Fixing holes

[midwestfisher]

Folks, I have removed a couple of deckhands that were on my Tracker PT175.
I am looking for a way to "plug the holes" from the bolts in the aluminum.
Don't have access to any welding type tools.
Any ideas would be a great help.

Tight lines...

 

[Ray Clark]

How big are the holes? Do you want to make it look new, or appearance doesn't matter? Pics would help.

 

[DaleH]

Simple ... blind pop rivets will do it. Can advise choices, IF we know the diameter needed ...

 

[airshot]

Yep...all depends on how big and where the holes are at !!

 

[midwestfisher]

Here are pics. Am not expecting it o look like new. Just want to make these more asthetically pleasing.

Thanks

 

[thill]

I've used many of these caps, with a little dab of silicone, E6000 or other sealant: They are low profile and really look finished.


Or for bigger holes...



One nice thing about these is you can easily pry or drill them out and resuming using the holes again at any time.

Google "plastic screw caps."

 

[jumbo16]

If those are flat surfaces alumiweld is your best bet, the rods sold at Harbor Freight are basically the same thing. What I do is put a little piece of steel on the other side of the hole then heat up the surface with a gas torch (I use maap gas) then melt the rod on the hot surface to fill the holes, grind down the aluminum with a grinder and you have a permanent solution. There are lots of YouTube videos showing the process.

 

[DaleH]

Now that is a wicked cool idea as posted by Thill!

 

[midwestfisher]

Want to thank you all for great ideas. Appreciate you folks helping out. Will post pics after I fix them.

 

[sonny.barile]

for internal stuff like that I just dab a little sealant under the head of an aluminum rivet and pop it in.