Rivetting boat windows?

[DangerousPirate]

I was waiting all late autumn to get my windows done again, but the mate just never had the time to do it while it was still good weather for it. Current windows are only temporary and the refurbished frames are sitting, waiting to be put back in properly. I made new inner rings to counter and cut the plastic to size.

So just found my old rivet gun and came up with the idea to just rivet them. Put a bit of butyl down, rivet them down. I wouldn't need anyone on the inside to counter with a nut (huge advantage).


Has anyone done it before, any reasons why it shouldn't be done?


Pro:

-Quick
-Easy
-Don't need a second person to do it
-Neater

Con:
-Might not seal well (not sure)
-Semi-permanent (needs to be drilled out and replaced)


Any experience doing this is highly welcome. Never seen anyone do it, there might be a reason why, but that could also mean, that no one thought of it before or couldn't be bothered to do it that way.

 

[Boater Sam]

When fitting windows you need control over how much you squash the seal. Best way is to fit them quite loosely and then pull them tighter evenly later.
All impossible with pop rivets.

 

[Neeves]

You don't mention what you were going to do before you thought of your riveting idea. Many windows are now simply attached with an adhesive or interscrews. Adhesives usually need a big overlap to give the adhesive the necessary robustness. Windows that are attached with a nut and bolt is a practice used by boat builders who always have enough hands working on assembly to have someone on the inside (as well as outside). They never consider that the windows might need to be replaced by a cruising couple, one of whom has to prepare dinner and do the laundry

When you pop the rivet a part of the pin remains in the core of the rivet, it rusts. You can knock the core out, with a small punch, but I'd be concerned this might damage the acrylic and you would then be left with a small hole, which will leak (big time as you might have lots of rivets). The hole you will need to fill, maybe from both sides and then clean up. Your idea has merit - but also some downsides you did not mention (possibly because you thought them minor).

Jonathan

 

[Stemar]

My first thought is that a pop rivet squeezes the parts together pretty hard, so may force the sealant - butyl or whatever - out. If you don't want a nut inside, you can always use interscrews but, done right, I don't think a domed nut looks bad. The frame in the pic is 3mm ply, but it was only really needed because the gelcoat around the cutout was damaged.