Suggestions for filling in deck screw holes.

[FISHON]

I want to remove the splash guard on my 2120 and was wondering what would be best for filling the screw holes in the deck.I know Ranger Tim has removed his and has used 5200 as a temperary fix. Tim have you made a permanent repair yet ?

 

[mrfunandson]

I did the same thing on mine but simply replaced the crews that were there with some 5200.

 

[FISHON]

I guess that may be a good option if you ever needed to replace the splash guard. It seems that 120 qt. cooler would fit in that space pretty well. Thanks for the reply.

 

[FISHON]

I looked at Dales DIY post about epoxy fillers, but would like to know if straight epoxy is ok for such a small job . Would those repairs be subject to cracking later once gel coat isapplied to match the rest of the deck or is it better to add a filler for strength to avoid possible cracks later.Which products do you guys like,west systems or something else.Iknow this is a tiny job and hardly worth posting , just want to do it rigth the first time.I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this board,any help would be appreciated.Thanks.

 

[DaleH]

I looked at Dales DIY post about epoxy fillers, but would like to know if straight epoxy is ok for such a small job . Would those repairs be subject to cracking later once gel coat isapplied to match the rest of the deck or is it better to add a filler for strength to avoid possible cracks later.Which products do you guys like,west systems or something else.Iknow this is a tiny job and hardly worth posting , just want to do it rigth the first time.I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this board,any help would be appreciated.Thanks.

Any epoxy would need to be covered by paint, varnish, or gelcoat, since epoxy has no UV protectants and is highly susceptible to discoloring (usually turning yellow), premature aging, and cracking when exposed to UV.

If you think you might use that panel again, you could slightly counter-sink the existing hole and fill with a oval head screw dipped in 4200 or 5200. Let it build-up around the head and let cure. Then 'cut' or trim to make look better with a sharp knife.

An option without touching the hole would be to use a SS self-tapping oval head screw to SS finish washer, making sure to 'fill' the washer with goop.

If you needed epoxy, I could send you some Raka, simple 2-to-1 mix.

 

[FISHON]

Dale thanks for the reply and the offer of sending out some epoxy,a friend has some left over west systems epoxy and some grady white colored gel-coat & MEK.Once the splash guard is gone a cooler is going in its place,the tan colored YETI cooler would be nice but a little expensive at 400+ bones.I think I'll pay a visit to Costco soon. Thanks again for the help, the information gathered form the talented individuals on this is priceless.

 

[DaleH]

Dale thanks for the reply and the offer of sending out some epoxy,a friend has some left over west systems epoxy and some grady white colored gel-coat & MEK.Once the splash guard is gone a cooler is going in its place,the tan colored YETI cooler would be nice but a little expensive at 400+ bones.I think I'll pay a visit to Costco soon. Thanks again for the help, the information gathered form the talented individuals on this is priceless.

Here's an excerpt from Powerboat Reports where Coleman coolers tested better than IceTeks ...

FYI, as per Powerboat Reports actual hands-on testing:

Coleman Wins Cool-Off

The Ultimate Extreme Marine from Coleman and the expen$ive Frigid Rigid hold ice longer than comparably sized portable coolers from Igloo, Rubbermaid, and Icey-Tek.

Portable coolers are a staple of American outdoor life, from camping trips to backyard barbecues. Certainly they are familiar, if not essential, to nearly every boat owner. Some smaller boats are actually designed with the cooler in mind, with space allocated under a seat, or elsewhere in the cockpit. Even if the boat is big enough to have a built-in icebox and/or refrigeration system below, some owners find it useful to carry pre-chilled drinks and food to the boat in a cooler for transfer once aboard. Then there’s the cooler for keeping bait cold, caught fish cold, extra brewskis … the possibilities are without limit …

Shown in the foreground below are the three Coleman coolers: Ultimate Extreme Marine with wheels (left), Coleman Marine (top), and Ultimate Extreme Marine without wheels (right), the overall winner. Its interior, at right, includes a food tray and a compartment divider.

 

[FISHON]

I meant to say the information gathered from this board is priceless, I hate not being able to chew gum and type at the same time,especially with one finger at three words a minute.