Reflooring boats

[Zelmsdawg]

I spent my Easter tinkering with my boat and am playing around with the idea of reflooring it. Its an older boat and some of the wood I think is starting to rot. The only problem is some things, like the livewell and rod holder are riveted to the side of the boat.

Has anyone else ran into this issue and were able to find a way around it? I think it would work cutting or breaking the rivets and just using a screw and nut to re-attach but there has to be a better way. Can someone help me out?

Thanks,

Zelmsdawg

[BoxMN]

Drill out the old rivots. Then when you go to put it back in, get a rivot tool for the air hammer and real rivots, and something to "back" them with. Easy to do, but usually will need two people. It will be tight, strong and look professional.

Go to a Northern store and ask about the stuff, they will show you and teach you how to use it. You just need an air compressor and the rivets and tools.

edit - here is what the rivet tool looks like. Plug it into air hammer, back the rivet with a block of steel, and let a few raps of the gun. Doesn't take much, and don't over do it.

[Slugo]

My advice is do it before the wood is so rotten you don't have a pateren to use. That is what I'm doing and I sure wish I had done it sooner. (or that I was a better carpenter)

[Zelmsdawg]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot

Zelmsdawg