Hi everyone. I am in the process of skinning the underside of my 2014 21'SLX. I have 0.063" 5052 aluminum for the material and was wondering if a 410 stainless self drilling screw (#12 - 1-1/2" length) would suffice or if I need to get 316 stainless (or something else). Any suggestions are appreciated. The boat is used in salt water. Thanks!
Skinning - Suggestions for Fasteners
- Thread starter smorourke
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The Hillbilly Barge
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3/16 wide flanged 3/4" grip stainless steel rivets
Maynard G. Krebs
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You'll be fine with the aluminum skin, but the hardware size is way too big. Use smaller screws and more of them. Stainless hex-head tek screws are a good call, but you only need something in the range of #6 or #8 x 5/8". I used 1/8" (#5) x 1/2" spaced 9" apart and that has worked fine on a freshwater boat for the last nine years. For a saltwater boat I would probably decrease the spacing between screws to 6". Even though tek screws are self-drilling, I found it much easier to pre-drill each hole. Using two drills, one with a drill bit and the other with socket bit for the hex screws, the job went pretty fast.
I thought about using rivets, but was really glad I didn't a couple of years later when I needed to run cable for a new fish finder. It was really easy to unscrew one edge of a panel and let it hang down while I ran the new transducer cable. It only took about 10 minutes. It would have been a pain in the butt to have to drill out a bunch of rivets and install new ones
I thought about using rivets, but was really glad I didn't a couple of years later when I needed to run cable for a new fish finder. It was really easy to unscrew one edge of a panel and let it hang down while I ran the new transducer cable. It only took about 10 minutes. It would have been a pain in the butt to have to drill out a bunch of rivets and install new ones
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ILLINOIS AVE
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What the hell is Skinning ?
Link
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The aluminum plated under the deck to prevent wave surges from hitting the cross braces
ILLINOIS AVE
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Thank you Link. Sir!
Hello Smorourke, can you share how much you think it will cost for your project and the source for your aluminum purchase (internet or local supplier?) I am thinking of doing the same.
Anybody else have an opinion if it would be worth doing for a two log 22 GSR boat with Sea Legs, 115 HP?
Thanks.
Anybody else have an opinion if it would be worth doing for a two log 22 GSR boat with Sea Legs, 115 HP?
Thanks.
I skinned a couple of boats with used aluminum sheets bought from a local recycler. You might have to call several before you find one that sells sheets. I tried the SS self drilling screws and had a problem with them twisting off. Ended up drilling pilot holes first and then the self drilling screws. As mentioned about, use two drills and it will go fast.