1973 Starcraft Nova side panel removal

[Moto_boat]

Hello everyone!

I bought my first boat which is a 1973 starcraft Nova! I absolutely love the boat!

It's in really nice shape and looks to be all original and very well kept!

I am however looking to re-carpet the boat. I have removed all of the screws on the lower trim and upper trim pieces on the side panels but they won't budge? Do I have to drill out the large rivets on the side panels? Also if I do- is it hard to source those large head rivets?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Redtruck12]

Welcome to the forum.
pictures of what you’re dealing with will definitely help.
my 74 Duo Vagabond is the twin to a Starcraft Capri had 2 brackets along the bottom inside and about 6 nuts high on the inside of the panel if that helps
but mine is a glass boat

 

[Moto_boat]

You can see the panel behind and to the left of me. I'll get another picture later this evening.

 

[GA_Boater]

Feel the other side of the rivet inside the tray for threads or flattened rivet. My SC has large screws, not rivets but a PO may have switched to screws.

And yes, they gotta come out.

 

[Moto_boat]

Got the panels off last night! Carpet came up and I will be putting new carpet back in today. The floor looks great! I noticed some of the wood is a bit wet under my splash well though. Transom is dry as a bone and I have never seen the bilge pump run nor have I seen any water come from the drain plug so im assuming I have some leaks around the splash well.

What's the best sealer that I can use? Should I just remove the splash well and re seal it?