I noticed someone with some experience mentioned using stainless steel rivets on conjunction with a comp tip job. How do you decide whether the application in question calls for stainless or aluminum rivets? Everything I've replaced on our ancient H14 was apparently aluminum (from how it drilled out).



Would stainless cause electrolysis problems with aluminum components (not that we're ever in anything but fresh water ourselves)?



John

Hello,

I was under the impression that all rivets on catamarans are stainless steel. I think the aluminum ones would wear rather quickly.

Jack

Most reliable(and safe) replacements would normally require the original monel rivet with a steel mandrel or a stainless steel rivet with a stainless steel mandrel. They pull harder, hold tighter and last much longer than aluminum. Electrolysis can be noticed more with stainless than monel, but is generally tolerated since the stainless rivets seem to pull harder than monel.