With my stainless rails, the bolts were a larger diameter, hence the nut was a larger diameter, hence again the hole in the wood handrail below decks had to be larger to accomodate the nut. So I didn't worry too much about making a mess getting the old plugs out. As it turned out, they came out pretty easy with a small chisel, and didn't gouge the wood much at all. I enlarged the holes carefully with a drill press and Forstner bit. I steadied the rail in a heavy clamp, then with an appropriately sized bit, I enlarged the original hole in the rail, then, without moving the clamp or the rail, I changed to the Forstner bit so it would be precicely aligned with the hole just enlarged in the rail. Its a bit tedious changing bits back and forth but its the best way to be perfectly aligned. Anyway, I did something right because everything fit when I was done. Good luck!
