Water intrusion from rivets into hull bottom

naptime · Guest

Has anyone with a 16’ C-Dory that has replaced the rivets securing the panels below the gunwale and seat supports to the hull bottom found water intrusion into the balsa core. If so, how significant was the intrusion. My rivets are beginning to rust and I am trying to make a decision to either refinish the rivet tops or remove the rivets and fill the holes with epoxy and glass the panels/seat supports to the hull.

Thanks, Richard

thataway · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject:

Don't have a 16, but the nature of pop rivets is such that they are not well sealed. I would remove them, route out any wet core, and then secure with fiberglass tabs.

naptime · Guest

Bob,

I assumed that the pop rivets should be replaced. What configuration of fiberglass tab would you suggest.

Richard

ramos · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:37 pm Post subject:

Do you have any pictures? We have a 2009 16C and I do not believe we have any rivets in these locations.

naptime · Guest

Jon,

I have not seen a 2009 16C, but I believe beginning in the 2007 model year rivets were not used. The panels are glassed to the hull, which is a much better approach since there is no intrusion into the balsa core. I don't currently have an album, but plan to take pictures of the fix and place them in an album.

Richard

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

This photo is on a C Dory 25, but the technique is the same. I use cloth--in this case a piece of 12 oz triaxial, a couple of pieces of 6 oz bi axial will work fine. I used some slightly thickened West Systems Epoxy (add Fumed Silica--Cabasol) to increase the consistancy and I added a couple of drops of white pigment. Lay half of the cloth tab on the bottom of the hull and half on the cabinet or seat base. You do not have to filet or taper teh cloth because of the cored bottom of the hull (it will not form hard spots like a hull side will.