darn SS rivets

Time to use the giant rivet gun I got from Harbor Freight. I have been using a regular hand riveter on the hobies and this has always been fun. However I have a question for Hobie Matt Does there really need to be rivets in the Hobie Cat 16 corner castings. These things are near impossible to remove with hammer and torch and it would seem a tight tramp would hold them
The rivet heads have worked out and I am worried about cutting a hand or a butt on the raised rivets.
Former Hobie Admiral Gary

Yes. Rivets are required unless you epoxy the parts together I'd think. Rivets popping up mean the casting is moving on the crossbar.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I've replaced countless wallowed out ones with 1/4" rivets from Murray's. Big D rivet gun required. If you think 3/16s are hard to pop, 1/4s are probably next to impossible without at least the Big "D", but actually really easy with the Big Daddy. I never had anyone come back to have the quarters redone.

I use the Big "M" for 3/16s, and keep the extended nose on it all the time. Sadly, the Big Mama is no longer on the market. I guess too much danger of pinched fingers with improper operation.

http://www.amazon.com/Marson-39010-BIG- ... B000HAWKTM

This is one of those times where cheap chiniese tools are nice.
You could pay near $200 bucks for a rivet gun or $20 at your harbor freight!
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools ... 66422.html

_________________
1980 H16

+1 for the Harbor Freigt rivet tool.

If you work in a shop and pull rivets on a daily basis, maybe it wouldn't hold up. But for DIY Hobie projects, it works great. I've had one of these for a few years and use it fairly often and it has served me well so far. IMO, every Hobie owner should get one of these.

sm

Horror Fright wasn't in business when I bought the Marsons.