Blind rivets to fill holes in mast

[lumphammer]

I'm in the process of removing the add-on EasyReef furling gear from my mast.

I will probably fill the holes with blind pop rivets. What is holding the furling gear appears to be an aluminium rivet with what looks like a plastic insert where the mandrel would be. Is this something that has been inserted after the rivet has been set?

For a rivet just used to blank the hole would an aluminium rivet with a steel mandrel be OK?

 

[PetiteFleur]

The steel mandrel Will rust - so perhaps a Monel rivet which I don't think has a steel mandrel but double check, but they are not cheap

 

[greeny]

Why not use the much, much cheaper and easier to get aluminium rivets and punch the carbon steel mandrels out with a punch. Then collect them out of the mast base with a magnet assuming your mast is stepped. If it's horizontal on trestles in the yard just drag a magnet through on a line to collect them up. They'd fall out when you lift the mast anyway depending on the type of mast base. I was going to suggest appropriately sized plastic plugs instead but knowing the poor quality of a lot of plastics nowadays, the UV would probably destroy them.
"What is holding the furling gear appears to be an aluminium rivet with what looks like a plastic insert where the mandrel would be. Is this something that has been inserted after the rivet has been set?" --- Yes. after the mandrel was punched out. I've seen them before but never used them myself. A blob of sikaflex or similar? would do the job.

 

[DanTribe]

I'm in the process of removing the add-on EasyReef furling gear from my mast.

I will probably fill the holes with blind pop rivets. What is holding the furling gear appears to be an aluminium rivet with what looks like a plastic insert where the mandrel would be. Is this something that has been inserted after the rivet has been set?

For a rivet just used to blank the hole would an aluminium rivet with a steel mandrel be OK?

Removing my Easyreef was the best improvement I ever made.
I filled the holes with monel rivets and used the yellow paste. The inserts came with the rivets or can be bought separately. Selden said I needn't bother to fill the holes but I thought it might act like a flute.

 

[SteveA]

When I needed to fill in some holes on the mast I used a 2 pack Aluminium epoxy paste - easy and cheap!