Easy fix?

[Stevens520]

Just wandered out to take a another look at my trailer winch/bow eye setup and found this.

So now a question for the repair gurus around here; how hard to fix?

 

[barato2]

Re: Easy fix?

no guru here, just the perpetrator of 40+ yrs of Deep South Engineering

that's well above waterline and i think you have decent access to back side of those rivets, so prolly not too hard at all. can you move the bow eye when you really pull or pry on it? if so, i'd look really hard at the remaining rivets, rebuck em all, and replace the missing one with a stainless bolt & nut (rivet would be better but not worth buying a pound just to get one or 2. maybe some Starmadan can spot you one or 2?). probably best to install the bolt and nut and use it to pull pieces together before you rebuck rivets. if not, same plan more or less. don't forget the 5200 on bolt

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Yep, it does wiggle like a loose tooth.:facepalm: Was thinking about using bolts, but being an aluminum newb, I keep hearing to not mix metals due to corrosion.Which being new to aluminum construction.....how do you rebuck a rivet?

 

[barato2]

Re: Easy fix?

grossly oversimplified version of answer: hit head with a big hammer while an accomplice holds a heavy hunk of metal against the back side.

On installation the rivet is placed in a punched or drilled hole, and the tail is upset, or bucked (i.e., deformed), so that it expands to about 1.5 times the original shaft diameter, holding the rivet in place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivets

you'll be in fresh water and this fix will be above water line so i wouldn't worry abt the galvanic corrosion issues from using SS.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Thanks barato! My dealings with rivets have many limited to putting new linings on big truck brake shoes, so I get the idea. Since I'm using the boat in fresh water only, I may just replace them all with SS and a bigger backing plate; didn't know that saltwater was needed to start the galvanic corrosion process (did I already say I was a newb with aluminum boats?) Thanks again for the tips.

 

[North Beach]

Re: Easy fix?

I'd rebuck the ones that are left and install ss bolts in any hole that the rivet is missing.

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Easy fix?

I would go with the SS screws and larger backing plate. My eye had the screws imbedded in the eye so all I had to do was carve down the new marine ply to fit the bow angle, drill it out, and screw it tight.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Thanks for all the tips Looks like the hardest part is going to be getting access to them.It looks like I'm going to have to remove some flooring, since they are located at the forward end of the anchor locker (lid is located in the cushion cut out in the pic)

I could try to squeeze in through the lid; but I don't really care to see the looks on fire fighter faces when they come to pull me out.

 

[Dirt_Farmer]

Re: Easy fix?

I could try to squeeze in through the lid; but I don't really care to see the looks on fire fighter faces when they come to pull me out.

Got a 75lb neighbors kid who wants to make $20?

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Re: Easy fix?

Got a 75lb neighbors kid who wants to make $20?

Do you trust the 75lb neighbor kid with your boat though... haha

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Got a 75lb neighbors kid who wants to make $20?

I have a 60lb slave (my daughter) that will do it for free.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Found a good video on the riveting process after a little looking. I already have an air chisel, now just have to find a rivet set for it and a buck; need to grab some rivets too; who know how many I may need to wind up replacing, plus any other projects i can find to use them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hB3rIECtxM&feature=related

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Easy fix?

If all else fails, you can remove it altogether and fill in the old holes with some JB marine putty, then install a new bow eye, or use a SS eye bolt like I did. They're great. Just one hole to drill, only costs about 1/3 what a shiny, chrome plated "bow eye" would run you and you can get it at any lowes/HD for <$5. Just put a few SS washers on either side for good measure, you could even seal around it with some 3M 5200, if really wanted to, but I've never had an issue with mine leaking.

 

[barato2]

Re: Easy fix?

i'd only use the eyebolt as a last resort. even with backing washers, i don't see it not moving around when yanked on when it only has the thickness of the alum hull to support it. would be a different matter if you had 1" of fiberglass to stick the shaft through. if you do this plan, make up a backing block to fit into the "V" so eyebolt can't wobble around.

 

[Stevens520]

Re: Easy fix?

Wound up taking part of the floor out this morning, and got access to the back of the rivets. Think I have it squared away with the exception of a new stainless bolt,washer,nut and some 5200.

And looks like some practice re installing floors before doing the cockpit floor as well. Thanks again for all the help.