Starcraft hull repair. How many rivets is too many?

[2001GMC]

I am working on fixing an 18ft Starcraft Supersport. It leaked badly. I have stripped it down to the bare hull. While stripping the paint, a lot of rivet heads came off. I have picked up closed end rivets and 3M 4200. Drilled out the ones where the heads came off and so far I have 400 rivets done and still need to do the transom. Is this worth finishing or is the hull toast?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome, Jimmy. :smile: We have a guy here who replaced and added pounds of rivets. As long as you can get a tight rivet and use 3M 5200, not 4200, then seal the inside of the hull with Gluvit or Coat-It, you will have a good tinny. The 5200 vs 4200 thing is because 5200 is for beneath the waterline and 4200 is for above.

Does the hull have corrosion? That can be the killer. If it's not severe, it can be repairable.

Post some pics using Photobucket so we can see what you're working with. The normal pic posting in the forums is having problems following a software upgrade and PB is the best way right now. Besides we like to see big Starcraft photos. LOL

 

[Auger01]

Might want to put some clecoes in the holes to keep everything together until you shoot the rivets.

 

[redneck joe]

The 5200 vs 4200 thing is because 5200 is for beneath the waterline and 4200 is for above.

Only a concern during the curing process, correct?

 

[GA_Boater]

Only a concern during the curing process, correct?

I used my definition for the difference, above and below the waterline. Really, both fit either purpose, but below I only use 5200. Both come in fast cure, about 24 hours and regular cure, about a week for full cure. Both cure to a durable, rubber-like state.

The real difference between them is 5200 is permanent while 4200 is removable - sort of like red and blue Loctite. Permanency is why I use 5200 below the waterline, I don't want any loosening. So banging or squeezing rivets will always get 5200 on my boat because I consider rivets to be a permanent solution.

 

[2001GMC]

No real corrosion. Mostly been a lake boat. The 400 rivets are done and it will sit for a while before I put it in the water to look for more leaks. Glad I picked up an air riveter. I need to build the transom wood and then redo rivets in the transom. I've got gluvit ready to go and epoxy so I'm good to take it to that point and then see if it leaks. I did one side then looked in the hull and things looked good, just seems like a lot of rivets to me is all.

Thanks.

 

[jigngrub]

400 is a lot of rivets, but you should be good to go with the CEBRs. You don't even really need sealant with those rivets, it's just a little added insurance and the 4200 should be fine especially if you're going to gluvit too.