6 months in my leaking boat fixed

[whiteman]

All year back at the ramp I'd empty around 20 litres of water when the bungs were taken out. Decided to try and find the culprit by filling the boat with lots of water back at home. Turns out it was a corroded pop rivet - one of the four that holds one of the bung holes in place - boat is a Quinnie.

Next door neighbour predicted this as he says pop rivets will corrode from inside and create a hole right through. Replaced the rivet and added a touch of silicon to all the rivets.

Maybe others have had this problem?

[BLOOEY]

Yes I have had the same thing even though they were blind rivets. Ben

[mojoe1]

Yer me to been there done that even used the silicon. it must be more common than u think mine may have been 2 year old.

[thylacene]

Pop rivets have a mild steel shaft (unless you specifically seek out specialist stainless rivets) even the stainless rivets. Alloy rivets with steel inserts in saltwater you get corrosion from salt and also being dissimilar metals. cover both sides of the river with silicone/sikflex. Dont use stainless rivets on alloy underwater unless you really have them sealed off and have used duralac or similar.

[gofishin]

Yes I have had the same thing even though they were blind rivets. Ben

Most ally rivets you can buy, even blind ones, have steel mandrels. Obviously this combination of metals in an underwater fixing is not the best - but it is surprising to find out how many tinnies are still made like this!

Seek out ally rivets with ally mandrels. Monel is ok, but ally/ally is best. While fitting them, grab the rivet in a pair of pliers and knock the mandrel backwards/out a bit, apply silicone or sikka (better for underwater) to the mandrel, twist around & then knock back in place. Fit the bung & pop the rivets, then apply more sika etc to both sides of the rivet (if you can get to the back of them).

Had a similar issue to above post ~25 yrs ago, but replaced as above, and with any new tinny I have bought since I have drilled out the bung rivets and refitted this way for piece of mind. Never had a problem since.
Cheers
Brendon