What Are the Rivets for Boat Floors?

Description

• Rivets are made of steel and are used for producing many different types of goods, including boats. Rivets hold the floor of a boat to the outer material that the boat is constructed from. It is considered a mechanical fastener and is in the shape of a cylinder. A rivet contains a head on one end, and they are placed into pre-drilled holes on a boat's floor.

Types

• There are several different types of rivets used on boat floors and for other purposes. The most common types are standard rivets, countersunk rivets and blind rivets. Standard rivets are primarily used in situations where it is unnecessary to obtain a smooth exterior. On the other hand, people use countersunk rivets when a smooth exterior surface is necessary. Blind rivets are primarily used when access to the joint is limited to only one side.

Problems

• Because rivets permeate through the boat's floor, after years of water exposure, the rivets often loosen up and cause leakage into the boat. If this happens, you can tighten the rivets to try to prevent leakage, but this does not always work. Another way to fix loose rivets is to remove them by drilling them out and replacing them with stainless steel machine screws and washers. One other common problem of rivets is that they are often considered unable to be disassembled. Once a rivet is in, it is very hard to remove one; therefore, generally they must be drilled out.

Advantages

• The primary advantage of using rivets on boat floors is that they are inexpensive and easy to assemble. Being made of steel, rivets tend to be strong and reliable and are ideal for different thicknesses.