Removing side panels?

[Sea~Lah]

Hi, I have a 25ft 1990 DA
I need to replace the side panels where the speakers are. The wood has rotted.
How do I remove and install new wood? There seems to be no access point.
Linda

 

[Big Island Lifer]

When I removed my side panels it seemed like they were held on by magic. I had a two tone color on the vinyl. In the seam created by the two colors there were screws that went into the side of the boat. You have to find those screws. I wasn't easy and I did a good job of hacking up the vinyl- but I was replacing it anyway so I wasn't worried.

 

[Old Vet]

My wife and I reupholster boat interiors and almost every boat we do is another learning experience.

Different boat manufacturers use different methods. Side panels are held on in different ways and sometimes it takes a little searching to discover how a certain manufacturer did it. The example given below is one way.


"In the seam created by the two colors there were screws that went into the side of the boat. You have to find those screws."

You have to search around in the seams between the two colors with your fingers. You'll sometimes find a tiny little slit in the vinyl covering through which the anchoring screw was installed. It can only be a tiny slit maybe 1/4" to 1/2" long...not really visible when just looking. You have to feel carefully for it with your fingers to discover it.

Some panels have upholstered buttons under which are anchoring screws. Pop those buttons off.

Other panels have small machine screws...or bolts embedded in them which then go through the wall of the boat....nuts on the inside holding them on.

Some boats have "clips" or brackets installed on the wall upon which the panel could be hung....fairly close to the top of the panel. Then there may be a small slit in the vinyl at the bottom....again through which a screw was inserted and screwed to the wall. You may have to find and remove those screws then lift the panel up and off those brackets.

These are the most common ways we've found so far.

There may be other ways we haven't discovered yet. Maybe on the next project. :huh:

If at the end of the day I simply COULD NOT determine how those panels are held on.....since the panel HAS TO BE removed and replaced anyway.....I'd probably consider taking a utility knife and cutting away the old vinyl and foam covering to completely expose the bare plywood panel underneath. That's assuming you weren't planning on reusing the existing vinyl to recover your new plywood panel of course. The method used to secure it would have to become evident then. But one really shouldn't have to do that.

Keep searching...you'll find the screws or bolts holding yours in place.

Good luck.