bow rail and noticed that the bases are all falling apart , my question is this when I removed the bases the new base holes don't line up so I have to fill them and drill them, what should I use? I was thinking marinetex but what would you guys use? Am I right? Thanks all and hope you had a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year

[Destroyer]

Presuming that the fiberglass around the holes is in good shape I'd just use some epoxy to fill them. Then, after drilling the new holes, I'd coat the hole and the screw with 5200 and install like normal. Of course, that's me and I'm sure that others will have different solutions. :head:

[phatdaddy]

like D says, depends on how the old ones were installed. I removed my factory rail and had to fill those holes. I drilled those old holes out with a countersunk bit to get to fresh wood, then mixed some thinned epoxy andpainted in the holes so it would wick into the clean wood a little bit. Then i filled with marine Tex and sanded flush. Color will not match, but should prevent water intrusion. You can use epoxy mixed with a filler , but epoxy needs to be protected from the sun, so you would need to paint.


https://i.imgur.com/V6yYRN9l.jpg

this is a couple of holes i filled with an epoxy mixture as u can see it shrinks a litle over time. these were filled about 10 years ago
they aren t pretty, but not worried about water

[steplift20]

Phatdaddy, I think the marine Tex is best for what I want to do, Destroyer you made a great comment on what to use but Zi think marine Tex is easier and if I can drill it than that's great

[steplift20]

Phatdaddy, I think the marine Tex is best for what I want to do, Destroyer you made a great comment on what to use but Zi think marine Tex is easier and if I can drill it than that's great