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Thanks Joe for clarifying. That makes sense....and again all thank you for the insights.

I got the hull edge cleaned up tonight and it looks good. I'll fill the old holes tomorrow. I plan to mark the position of the old rivet holes with pieces of tape on the top of the gunwale set back from the edge. This way when I install the new rail I can avoid placing a new rivet in the same place an old one was - when possible.