Hi folks, quick question. Tomorrow I am replacing my GPS unit with a new one and a RAM mount. The new mount has a smaller footprint which is going to leave the old screw holes exposed. Anyone have any tricks for filling/hiding them? This is all happening on the plastic beside the console. It is a tracker 190 for reference.

 

Thanks for any tips!

Hello Mikie and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

 

Can't help with the console holes, not exactly familiar with that rig.

A-Jay

Thanks for the welcome. I will take a pic tomorrow while I am working on it. It is basically just screw holes in plastic. There will be 4 left exposed after the swap and it will bug me forever if I don't do something with them lol

Have you considered fabricating a mounting plate to cover the holes?

The mounting plate idea would work.

 

Lots of thing you could use to fill the holes (epoxy, fiberglass, liquid steel of various brands - QuickSteel, Permatex).

 

Your problem is going to come in making the filler match the finish of the plastic.

 

There's really only one way to do that, unless you get really lucky: Take it off the boat, fill the holes, paint the whole thing.

 

 

Adapter plate is the easiest and cleanest way to go. Find a piece of black lexan polycarbinate, it's easy to fabricate about 3/16" thick. Fill the old holes with 3M 5200 sealant, make the plate about 1/4" larger than the out original hole pattern, drill the new pattern in the lexan plate using the new mounting bracket as a pattern, then drill the console using the new mounting plate as a pattern, bolt both the adapter plate and mounting plate to the console.

Tom

Thanks for the ideas on the adapter plate I hadn't considered that. I can actually cut out a piece of black Lexan at work.

 

The only idea I came up with was having 4 small dots vinyl cut and filling the holes with sealant and cover them. Color wouldn't be perfect but we have a grey vinyl and a cutter at work.

 

Thanks again for the ideas, I think the plate would be the best idea.

Filler plate is a good option especially in your situation. My friend covered a bigger hole that was drilled into his tracker console by a previous owner with an aluminum type tape, and then placed a decal over that. Not perfect, but good enough for it not to be an eyesore. Not ideal for your situation, but if anyone else sees this looking to solve that issue it's out there. 

I have some product that I have seen used for patching on glass boats where GPS pucks were removed and old finder holes in the glass.  https://www.gator-guards.com/gatorskinz/

Thanks for the additional tips. I wouldn't be so concerned with cosmetic issues, but it's only a week old lol

Go to your local hardware store and get a few rubber plugs. They come in small, like 1/8" diameter and get larger. You can get them in flat tops and round tops. I used a couple on my glass boat on top of the console, and the black just bended in. Better than looking at a hole.