Removing Rivets

[Arkman]

I'm about to start working on my transom and I'm not sure which rivets need to come out. How do I tell which rivets go all the way through both sides? Does a drill work best to take out the rivets? Right now I have removed all screws and bolts that when all the way through and I'm just trying to get my cap off. I attached a photo of the cap so you can see which rivets i'm talking about. You can see why I want to take it off (aside from the rotten wood inside).

What do you think...How do I get those babies out of there?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Removing Rivets

I usually start plucking them with a drill bit don't go too far just till the heads pop, if they start to spin you have to grind the heads off or use a cold chisel being careful you don't damage the cap.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Damage the cap! HAHA, did you see that thing? I'm just kidding, yeah, I thought about grinding but didn't want to rip up the cap. So do I drill out both sides of the rivet? I suppose that makes sense, then i dont have to get the middle out it will just come with the wood.

Thanks agian!

Josh

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Removing Rivets

I would save that cap, it's fixable. All you have to do is drill just the heads for starters, and then just a little pry and the cap will more than likely pop loose from the rivit, when it's off then you'll see a little more of going on behind there, it mignt not be too bad at all. the rivits look standard 3/16" so start with that bit and just take the heads off.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Removing Rivets

Drilling from the head side of the rivet, I have always used a drill bit 1/16 - 1/8 larger than the stem of the rivet. Use slow speed and even pressure hoping the rivet doesnt spin the head. If it does, you can usually secure it from the back side, unless it is a blind rivet. In that case I usually slip a putty knife tip under the head and pry out while drilling. Good luck!

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Thanks for the info. I'm planning on keeping the cap. Try to fix it up. Sadly as crappy as the cap is, its one of the nicest things on the boat.

I still can't figure out if any of the other rivets farther down the transom go all the way through or not...I hope not, I dont want to have to drill a ton out, but who knows.

Thanks again all!
Josh

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Removing Rivets

Grind em, drill em...... anything that works. When you are done go to the hardware stoore and but a piece of aluminum angle ....... like 2" x 2" and use it to cover the torn aluminum. You can make your own cap to repair that one.

Look at this post and it shows a transom cap old and new using aluminum angle. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288703

 

[sschefer]

Re: Removing Rivets

I've never seen a 1-1/2" long rivet, blind or otherwise used on a transom. the remaining rivets are likely the hull connectors where the sides and bottom meet the transom. You shouldn't have to take any of those out yet. If they are blind rivets (commonly known as pop-rivets) then you can usually safely remove them. If you're leaking at the seams you can re-peen the rivets or replace them with #10-24tpi, 18-8 Stainless Steel Truss Head screws and nylon insert lock washers.

1 caveat: Never disconnect a transom completely from the sides and bottom at the seams unless you have the boat jigged up. If you do, the odds are against you that you ever get the boat aligned properly again. That's advice I was given from a pro boat builder not my own.

It's alright to remove the transom board. That is a replacable item.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Well I got the cap off. Its not pretty in there. Im glad I decided to replace it. So, I'm not sure how many of these things to take off. Do I have to drill out the ones with the arrows pointing to it in the photo below? All of the ones with arrows have another head on the inside of the transom. So i think they go all the way through.

Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Removing Rivets

It's an aluminum boat...... can you get a photo from the inside?

I bet those rivets go directly into the knee braces and will not have to be removed. Look at the post I left above (look at the link) and examine the knee breaces in those pictures. Is that what you have?

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Some of them go directly into the knee braces some of them just go all the way through it appears. The one with the arrow is in the knee brace, the one just above it in the photo doesn't really go into anything, I dont think.

Does that make sense?

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Well, ok, I see they dont have to be removed, I dont think. The wood only goes down about 8", those rivets are below that. Trial and error. I still cant get the wood out, so I'll keep working at it.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Removing Rivets

Victory!!! I found one bolt that had no head or nut but was still holding...I punched that out and pulled really hard. It worked!!!

Thanks for the help!