3/8" wholes in transom - how would you fix?

[gman1001]

So I removed a pony motor bracket from the boat and whats left are 4 holes above water line. I want to fill them, here is what I'm thinking.

1) take small diameter wood dowel, smear with expoxy put into hole, leave a dimple on the outside and inside of boat. When dry fill with gelcoat on outside, and more expoxy on inside. Sand best I can on outside. (not looking for a perfect job here, just somewhat respectable.

2) Fill each whole with silcone sealant, press SS bolts through holes, snug a nut down on the inside. Call it a day!

What would you guys do?

[McGillicuddy]

Option 1 is the better way. After the bolts come out you might spray down the holes with some alcohol to dry the wood some. I cut dowels to 1-3/8", soak the dowels in "neat" epoxy, tape the downhill side, fill the hole with thickened epoxy then ease the plug in, slowly displacing the putty so the walls of the hole are saturated with epoxy too.

[ricknewman]

Why not just fill with thickened epoxy?