Fixings for accessories to tinnies

[Poseidon]

Another post recently regarding paint bubbles around accessory fittings prompts me to ask what others have used for fixings, screws, rivets etc of accessories to aluminium boats. Some accessories lean themselves towards rivets and in these cases I would use aluminium rivets. Its when you get things to fix that are not suitable for rivets, recessed holes etc, is the question. If you were to use stainless steel self tapping screws should you prepare the hole through the aluminium with something to prevent the 2 different metals interacting and if so what product ? Many speak about using Duralac, is this successful ? Or do people not worry too much about the stainless screws and just fix away.

Any ideas or tips would be appreciated.

Regards Cameron.

[Blackened]

G'day
Just use duralac. Any other questions, ask grand_marlin.
Dave

[seatime]

Try to avoid SS self tapping screws into alloy, even with paint or duralac, if the alloy touches the SS anywhere at all it will corrode. It's hard to pull up a screw without binding into metal, and this will break away the paint.
If there is room, a piece of plastic or timber behind the alloy could be used to screw into. With oversized holes and gasket type material, interaction of the metals can be avoided.

A couple of times I've attached plastic fittings with alloy rivets the first rivet, if pulled up tight, tends to over tighten the fitting on one corner. Now I only half pull the rivets until all four are equal, then pull them tight alternately.
regards

[fishn-ads]

You can use rivets anywhere just get the 3/16 longer grip length type they make them to about 90mm long the 60mm are a pretty good average (fastener companies like "Conventry" they'll happly sell you a dozen, pick up a tin of industrial lanoline while your there) for recessed uses, use a bit of 1/8 copper tube or the like to make up a spacer to go between the rivet and pliers. There not blind so make sure you put a bit of silicone over the hole in below water applications.

They'll never come loose!!

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[wayneoro]

basics hose down after every trip disconect battery get rid of paint often that is cause my clark abalone is 25yrs old when it started to show first signs of trouble all paint was stripped 7-8 yrs later no change cheers hose the salt off your boat