Rivets in an Aluminum boat

[dakawan]

I recently inherited a small aluminum boat from my uncle. The seating is two aluminum sheets folded and riveted to the boat frame. I want to take those out and make some nice wooden seats . How would I go about fixing the holes after I'm done drilling them out? Would I re-rivet it with waterproof rivets? Also is there something i could paint onto the outside of the boat to seal around the rivets more throughly.

 

[PaulyV]

Re: Rivets in an Aluminum boat

Dakawan, Do a search for GLUVIT. That product will seal all rivets and seams on the boat. You can look at my restore and it shows the process which you will need to follow. Most everybody that owns a tinny here has used this product. A 2lb can will be more than enough for your boat. if the GLUVIT is exposed you will need to paint it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rivets in an Aluminum boat

The seating is two aluminum sheets folded and riveted to the boat frame. I want to take those out and make some nice wooden seats .

Ayuh,... That's usually a very Bad idea,.... The seats are Structural to the hull...

 

[dakawan]

Re: Rivets in an Aluminum boat

Ayuh,... That's usually a very Bad idea,.... The seats are Structural to the hull...

Could I just basically make two posts under the wood seats to recreate that. Would make the boat 20lbs heavier though. Could I use self tapping screws and screw a wood plank on top of the aluminum seats? I frankly just hate the seat positioning! I will have to think of something.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Rivets in an Aluminum boat

Could I use self tapping screws and screw a wood plank on top of the aluminum seats? I frankly just hate the seat positioning! I will have to think of something.

Ayuh,... What, Exactly is your Issue with the seating arrangement,..??
Weight is usually a Bad thing in a 14' tinny.... The higher it sets, the worse it is....

 

[dakawan]

Re: Rivets in an Aluminum boat

It's not 14' its more like 8' nothing special. Uncle gave it to me cause he thought he was gonna die of lung cancer.

The seating is one seat in the middle, and one in the bow basically kiddy cornered. It's been sitting around for 30 years in a shed. My feeling was I wanted to make it more mine. There must be many things about small boats I'm missing.