leaky rivets

[WT2]

I have been working on my boat and pulled the flooring up due to rot. I then filled the boat with water and started looking for the source of the rot. I found it, about half the rivets were leaking. Is ther a paint or epoxy that I can spread over the top side before I put a new floor and is there special tools for setting the old rivets?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: leaky rivets

First get a friend and together you should re-buck the rivets. Once that is accomplished you should apply gluvit to the rivets and seams inside the hull. Gluvit is a penetrating epoxy designed for that job.

You can purchase a buck for the rivets but 2 ball peen hammer's work fine and some brass punches (1 ") will help with the close spots.

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

Thanks I just notified my fishing buddy that he has an important job to do. I was wondiering about a tool that held the sampe of the rivet(probably not that important) Thanks again!

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: leaky rivets

As many rivets as you are talking about, Id suggest the whole nine yards. A Compressor (one big enough to deliver the required air volume, An air hammer, the proper set and a bucking bar. Then you and your buddy get a case of beer some earplugs and go to town.
I would practice on a few first. Its impossible to get them all perfect the first go-around.
There is a place that was recommended here on iboats forums where you can buy rivets, and an air hammer. search and you will find. It think its on this restoration one.
You want 3/16 diameter, brazier head.
Do it right now because if you dont, you'll put the floor back in and it will be all for nothing.
Talk a about regret!!
I just did about 375 "rebucks" on my boat. some just plain needed replaced.
I think a bucking bar and hammers is a mistake for that many.
My opinion.

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

You have read my mind,almost. I picked up a air chisel with a rivit setting attachment. So I am buying some beer "Rock Gut" (labor cost are getting too high I will owe my buddy big time) and cranking up the air compressor. I think I will try to reset the rivits first and then fill it up with water and check then follow up with gluvit. I am sure the fish will wait for me to get my boat in order. Thanks.

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: leaky rivets

Make sure the rivet set you use fits the rivet head EXACTLY.

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

The best thing I hope for is that other folks read about my errors and not make them. I finished tightening the marked rivits and I noticed that while I was air hammering them that they seem to have a ring on them from the air hammer. The bit might not have been the correct size. I must admit using the air hammer is the way to go (if I didn't destroy all of them). Tomorrow I will fill the boat with water again and crawl under looking for leaks. If I find some I will replace the rivit. After that I will gluvit the rivit and of get more beer! Thanks again for your comments!

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: leaky rivets

You used the incorrect set.
Its not an airplane so you wont have to worry about falling out of the sky due to rivet failure.
However, you do need to worry about leaving the surface of water and losing your rig.
Most likely, it wont come to that.

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

I went back and rechecked the rivits. I have 12 that are still leaky so I am going to find rivits that you suggested buy a set that isthe correct size and give it a go. There is some good news. My buddys went out fishing the other day froze their butts off and didn't have a bite, so there is still time. Thanks again for the info and I will keep you posted on the prgress.

 

[Turbo7]

Re: leaky rivets

Hey WT2, I have 34 rivets leaking and 2 rips about 6 inches long, I am going to do the same thing you are doing as soon as it warms up a little, Not sure what to do about the 2 rips probley use a patch and rivits, Barges are hard on Alum. boats. Keep us all posted on how it all comes out. Thanks and God Bless Dave

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

Well I found out that the ordering the correct size rivets is not as simple as it sounds so I went a little larger and plan to drill the holes out a little more. I have the gluevit as an added measure so I don't have to go back and pull the floor again. I decided to repalce the entire floor and carpet as well. This is a sickness I have when I get started into a project. I wil keep you posted on my project but on yours I had to beat out some large dents in my boat after a suprise boulder. I could not get the aluminum to stop flexing until I went back to the transom and pounded the corner a little. There was a small ding in the back that was allowing the entire dent to flex in and out. Good luck with the rips. I think if you pound it together and add a patch(along with some gluvit) you should be high and dry.

 

[Turbo7]

Re: leaky rivets

Thank You WT2, You might want to get all your wires and depth finder, trolling motor wires in before you put your floor down. I have to buy a trolling motor and depth finder Nav. lights, fuse pannel before i put my carpeted floor down. I got my motor cover fiberglassed and console done it dont look to bad for D I Y, Where did you get your rivets from. Thanks for your advise, need anything let me know on here. Dave

 

[WT2]

Re: leaky rivets

Sorry for the slow response but I am a slow person. I orded the rivets from ebay. They were a bargin but a little long. I purchased a size bigger 5/16 and the first problem was the air hammer would not crunch them. I then went old school on them with a sledge hammer and a block on the under side(my buddy got the job of holding the block with a piece of steel). This worked well when the rivets were cut just a little longer than the depth of the hole. The rivets that were a little long bent and cause some grief. The block worked only when it was touching the ground so there was no movement. I jacked the boat up so I could use the same 4x4 on each row of rivets. Then I followed up with gluvit. I will do a water test later this week to see if they held. I think the most important things about this is having the rivets almost too short and as Mr. Wagner said have some beer. Also, I wonder if I should have used a hand torch to heat the rivets up that might have made the air hammer more effective. Bashing the rivets with a big sledge was somewhat fun, probably not for the guy holding the block. Good luck!