Riveted or Screwed

[marshmaster pat]

Another question about ya'lls polymer bottoms.

Which is the favorite attachment method, rivets or screws, for polymer bottoms?

With the aircraft aluminum skins, which are thin, I realize rivets are the choice, but what about welded hulls.

I have seen lots of screws back out, but that can be fixed with lock nuts, but that adds weight.

What do ya'll think?

 

[kb27_99]

I favor the rivets if it is a new hull or if they had rivets before. If new plastic is being installed on a older hull that had screws before then screws or the best choice because most of the holes are bigger than normal an its a bit_h to get the rivets to seal in that situation.



Kevin

 

[cntry141iq]

WEll for my 2 cents worth I like screws, I have had sheet metal screws in new fiberglass and slowly replaced them with machine screws and lock nuts. I have had all machine screws with locknuts, worked great. My current hull has machine screws with no lockniuts, alumitech says they threaded the metal and locknuts not required. So far lots of ground runnin, log hoppin, and water runnin and no problems but it is early yet, Time will tell as they say. I have heard the rivets work loose but have no experience with them so it's just hearsay.

 

[mkweaver]

With all the boats we've built, we've used screws. Our first hull took self tapping screws so we didn't use nuts. After time and a bit of beating on the rocks some of the screws would start to leak a little bit. Everything since then has had screws with nuts and roofing washers (metal/neoprene).

Our bottoms are 3/16" 6061-T6 so the self tapping screws held fairly well.

 

[c chardt]

think about running those self tappers in a brand new hull but it won't cost that much more to put nuts on. also don't know if rivits would be the way to go either.brand new aluminum hull with no holes.undesided still

 

[Anonymous]

never fabricate a custom rig with the possibiltys of haveing to redo the work..screw the polymer on the hull with stainless--screws & nylocks and rubberback washers..you want to enjoy your airboat with less worries..
hope i helped

bobby bogle
redriver minis