I do completely the opposite!

I like staple holes! It makes the boat look hand crafted ... I never fill 'em.

Gaps I fill with a mixture of epoxy, wood flour and Cabosil ... mixed not to match but to be darker than the wood because an exact match is impossible. I tape off each gap, fill it, scrape off the excess and pull the tape ... no sanding required and works fine.

Ken Blanton

: Hello
: I would recommends you stay away from all filling along gaps. I
: have heavily researched the use of filler and from experience,
: my own and others, the filler always appears a different color
: or changes color at a different rate than the strips surrounding
: the fill. Go ahead and fill staple holes since the damage to the
: wood cells will already result in a darker color.

: I do not even attempt to use filler, it never appears satisfactory.
: However if you do, durhams sands well, oil based are hard to
: apply but match ok, saw dust is damaged wood and will be darker
: when wet.
: Gaps in dark decks are hard to see light decks show gaps better.

: Carefull fitting is the best cure.

: Robert, visionary