[C320-list] Sail Slide gate

[Crosby Roper]

Hi all and Happy Thanksgiving. I just replaced my mainsail and managed to strip one of the holes in the aluminum mast that fastens the small metal gate over the area into which the slugs (slides?) are inserted. Whoever initially placed the holes misfired so there are actually two holes very close together horizontally. I am planning to re-tap the holes to a slightly larger size but am wondering if there is anything I could fill them with that would be hard enough to accept tapping and a bolt. I spoke with a marine metal fabricator and he suggest welding the area, but that seem a bit extreme. Has anyone else had this issue? Any Fixes?

Crosby  Roper VMD