rivets

 Hi guys,

 

I need to repair the skids on my trailer as the rivets have come loose in areas and there is some lifting.

Question is, what rivets to use?  Trailser is Galvanized steel; does that mean that I need to stick with like rivets, or will aluminiums be ok?  Perhaps either will do?  I know that thee is someone on the forum who will have the knowledge to share,

Thanks in advance.


Mick71's picture

Posts: 125

Date Joined: 18/12/10

Use stainless..

Sun, 2014-11-02 14:23

...they don't rust/corrode and are a lot stronger than aluminium

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grantarctic1's picture

Posts: 2546

Date Joined: 03/03/11

If you use

Sun, 2014-11-02 15:03

If you use stainless make sure they are 316 grade ( lesser grades will rust over time )

Yes stainless is stronger than alloy rivets, but stainless steel can be brittle. Galvanized steel rivets would be the strongest option but i ussually use stainless and a bit of sikaflex glue to stop the skids lifting. Don't use too much incase you want to replace them later on.

I would also look at adding a few more rivets if you feel there are not enough to hold the skids down properly. Make sure the rivet heads are countersunk so not to damage the boat on retrieve .

sstevee's picture

Posts: 472

Date Joined: 15/11/11

When I did mine I also used

Sun, 2014-11-02 16:50

When I did mine I also used rivet washers underneath where they came through... So it went rivet, skid, metal plate then from up underneath a washer to squeeze it all togethor... Add to this a long strip of marine sikaflex the full length of the skid to add support and minimize moving and I haven't had any dramas. 

 

Posts: 1392

Date Joined: 08/01/09

If you add stainless to a galv trailer

Sun, 2014-11-02 18:03

you will create rust in your trailer(being the less noble metal between the 2.

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unhurry's picture

Posts: 236

Date Joined: 23/10/12

mismatch of metals

Sun, 2014-11-02 21:16

this comment from barneyboy is what I am concerned about; could thew mismatch of metals be a catalyst for rust ( as with steel screws on ali boats)?

 

Thanks for all comments so far,