i have an aluminum diamondback hull and i have a large hole in it and we took the riggin off and flipped the boat to see how bad the hole was and in other places it's about worn out to. i ordered a sheer of polymer any idea's on how to get it off and the new sheet on. the plastic i have it on now is riveted on.
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polymer change
- Thread starter dixie1185
- Start date
goldhunter_2
Well-known member
the hole is in the poly or the aluminum hull:?: if it's in the hull and your around PSL bring it by and we'll see about welding it up for you 
ccasion5:
to change the poly and (someone correct me if I am wrong) you have to drill the rivets out. Some guys try to use the same holes, some weld the up the old holes and drill new holes. some boats are done with rivets others with screws and some like mine have bolts.
ccasion5: to change the poly and (someone correct me if I am wrong) you have to drill the rivets out. Some guys try to use the same holes, some weld the up the old holes and drill new holes. some boats are done with rivets others with screws and some like mine have bolts.
It`s a pain no matter how you do it.I like the security of ss screws and poly lock nuts.I just finished my boat with new stringers and poly after two years,took it out saturday running some dry trails and found an engine block at about 30mph, ripped a BIG hole in my new poly and busted my new stringers :evil: if i had screws it probably would have pulled them out and flipped the boat.
CRACKERSTYLE
Well-known member
We usually take a flat shovel or one you use on taking shingles off a roof. We put it between the polymer and hull and it bust those soft rivet heads rite off. Keep one or two guys pulling on the poly as you slide the shovel (forcefully) back and forth inbetween the poly and hull. Takes about 10 minutes to pull off. Then you can install the new poly.
Airboatcapt2
Well-known member
If you have air tools you can use a air hammer with a chisel point and cut the rivits right of then go back with a hammer and punch you can knock them out of the hull. Poly removal is about 10 minutes. Then is you have air tool with the hull upside down. (Safely secured to saw horses) Then you can use the existing holes for reriviting the polymer back on. if you have 1/4 holes I suggest upgrading to 5/16 rivets.
Airboatcapt2
Well-known member
I wouldn't use that method unless you have no other way to get it off.
Getting the old poly off isn't that bad, just time consuming.
Go slow and be careful because you'll want to protect the hull. Like Faron said, plan on going back with a larger rivet the next time if you're riveting, and like Cowboy said, you'll want to clean the hull good and coat it before you put on the new poly to prevent corrosion if it's an aluminum hull.
When you lay the new poly on the hull, it's best to do it on a day when there's a lot of warm bright sun. Have the hull up on at least a pair of good sturdy saw horses and well supported, lay the sheet of new poly on it and then wait for the sun to warm it up so it's a lot more flexible and expanded.
After it's nice and warm, put a man under the boat with a drill with a 1/16th inch drill bit. He'll drill up through the old holes in the hull to mark them for the man on top, and then the top man will drill down to finish the hole.
The secret is to not rush the job. Go at it like this is the last time you intend to do it and you'll be proud of the results.
olf
Go slow and be careful because you'll want to protect the hull. Like Faron said, plan on going back with a larger rivet the next time if you're riveting, and like Cowboy said, you'll want to clean the hull good and coat it before you put on the new poly to prevent corrosion if it's an aluminum hull.
When you lay the new poly on the hull, it's best to do it on a day when there's a lot of warm bright sun. Have the hull up on at least a pair of good sturdy saw horses and well supported, lay the sheet of new poly on it and then wait for the sun to warm it up so it's a lot more flexible and expanded.
After it's nice and warm, put a man under the boat with a drill with a 1/16th inch drill bit. He'll drill up through the old holes in the hull to mark them for the man on top, and then the top man will drill down to finish the hole.
The secret is to not rush the job. Go at it like this is the last time you intend to do it and you'll be proud of the results.
olf
Airboatcapt2
Well-known member
You also never let off the rivit until the hammer stops. Bump them another second and they should seal off if not tap them on the inside with a hammer one time. If the have been hammered out to a pancake then drill it out and do it again.