Rivets Holding Pad under On-deck Fuel Tank

[mdizzl]

Fig. 1. Rivet at corner of fuel tank mat

6C0A26E1-22D3-46E8-8A8F-94B3D2A6F0E0.jpeg (33.5 KiB) Viewed 2575 times

Fig. 2. A second view of the fuel tank mats

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I have an aluminum [on-deck fuel] tank that fits under the seat of a 1980 Montauk. It rests on an old rubber pad, which has been riveted to the deck.

Although I have never removed rivets, I assume you simply drill out the center and it will pop out. I guess I'm looking for reassurance:

Q1: will drilling out the rivets harm anything?


This fastening method seems odd since I have a hard time believing it’s watertight. I guess when I replace the pad I will use a different method. I’m not sure I want to buy a rivet gun for the sake of fastening a new pad back down.

Thank you in advance Matt

[Vance's Revenge]

Yes, drilling out the center of the rivet is the process to remove them. When you get the rivets out you will be able to see any damage.

When re-installing, I recommend filling the holes with epoxy and use 316 grade stainless screws.

Vance

[biggiefl]

I believe they were dealer installed option and I have had soft spots where they installed them unfortunately.

[jimh]

When you drill out a rivet, the center will not “just pop out.” The center of the rivet will remain in place. The outer ring will be loose and can be removed. The rivet shank generally won’t come out unless the hole is enlarged. The old rivet shank may be possible to be pushed farther into the hole, but that will depend on what is behind the hole. It the hole was drilled through the wood backing, there will be foam under the deck. If the original hole was not drilled through the wood, there will be wood at the bottom of the hole.

[kwik_wurk]

I thought [fuel] tank pads were [a] factory [installed option], not [something a] dealer would install. Please confirm or refute this.

[jimh]

In c.1979 in a price list of options there is a listing as follows:

1200880 FUEL TANK MAT $12.00

In a c.1979 price list of boats, the MONTAUK 17 is shown deviating from a bare hull by the addition of a list of standard equipment. Included in the list of standard equipment is:

REVERSIBLE PILOT SEAT......15053900 ($)587
with 2 tank mats & hawsepipe under.....($)43

If the boat were ordered as a MONTAUK, then the fuel tank mats were probably installed at the factory as part of the standard equipment. If a mat were replaced as a part, if would have been installed after the boat left the factory.

I don't understand why knowing where the boat was when the mat was installed is important. Perhaps you can explain why you want to determine precisely where the mat was installed and who did it.

[biggiefl]

Having lived near a Whaler dealer until I was 28 years old, I have watched many boats come in on a truck. The factory puts a LOT of items in the boats that were ordered as an option but left it up to the dealer to install. Main reason being with the tank mats is many ran twin 6 or 12 gallon tanks but many ordered the Pate 24gal tank which will not just fit where the 2 6 gal tanks would and would need to be modified. The mats have a lip or ridge on them. This would need to be trimmed for the pate tank to sit even as well as the spacing.