got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

[josh6780]

Ok, It's a 14ft alumacraft. (it's oooooooooolllddd) There are some rivits that are leaving in the middle more in front of the back bench seat. The line in front of it is missing 3 rivits but they are not leaking? No other rivits are leaking. What I planed on doing with this boat is line Xing the floor. So here is my question. Can I just seal the leaks with jb weld. Not worrie about any of the other rivits. Then go have the floor line xed? (hoping the line x will seal pretty much all the rivits so I don't have to worry about this in the future....And it will look good.) Or will I have to worry about something that yall are about to tell me after you read this .

 

[woody20]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

You could jb weld them, but why not get a cheap rivit gun and make it right, or rent the tool from an auto parts store. Many auto zones and CAPs where I live rent tools out.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

are you telling to rerivit the whole boat? I need to know if I have to ever worry about the other rivits in the future after I line x my boat. And I have been reading on here people who try and reivit there boat. and is seems very hard.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

If you use pop rivets they need to be the closed-end style. Most aren't and will allow water to leak if they are below the water line. Before you have it sprayed get it in the water to check for leaks so you know if you have rivets that need attention. Water seeping behind the line-X might cause it to come free and ultimately leak into the boat. <br /><br />You don't need to re-rivet the whole thing, just replace those that are missing. There may be some that leak a bit and they'll need to be "tightened up". You do this by placing a body dolly or some other several pound metallic object on one side of the rivet and pounding it from the other side with a hammer. In most places this is a 2-person operation.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

ok, Well there is bottom paint on the boat. Should I strip all that off and then check for more leaking rivits?

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

just putting this back on top.

 

[DJ]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

Tighten the rivets up with a hammer and block.<br /><br />Coat all the inside seams with Gluv It (West Marine) and it will never leak again.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

someone told me gluv it would crack overtime.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

someone told me gluv it would crack overtime. I think I will just tighten them all and get it sprayed with line x or rhino liner.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

It is much easier to put water inside the boat and see where it leaks outside than the other way around. You can get a look at the entire bottom from the outside. Where ever it leaks take whatever steps are necessary to tighten or replace rivets.

 

[sport15]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

See Granger catologue for a complete range of bucking bars and rivet sets. Solid rivets are the way to go if possable although they are a pain to set. Some times loose rivets just need to be reset if there is enough head left. In the absence of a bucking bar a 2 or 3 pound maul works well.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

I did put water inside the boat. And nothing came leaked. so I dunno. and with it on the trailer. Rivits are also covered up. I am just going to tighten and replace the rivits I need to. Then get it sprayed with rhino or line x.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

how do I know if they are pop rivits?

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

pop rivits have a tail that sticks out to go into the gun

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

well how far do they stick out?

 

[ztim]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

They will stick out far enough for the teeth in the pop riveter to grab. Usually about an inch or so. If you have a good aircraft grade rivet, the stem will break off even with the manufactured head. Then all you need to do is file it even and smooth.<br /><br />The cheap rivets have a stem that will pull all the way through leaving a hole.<br /><br />A solid rivet is best. An air hammer (pneumatic rivet gun) and a bucking bar will ensure a water tight bonding of the metals. Be sure to use a zinc chromate to protect against oxidation. If a solid rivet becomes loose, you can tighten it up again.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

well thats weird. All my rivits stick out at different lengths.

 

[ztim]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

The reason that happens is because the thickness of the combined metal will determine the correct length of the rivet to use. If the rivet (shop side) is too long your stem will snap off in the wrong place. Do a web search for rivets and get the info on how to shoot one properly. You won't be sorry and your work will look good enough to fly.<br /><br />Also, if you use round head rivets, get the set that conforms to it (manufacture end). There is a set for countersunk as well but you probably won't need that for the soft aluminum of a boat.

 

[josh6780]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

ok. I had a welder look at it today. He said they were not pop rivits. And the rivits I have I won't be able to get anywhere. He did however day that I could tighten them up with the two hammers like yall said. But for the rivits that are missing I will have to put some self tapping screws in the the bottom of the boat. What do yall think?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: got a rivited boat. got questions about rivits...

Well if you want to use self tapping screws they should be aluminum and you can coat them with jb weld and install them when the jb weld is wet,<br /><br />Any other screws will cause galvanic corrosion and eat away at the aluminum. Replace the missing rivets with closed end pop rivets.