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I have a 1979 15" 3" sport. The stainless railing fasteners are not holding. I'm assuming that the screws go into wood behind the fiberglass. Any chemical, anchor or technique to get the screws to hold?

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For a lifetime fix, drill out the stripped hole twice the diameter of the screw all the way through the wood backing, which would be 3/8" for a #10 screw, fill completely with White Marine-Tex, sand flush and re-buff the area. Then re-drill for the screw. The fitting will cover the 3/8" dia round, White Marine-Tex filling.

You don't even need to caulk this situation, since now the screw will be seated 100% in a Marine-Tex epoxy "plug". Marine-Tex holds screws like iron, forever!

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Finnegan's fix works.

I went the same route on my Classic Montauk last year, and so far, so good.

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I have never used Finnegan's method but do appreciate knowing it. I use hardwood splinters with two part epoxy that I inject onto the holes (they have the needle nose injectors). I clean, ream the hole with an awl. and vacuum, but do not re-drill. I do not mind feathery edges because it helps to bond the material.Too big a splinter and the method does not work because it throws off the screw. Even a couple splinters. You can dry fit it to see if you are getting a good bite. Inject the epoxy, let it harden, pilot hole, and attach. If I am in a rush I sometimes just use splinters and move on but with boats you need to seal it. The prevailing reason I like Finnegan's method is it gives me another tool for my bag of tricks. I am pretty conservative whenever I do retrofitting and do not like to alter any of the existing conditions. If the splinter method fails (mine have held tight so far)......I then have a virgin area to drill using Finnegan's.

Garris

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Finngen - Would you also recommend this method for repairing transom holes or is that a different animal?

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This fix I mentioned is not for transom holes, the reason being Marine-Tex is an epoxy, which cannot successfully be covered over with gelcoat (won't bond long term). When White Marine-Tex is being used for a screw holding repair, it need not be coated over, since the fitting covers the filled hole. This is the only place where epoxy should be used in a Whaler. For all other repairs, polyester resin based fillers should be used, such as Evercoat Formula 27, which is also made by the maker of Marine-Tex.

For filling large transom holes, such as 1/2" engine bolt holes, first drive in 1/2" plugs cut from marine plywood, then fill the glass skin thickness, both sides of hole, with Evercoat 27, then gelcoat over. For smaller holes, just filler can be used, followed by gelcoat.

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Got it, thanks.