Deck holes

[Craig H]

Can anyone offer any advice on filling old screw holes in the deck. I need to move my console which was fitted in the wrong position by the previous owner & this is obviously going to leave a load of holes.

Also, once I've drilled the new holes do I need to put any sealer in them prior to inserting the screw? I used to work in a ski shop at weekends and when we fitted bindings to skis we allways put in a drop or two of waterproof adhesive prior to inserting the screws to stop water getting into the skis core.

[Hightower]

If ya got a white deck, its easy to fill the holes. Get hold of some Gel coat mix or the plastic padding Gel coat repair paste, mix it up and fill your holes.

For the console. I would mark out your position on the deck with a pencil, drill all the holes in the base of console(your porobably using existing holes) and pilot all of the holes in the deck. Put some masking tape onto the deck, right up to the pencil line and start laying the sealant/glue down. When finished get a friend to help lay the console in place and fix with SS screws with penny washers. Depending on what type of sealant/glue you use dictates how you screw down, read the instuctions of your chosen weapon. When done remove the masking tape and any overspill.

The seal made around the bottom if done correctly will not let water ingress the holes made by the screws, unless you are filling it from the inside(assuming the holes are inside the console). If they're outside then yes you must seal the holes and screws but I wouldn't bother doing this during installation. You can, a day or two later remove the screws one at a time and squirt sealant down the hole and replace screw, but it's upto you.

Andy

[Nick Hearne]

I would go along the root of sealing any holes be they on the deck or in a so called dry locker! Water tends to get anywhere so why give it a chance of getting in to your ply floor!
Nick

[Nemo]

What you need to do is,

Open out the holes with a large drill bit or a counter sunk bit to feather the edges makes the holes easier to blend in than sharp edges. Then fill with chopped fibreglass mat and resin till the deck level then cover with the same colour gel coat.

Im no expert but thats how i would do it

[Craig H]

Thanks guys, I was hoping someone was going to say something as easy as squirting a bit of white bathroom sealer down the old holes!

What kind of sealer do you recomend I apply to the bottem of the console and new screws?

[slimtim]

Never done it myself but I believe Sikaflex is the dogs danglies. Not completely sure which type of Sikaflex though.

Hope that helps.

Tim

[Nick Hearne]

Yep would second Sikaflex to do the Job!
What color is your deck?
Nick

[Alan]

Bathroom sealant wont work so dont take that tempting cheaper option! Genuinue sikalflex is the thing if you want to just bodge rather than drilling out and reglassing. (& in your shoes I'd use the sikaflex!)

[Scary Des]

I agree that sikalflex is good when sealing rough surfaces, but if you are sealing a smooth surfaces I think ARBOKOL 1000 is better, it remains more flexible, has better tolerance to heat changes and in a lot of ways is easier to use. Des

[Craig H]

Thanks,

Both the console and deck are white and have smooth mating surfaces so maybe the arbokol would be better?

I read some earlier threads about patching up chips in the hull. I understand the general advice is dont use car body filler because it absorbs water, but there are many versions of a product called bridging paste which is an epoxy resin mixed with short strands of glass fibre for bridging larger holes in metal work. It is 100% waterproof. I think it would make a good hull repair paste from the few times I've tried it on cars. Has anyone tried this on their hull?