When to refasten a riveted hull?

[sisu1959]

I was recently given a 1959 spidsgatter. I have her hauled out in order to replace a few broken frames. I thought while I was at it I should refasten the whole thing since access won't be an issue. And, I mean, she's 50 years old.

But today I finally got around to taking a couple of rivets out of the bow and man- they look great! (still shiny) And on top of that they were a bitch to get out which tells me they're still biting and holding well.

I've been told that copper rivets last longer than screws, but how much longer? Should I go for it or just let them be?

Tally

[Peerie Maa]

I was recently given a 1959 spidsgatter. I have her hauled out in order to replace a few broken frames. I thought while I was at it I should refasten the whole thing since access won't be an issue. And, I mean, she's 50 years old.

But today I finally got around to taking a couple of rivets out of the bow and man- they look great! (still shiny) And on top of that they were a bitch to get out which tells me they're still biting and holding well.

I've been told that copper rivets last longer than screws, but how much longer? Should I go for it or just let them be?

Tally

I would let them be. Although if your frames are broken , rather than just worn, I might pull one or two by the break in the frames. Why do the frames need attention?

[keith66]

The old addage "if it aint bust don't fix it springs to mind". Your boat is a mere youngster!
I owned a Rye beach boat for some years, she was built in 1938 of fine spruce planking on oak joggled floors with steamed half timbers above. When i refurbished her in 1991-2 her planking had not been burned of since she was built, out of the water for 3 years & very dry. Her fastenings were very good & i just checked a few here & there. The only ones i replaced were where some of her steamed timbers were broken. She swelled up fine on launching & after a few weeks had dust in her bilges.
I parted with her earlier this year & she is still sailing with dry bilges & still does not need refastening at 71 years old.
On the other hand i have seen some mahogany planked boats that needed refastening at 20 years old!

[RFNK]

The old addage "if it aint bust don't fix it springs to mind".


I agree with this but I'd draw a few out from places that could be suspect, such as anywhere where it's possible that battery acid could have been spilled on them, anywhere where there's any obvious looseness or damage to planking or frames, anywhere where there are other metal parts or fastenings. It's more likely that timber would have deteriorated around the fastenings than the fastenings themselves, in the case of copper nails/rivets.

Keith, my Twister is about 50 years old, planked with mahogany copper fastened to frames (not sure what the framing timber is yet). All the fastenings actually look great but there are quite a few loose due to soft planking (some rot, some worm damage, some mysteries). Rick

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Copper nails and roves are pretty well immortal, unlike screws.

You don't need to worry about them, except where the frames are damaged and need replacing.

My 72 year old cutter is fine; I have replaced the hood end and garboard screws but the copper nails are untouched. And I have just started pulling no. (tiny) 16 clench nails out of another 72 year old boat to re-rib her and they are absolutely fine as well.

What is sometimes done is to harden them up, but you need to know what you are about (and have a helper who does, too!)

Put the roving iron on the rove and the dolly on the nail head; give it a sharp tap; if the roves moves up the nail at all, keeping the dolly on, burr it over again with the hammer. But this should not be necessary.

I'd leave well alone.

[boattruck]

59, You and I will likely be taking a well deserved dirt nap and those rivets will still be doing their job, they are nearly forever, most spitz's do have a sawn frame every third one or so, and these may want the screws replaced or additional ones added... Repair or replace the broken frames, rivet the new work and enjoy this boat...Cheers, BT

[sisu1959]

this is just what i wanted to hear! (and what i suspected).

thanks everyone!

[Bob Cleek]

Leave 'em be!

Replace with rivets when you do your frames, as well.

[ishmael]

As said above, copper rivets are pretty good stuff. But if you're genuinely concerned you can always do an informal survey on you own. Grind the roves off a few in various parts of the hull, drive them out with a punch, and have a look see. Are they significantly corroded? I think you'll find they aren't.

I wouldn't bother. Concentrate on the frames.