I've used west system, mixing resin and hardner first, then adding Maas brand milled fibers and colloidal silica until it is fairly thick viscous liquid - not soft peaks or peanut butter (too dry).

I use a couple of coats of Nufinish (cheap teflon wax available from wally world for less than five bucks) as mold release. Dan's wax technique is probably better, but life is short <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The sockets get a good clean (wire brushing sometimes) followed by some 60 or 80 grit to key them up, a bit of cross hatching with a screw driver then a wipe with denatured alcohol.

Then I mix up the goo, slap it in, on with the beams and snug the bolts tight while mopping up the excess (the more times you do this the better you get at estimating how much you need to put in the sockets).

Jakes idea with the silly putty makes sense. I've just mixed the goo a bit thicker and avoided the bolt holes and have yet to have a permanently bonded boat (but your mileage may vary).

Chris.