[phatdaddy]

For patching old holes, i use epoxy mixed with a filler to a peanut butter like consistency. It helps to over drill the hole to clean wood, wet it out with epoxy and then put the slurry in.. i try to do the same thing when mounting something below the waterline.

As far as waxing, never done it. I did have one of those harbor freight cheapie pressure washers under the boat house that i wash the boat with and scrub with soft scrub every now and then

When my bimini got thin, i would spray it with scotch guard. Seemed to help

Like you , i tried the fish hold in the middle and was not happy with the results, now i store cast nets in buckets and other stuff that can get wet. When i use it for fish i use one of those large cheap styrofoam coolers with the sides cut so the deck lid will close on it.