Repairing Holes In Aluminum Boat?

[Smossy]

Ill have to wait a day or two untill I head back out to roy to take some closer photos of where the repairs/rivets need to be done. Im about 30 mins away right now.

[Hilltop123]

Leaky rivets, been there done that...........the redneck way is to drill out the old rivets and replace with nut and bolt, with a nice rubber gasket.  She ain't purdy, but she don't leak........just a helpful tip from the hillbilly section

[Smossy]

Next question, should I just remove/uninstall all current rivet's in the boat, then redo them all? Or just repair what ones "I think" need fixing.

[KFhunter]

That's a nice little project there 


If you decide to rivet it yourself just pratice on scrap metals, just use low air pressure and a lot of trigger control on the rivet gun or you'll walk that sucker and leave a bunch of pucker smiles or flatten the rivet too much.


It isn't rocket science.   Also get you a cleco kit, almost a must have for projects like this.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/390611977218?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

[Hilltop123]

If they ain't broke, why fix them.....

[Smossy]

Leaky rivets, been there done that...........the redneck way is to drill out the old rivets and replace with nut and bolt, with a nice rubber gasket.  She ain't purdy, but she don't leak........just a helpful tip from the hillbilly section

Haha. Great Idea but I want it to look good also so it will hold some resale value down the road just incase. Aluminum boats seem to be real saught after these days from what I see.

[Smossy]

That's a nice little project there 


If you decide to rivet it yourself just pratice on scrap metals, just use low air pressure and a lot of trigger control on the rivet gun or you'll walk that sucker and leave a bunch of pucker smiles or flatten the rivet too much.


It isn't rocket science.   Also get you a cleco kit, almost a must have for projects like this.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/390611977218?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

What exactly is that celco kit, like a small scale hand rivet?

[Smossy]

If they ain't broke, why fix them.....

True. Just means more work.

[KFhunter]

Next question, should I just remove/uninstall all current rivet's in the boat, then redo them all? Or just repair what ones "I think" need fixing.

oh hell no 

just see if they'll spin or wiggle,  you'll see wear marks where the head is loose and working.  drill the heads with a drill bit and pop out the rivet then re-drill the hole and replace with a slightly larger rivet.  It'll be easier to drill if you have a punch and make a divit in the top of the rivet head so your bit don't walk around.

[Smossy]

Next question, should I just remove/uninstall all current rivet's in the boat, then redo them all? Or just repair what ones "I think" need fixing.

oh hell no 

just see if they'll spin or wiggle,  you'll see wear marks where the head is loose and working.  drill the heads with a drill bit and pop out the rivet then re-drill the hole and replace with a slightly larger rivet.  It'll be easier to drill if you have a punch and make a divit in the top of the rivet head so your bit don't walk around.

Cool, sounds do-able. Can you rent those rivet guns at like homedepot or anything? We have an air compressor so thats covered.
What kind of psi is considered low on those things? "The rivet guns"

[KFhunter]

a cleco is just a holder nothing more really,  you put it in the drilled holes and it'll suck up the two sheets and hold them tight while you drill out the rest for patching the holes.


how to remvoe a rivet
Solid rivet removal.mpg

[Hilltop123]

Next question, should I just remove/uninstall all current rivet's in the boat, then redo them all? Or just repair what ones "I think" need fixing.

oh hell no 

just see if they'll spin or wiggle,  you'll see wear marks where the head is loose and working.  drill the heads with a drill bit and pop out the rivet then re-drill the hole and replace with a slightly larger rivet.  It'll be easier to drill if you have a punch and make a divit in the top of the rivet head so your bit don't walk around.

ROTFLMAO............"oh hell no"

You may also see a black residue around loose rivets...my experience with riveted boats, says, overpowering the boat with an outboard and beating it to death, is usually what loosens rivets. does it look like someone had an outboard on it?

[Smossy]

Next question, should I just remove/uninstall all current rivet's in the boat, then redo them all? Or just repair what ones "I think" need fixing.

oh hell no 

just see if they'll spin or wiggle,  you'll see wear marks where the head is loose and working.  drill the heads with a drill bit and pop out the rivet then re-drill the hole and replace with a slightly larger rivet.  It'll be easier to drill if you have a punch and make a divit in the top of the rivet head so your bit don't walk around.

ROTFLMAO............"oh hell no"

You may also see a black residue around loose rivets...my experience with riveted boats, says, overpowering the boat with an outboard and beating it to death, is usually what loosens rivets. does it look like someone had an outboard on it?

Yeah, it does actually. The stern "I think" is all beat up and the top of the aluminum on the boarder is all torn like there was alot of weight on it. Going to need repaired also but It doesnt effect the way it floats. I only plan on using a 30lb thrust trolling motor.

[Hilltop123]

then fix the leaks and then you can enjoy the ride...........now if it was me, I'd just throw in a bigger bailer.....but that's just me, not very fashionable but functional.

[robodad]

Gluvit or Rhino Lining should fix it up and also any others that want to come loose.