I just got my new side boards made for the new boat and frame and I was wandering if there is anything that is better than rivet nuts to attach them with.
The side boards are 3/4 poplar sanded and sealed with numerous coats of spar. Will post pics in aft porn after I get them on. If that is the best way to attach them does anyone around the Vail of Steamboat area have a rivet nut gun?
All help or advice is appreciated
I just strap mine on. I've thought about rivnuts but don't what to deal with alignment issues if the frame is disassembled for ship/flight/horse back. Of course that would only be a problem for tinker toy frames.
I use, and am very fond of the hose clamps inside clear plastic tubing... It is rock solid and is going to last years... It is also very easy to cary spare parts in case a failure ever did happen..
I made wood side decks with 3/4" marine grade plywood so that I could attach my bimini slide tracks with screws. To attach the side boards to frame I used oversized nrs frame u-bolts and washers countersunk into plywood boards. It's bomber.
I've used both 1/4 well nuts( rivet nuts) and 1/4 pop rivets. A body shop in your area should have both a well nut gun or a rivet gun to pull 1/4 pop. Napa sells a well nut kit for around 80$ its in there auto body section of there tool catalog. Might check out mcmaster car online to see if they have any thing avaliable for a blind hole aplication.
If you do decide to do the well nuts drill your frame first and install the nuts .Then sharpen short pieces of all thread to a point make enough to thread into every hole. Then set your deck on how you want it and take a rubber mallet and tap. You'll know have a board marked to drill.
The well nuts can be a pain in the ass to install if you have an extra piece of tubing practice afew times on it so you exactly how to set the tool up. Its easy to squeeze to hard and break the mandrel.
You can also use the NRS U-bolts. They are easy to align and you can counter sink so everything is flush or lower. Of course not knowing what your frame is I may be giving you useless information.
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