re: Hoists, G80, Beefing Up, Rabbit Trails. . . .

Nail holes aren’t an issue, since they’re not really holes as they’re filled with nails! A drilled hole compromise the integrity of the wood on either side and the load can’t be properly translated, in theory. That said, too many nails too closely together can actually cause a problem, but that’s unlikely. Usually the bigger issue is using the wrong sized nails for the nail pattern and causing a weak joint as a result.