Rivet removal help!!!!

[jwaldrop]

On a small fiberglass boat (14ft) how hard is it to separate the deck from the hull? It looks like that under the rubber bumper (set in an aluminum trim piece) is a series of rivets. It's hard to get to the back sides of many of the rivets to grind them off. Is it relatively easy to drill them from the outside? If not, what is the best way to remove them?

 

[Windykid]

Re: Rivet removal help!!!!

You should be able to drill them from the outside.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Rivet removal help!!!!

if they are the hollow pop-rivets they are easy.
Start with a 1/8" drill bit and drill thru.
If they don't fall apart with the 1/8" try a 3/16" drill bit.
Those are the hole sizes required to install the vast majority of standard pop-rivets. They might want to turn instead of allowing you to drill thru.
If that happens, I use a sharp cold chisel to cut the head off.
Hopefully they used aluminum rivets to make the above easier.
Or if they are the solid rivets, I prefer to use an air chisel to take the heads off.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rivet removal help!!!!

i use a sharp 5/16 bit and it just cuts the head right off, and they usually fall out the back. you don't end up with all those little heads on the drill bit.

 

[jwaldrop]

Re: Rivet removal help!!!!

Unfortunately they had to countersink the rivets to allow the rubber bumper to fit in the aluminum trim. Hopefully I can drill them out. Thanks for the help!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Rivet removal help!!!!

I take a sharp bit, a fast drill, and light pressure on the rivet so as not to catch and spin the rivet if it's loose and not to push through into the hull or anything behind the rivet. Make sure there are no cables or wiring secured on the back side of the rivets to be removed.