I have never used JB weld so I don't know anything about that. I had a similiar problem, problems.

To fix the rivet you have to be able to get to both sides of the rivet which means taking out floor the deck. Mind you that there may be foam in there which needs to be replaced with closed cell foam. I got my foam from a boat manufactorer. If you use just any kind of foam it will soak up the water.

You drill a hole in the center of the bad rivet and It will come out of the hole. Then you need to put another rivet in there prefferably purchased from an aluminum boat maker. There are many grades of rivits. Now you need access to an air rivot gun. Tractor trailer and airplne repair places, and an occasional boat dealer will have one. Or you can do it by hand useng a rivit tool that fits over the head of the rivit (the correct size). With you banging on the rivit tool under boat and your buddy pressing a flat steel bar on the flat side of the rivot inside the boat the rivit will form a nice flat surface and pull the two pices of aluminum together. They are called buck rivits I think.

I was told that welding reduces the strength of the surrounding aluminum area. JB weld may hold in the middle of a flat surface but I can't imagine how it will hold two seperate pieces together when you are pounding the waves with three of your buddies in the boat. Lke onemorecast daid there may not be a lot of rivits there so you might consider adding more so you don't have to rip out the deck again.

Considering the amonut of work it takes to rip out and replade the deck including ne carpet JB Weld maybe worth a try. Sometmes though the longest way is the shortest way.

I've got names and numbers of a place that sells the hand tools and rivits if you go that route, give me a shout.

I "know your pain". It really bothers me when a boat will not to the most basic thing it was desighed for which is float.

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