Aluminum retrival boat repair

[Ron Jefferson]

Guys,

Not sure if anyone is familiar with solid rivet repair or not. I'm trying to fix a small fishing boat and want to replace a dozen or so rivets. Can anyone you tell me if I can do this repair easily myself or should I hire a professional. I stopped by a local shop today that wanted $250.00-$300.00 to do the 12 rivets. Let me know what you think.

ps. The boat is a 12' aluminum that I plan to use as a retrieve boat. Don't want to spend a bunch of money on it.

Thanks, Ron

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[Dan Kramer]

hey ron, got to a semi trailer/truck repair shop. get some pull rivets that are about 1/8" or the size hole you have. these rivets come in varying lengths ,so get a little longer than needed , they collapse to the lenghth needed , they work with a regular rivet gun, , like a klik-fast.when they snap, they have the same torque value. before inserting them, i put a sealant arround them(waterproofing), slide in the hole, pop and done. the sealer i use is a polyurethane sealer/adhesive made/sold by i.e.s. in florida, what i found locally that everyone has accesss to is at mennards, made by zinzer seal, is concrete crack/joint sealant and is grey in color.costs about 4:00 or so a tube. if you needs pics, i can do you some by e-mail. whole (hole -) repair should cost less that $10.00 , unless you neeed a rivet gun.

hope this helps

dan

 

[jeff baham]

ron this is was i did to a riveted boat, i got a friend over to tightened the rivet ourself i took one hammer and put a small dish in the head to fit the rivet outside of boat and let my friend tap on the inside to tighten them up .

 

[Tom Foley]

You could just drill them out and replace with some # 10-24 button or truss head fasteners and call it a day .

 

[ButchLaPorte]

Ron where do u live i see it says ontario . if u are by windsor i have the tool for the rivets ? BUTCH

 

[Ron Olson]

I used to help out a former neighbor with his short-track race car. We used large area pop rivets to attach the body with. You can also get washers to go on the backside. Speed or body shops should have them in stock..

 

[Glenn Gates]

Solid rivets are easy if you have the tools and have done it before. If you can find someone with a background in aircraft sheet metal work it would be a breeze.

 

[Ron Jefferson]

Thanks Glenn, that's exactly what I did today. I remembered my neighbor down the street works at one of the airlines doing repairs. I went and talked to him and he just happens to have the tools right there at the house. He also said he'd bring the materials home from work and do the repair for me. Case of beer should do it. Thanks for all the ideas guys. I got lucky on this one.

Later, Ron

 

[Glenn Gates]

Thanks Glenn, that's exactly what I did today. I remembered my neighbor down the street works at one of the airlines doing repairs. I went and talked to him and he just happens to have the tools right there at the house. He also said he'd bring the materials home from work and do the repair for me. Case of beer should do it. Thanks for all the ideas guys. I got lucky on this one.

Later, Ron

Most of the folks I've worked with in the aircraft sheet metal trade are still good friends even after retirement. If he has you bucking the rivets-hang onto the bar hold it straight and don't drop it whatever you do. Ear plugs or muffs are needed. I've shot and bucked 1/4" " ice box" rivets in confined areas and noise levels can reach 150 Db.