Fastening Things In Or On To A Boat

Fastening Things In Or On To A Boat

When you need to mount something in a boat, you have a few options you can use. What you are mounting it to and what it is made of will help you determine the type of fastener you need.

Bolts are my first choice for most things, BUT you have to have access both sides of the hole so you can put a nut and washer on the bolt. You can use a backing plate on the inside to give more strength to the mount.

If you cannot get access to the back side to put a nut on, you can use a machine screw, but you need to be able to tap the hole so you can just thread the screw in, and the material has to be made of something that you can tap.

Sheet-metal screws and would screws are self-tapping and they will cut a thread in the sides of a drilled hole. These work well if what you are putting them in is thick enough to be able to let you have taped sides of the hole.

Rivets can be a great option. They need to be of the correct length and you only need access from one side. I am finding I am using more and more rivets these days because they are so easy and they are easy to remove also.