Need Help with Rivets for Jib Furler

[Joe500]

My jib furler is missing three pop rivets as shown in attached photo. Some of these tend to pop out every year, I'm not sure why. Last time the marina replaced them but I'd like to do it myself this time. I measured the hole and it was about 1/5" or 1/4" across. The metal it has to go through is probably about 1/5" thick. I believe the furler is Plastimo, probably made in France with metric sizes. I would guess it's made out of aluminum.

I don't know anything about rivets. Could someone tell me what tool I should buy and what kind of rivet? Is this easy to fix?

[Irwin325]

Don't let me lie to you on this application cause I've not had to deal with rivits on a furller but most small rivits (smaller than your pinkie finger, maybe a little exaggerated) are easy to do yourself with a simple rivit gun that works like a staple gun. I would contact the manufacturer to make sure of what rivit it takes cause of guage and how strong of the individual rivit and if its stainless steel or aluminum or so on.
Matt

[neilpride]

Hi, i think loosing rivets in the furler is because maybe you have a sagy furler, check the backstay tension, to much sag and the aluminium extrusion start to flex a lot, and the rivets sufer, 2 option the marina dont do it well, using the wrong rivet size, dont use stainles steel rivets in aluminium , galvanic corrosion result, try the proper rivet size , use aluminium rivet or monel rivets, if you dont believe in rivets use stainles screws , but put some Tef Gel in the screw to prevent corrosion.
Good luck.

[Boracay]

I'm also looking to do some serious riveting on my mast.
I found there is a big difference between the sort of riveter that I can buy from my local hardware store (struggles with 1/8" rivets) and a serious tool.

Riveting on a boat is done in all sorts of odd positions, just to make things more difficult.

I'd be interested to hear if any member can recommend a rivet tool.

[GordMay]

Alcoa Fastening Systems (Marson):

➥ Alcoa Fastening Systems

➥ http://www.afs-idg.com/Marson_Catalog.pdf

Hand rivet tools start on page 18, with the “Big Daddy’s” on pg. 19.

[Joe500]

Hi Gord, I saw that one on defender. $77 in a set that comes with lots of rivets or $48 without rivets. In contrast, Northern tools sells one for $13. Is there a difference? Rivet Tool and Assorted Rivets | Rivet Tools | Northern Tool + Equipment

[GordMay]

Which Marsson tool did you see at defender ($77)?

Sometimes higher priced tools aren't worth the extra money; but seldom are lower priced tools worth the savings - or - you don't always get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't pay for.

[Boracay]

All the better rivet tools look to be powered by compressed air.

So could I put in mast steps with the mast in the boat or is this a mast out job?

[Joe500]

Gord, they have the Marson 39001, heavy duty hand rivet tool with 5 boxes of assorted rivets. Comes with nosepieces for sizes 3/32 to 3/16. Actually, will this even work? When I measured the hole in my furler it was somewhere between 0.2" and 0.25", it was hard to measure exactly. The largest rivet of 3/16=0.1875". Does it matter if the rivet is a little small? Maybe my furler was metric 0.5cm or 0.197" so the rivet would only be a little small. Do you think I might need the air powered rivet tool for anything? I also don't have an air compressor and I imagine those are pretty bulky and expensive.

[Cheechako]

To put in a few rivets you dont need a pneumatic gun. You do need the rivet to fit properly though! Measure the hole precisely. Do you have a set of drill bits? these can be used to measure a hole. They may be coming out because someone put US inch rivets in metric holes! I suppose they could be 7/32 us rivets (.219 diameter) Can you tell fromteh other rivets if they are loose? Can you tell if they are Alum or SS? Scratch the head of one with a sharp pin or something. If it gouges it's alum, if not it's stainless most likely. If most rivets are loose, consider getting the right ones from the manufacturer and doing it right ...and doing it once!

[GordMay]

No - you don’t necessarily need a pneumatic tool; but you don’t want to install an undersized rivet. The hole clearance should match the rivet diameter exactly.
Check the furler instructions; but I expect that the 1/4" rivet will be about right for that application.
Don’t pay $77 for the 390001 Kit - they can be had for <$45, and the HP2 Riveter for <$30.
➥ Marson 39001 HP2 Professional Riveter 200 Kit

Gotta run - LIGHTNING STORM.

[s/v Jedi]

Plastimo is French but many rivets used in the EU are English sizes, the rest is metric.

You can have 7/32" or maybe 6mm which is larger but just short of 1/4" (1/4" = 6.35 mm). You should use a good caliper to measure the hole. It will have a metric scale in addition to the inches thing. Drill bits is the next best thing. Ask this for your next birthday: Amazon.com: Mitutoyo 500-196-20 0-6" Digimatic Caliper: Industrial & Scientific

If you can't find the right size, the best thing to do is to go up the the first larger size you can find (reasonably close). Drill for those and rivet them.

Monel rivets can be hard to find. Ask a rigger, he will have them. If you use stainless steel rivets, coat them in TefGel.

If you use rivets that are smaller than the hole, you will loose them again and again and again.

cheers,
Nick.