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My Crestliner 2070 center console has a welded aluminum hull but most of the interior work (decks, console, flooring) is riveted. I have about 10 that have broken so far with several more ready to go soon. I replaced a few with the largest rivets I could find at Lowes (3/16" pop rivets) but these rivets don't have the thicker, rounded head as the factory rivets and likely will fail too (and probably faster).
Wondering how others repaired any rivets in a similar style boat? These appear to be pop rivets, not solid rivets. I plan to ask the warranty folks for some replacement rivets as my dealer replaced a few awhile back and he just used cheesy thin pop rivets and I can do that without a 50 mile tow.
I checked mcmasters.com and that isn't a working address. is there another? And are these pop rivets? As I can't access the backside to smash any solid rivets.
Crestliner said they were stainless steel rivets and require a pneumatic pop rivet gun. They are sending me more rivets and I will find someone with the right tool.
I don't quite remember all of my metallurgy, but it seems to me that joining two dissimilar metals leads to microscopic galvanic corrosion, especially in the presence of salt water. You may be having a bigger problem in the future than you think in the future.
If McMaster Carr doesn't have it (hardware related), then it probably doesn't exist. They have a great site, not to mention one of the most effective search features I have ever seen.
If you want something stronger than a pop (blind) rivet, you can try this old trick if the guage of the aluminum is thick enough.
Use stainless round head fine thread machine screws. Better yet get "button head" screws that use an allen (hex) key. Use a dab of 4200 before you drive it in. Works well as long as the metal isn't too thin. Of course a nut on the back would be perfect
McMasters rules when it comes to hardware ( and other stuff as well) and Autobahn is right about their search feature.............great site, great products, and NO I don't work there....................
The cherry n or cherry q rivets should work with a standard puller. I think the cherry max rivets require a special puller.
Try and find a general aviation airport nearby you and see if there is a mechanics shops located on it. They might have these rivets available and who knows, might even pull them for you.