Andy, I really appreciate this post and am glad I read it!! Yours is living proof that bolts/nuts (ss) are better than rivets and will NOT hurt the fiberglass! *8 years*!
And yes, I realize that you can "clamp down" with the bolts enough to literally destroy the
fiberglass beneath it if you dont know what you're doing. (But in that case, in my opinion, you shouldnt be doing the task anyway!
) Then the naysayers come saying how the FG will crack etc. Yes! If you dont know how to install the bolts as another poster already mentioned!
I've posted in several of the "Rivets" topics of how my closet rivets came loose and let my
Scamp leak. I replaced the rivets with #10 SS bolts and locknuts and have never had another loosening problem OR leak! I used nyloc nuts inside and they resemble the acorn nuts and I never tried to add the "acorns" and so far, no one's ever noticed. (See link below)
Again thanks for posting your real-life experience of how much better bolts/locknuts are than rivets and PROOF.
Here's a link to my fix.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/503516...57633366995497
Quote:
Originally Posted by andy vaughan
Quick update, just in case anyone cares or is wondering.. Back in 2008, I replaced all rivets with stainless steel machine screws, stainless flat washers, neoprene washers (inside AND outside), and stainless acorn nuts .. and have experienced ZERO structural failures, nor leaks. The most annoying thing is loosing an acorn inside as it rattles loose. Otherwise spent the last weekend in lots of rain and STILL no leaks, even though the neoprene washers on the outside are starting to look a bit weathered and slightly dry rotten (time to reorder and replace, I think its $9 for a box of 100), but again no failures or leaks.
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