VHF Antenna Mount

[drh1965]

The aluminum rivets on my VHF antenna mount at the masthead gave way. My wife won't let me go up there (yeah I know...) so I'm have a rigger handle it. He plans to drill out the ramains of the aluminum rivets and use stainless rivets coated in lanolin. Presumably, the lanolin prevents accelerated oxidation of the mast due to dissimiliar metals. Can anyone confirm that using stainless rivets isn't a mistake? I trust his judgement but I'm a tad on the paranoid side

Thanks.

[OverboardDavid]

Whatever flavor of rivet you use, I suggest that apply Tef Gel rather than lanolin. If you read the link below, I think you will conclude it is better to stick with aluminum rivets.

MAS Note-Galvanic Corrosion

[Beausoleil]

You're writing the check, right?

But seriously, since the antenna mount itself is probably made of stainless, and since the rivets will be stainless, then it's probably appropriate. The mast wall has a lot more mass than a rivet, so if an aluminum rivet is used, the rivet will give way due to electrolysis long before the hole in the mast will if a stainless rivet was used instead. My intuition - as an electrical engineer rather than a mechanical engineer, is that stainless rivets are the lesser of two evils. You'll still have electrolysis - even using lanolin, as it will eventually be at least partially displaced, but the effects will be less than if aluminum were used.

As evidence, how often have you seen aluminum rivets to fasten stainless tangs or gooseneck fittings to an aluminum mast? I've never noticed any - the ones in my aluminum Selden mast are certainly stainless, not aluminum.

[btrayfors]

Why use rivets?

Use some hefty s/s machine screws, and forget about it for the next 30 years. (Just don't plan on getting them out easily without drilling).

Bill

[Wotname]

Hmm... I thought Monel rivets where the way to go when some strength and longevity was needed on an Al mast (perhaps I have have not kept up with technology).

Still I am with Bill, use s/s machine screws with Tef Gel.

[Nauticatarcher]

definitely dont use stainless rivets on aluminium mast! Monel is the only way to go

[DGK]

Monel with tef gel or Dura lac is what is used by riggers in Australia and when I commisioned a boat in New York it was the same,

[Wotname]

DGK,
Is Duralac and Tef Gel the same (almost the same)? I have always used Duralac but it seems the US equivalent is Tef Gel.

[Pblais]

I have always used Duralac but it seems the US equivalent is Tef Gel.

Yes they both are for the same purpose.

[drh1965]

Well, the lack of a source for monel rivets had us install coated stainless rivets. The rivet gun he had was impressive (rated for monel). Looks like it could eat fingers easily!

[bobfnbw]

old thread, but here is a supply for monel rivets

Mil-Spec Monel Break Lining Solid Rivets

http://www.mcmaster.com/#blind-rivets/=6lmg8m