I need to fill six holes from improperly mounted trim tabs, am i correct to use wooden dowels dipped in fiberglass resin?
should they be tight for the holes or just slide in?
should i fiberglass them inside and out to prevent separation?
and is this strong enough for the transom?

any one?

Hi Joe, yes they should be plugged with a wood dowel if its any bigger than about 3/8ths of an inch. The process is just like the thread on filling dash holes.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=185096

I usually leave just a bit if room for the dowel and bond it in with westsystems 404 than cap the ends with 2 layers 1808.

thanks alot!!

what's the best way to fill screw holes that don't go thru the transom? Fill em with 4200?

Just took off a transducer, need to plug the tiny screw holes. Thanks.

Glass dave, I just patch a couple trim tab holes myself. I was talking to Spectrum Color and the owner instructed me that if I did it that way the dowels would eventually soak-up / absorb moisture and pop out and blow through the gel. I used plenty of resin and sealed the exposed end up as well before applying gel. I think I am good and I dont see any problems.

Do you think this guy is going a little on the extreme side? You are totaly my gel-coat hero and have never gave me bad advice, except you make it seem so easy! Your the BEST...thanks!

Why would using the dowel plugs be any different than the wood itself of the transom? I don't see the issue.

I agree. here are a couple pics.

that was always my thought. The trick is to grind them down after its all cured and not to try and do the whole thing at once with short plugs. I also like to glass over them after they have been ground down on the larger ones and always use the high density filler to cap them off.

I would think if the plugs are able to soak anything in after the fact you have other problems.

Looks great Brian!

Thanks dave. What do you reccommend for a high density filler?

I will go ahead and wet sand it out and put a little finish on it.