Canoe repair question

[Smallmouth Squarepants]

So I have a 70's Grumman square stern. The front seat somehow had one of the 4 rivets holding the seat frame to the body fall out. I know that I need to use an aluminum rivet to replace it (to prevent oxidization) but what kind of rivet should I use to replace it? I've never had to fix/replace a rivet on anything and don't want to waste my time and money buying the wrong thing. No need to drill a hole and it doesn't need to be watertight. Would a pop rivet be my best bet?

[fishlessman]

i like drive rivets but you will need a way to clamp or hold the two parts tight. no special tool, just a hammer to tap the center pin. get a box, they come in handy

[Jethro]

You can get structural, closed end aluminum pop rivets, and that's probably what I'd do, but mostly because I have all the tools for pop rivets. If you have a Harbor Freight close you can get a structural pop rivet tool for about $25 I believe. Solid rivets aren't that hard to do and are probably the correct thing to use but you need an air hammer with the right head and a bucking bar to do it. I don't think I've ever used drive rivets as fishlessman suggested but my interests are peaked!

[Smallmouth Squarepants]

Thanks Gents! I'll swing over to Harbor Freight (or the Orange or Blue big box). Worst comes to worst and they don't have what I need I can always throw a couple of heavy duty zipties on there (like 2x 50lbs) since the other three rivets are still good and that won't be bearing the brunt of the load. Thanks again!

[fishlessman]

You can get structural, closed end aluminum pop rivets, and that's probably what I'd do, but mostly because I have all the tools for pop rivets. If you have a Harbor Freight close you can get a structural pop rivet tool for about $25 I believe. Solid rivets aren't that hard to do and are probably the correct thing to use but you need an air hammer with the right head and a bucking bar to do it. I don't think I've ever used drive rivets as fishlessman suggested but my interests are peaked!

i redid an old mirrorcraft with the solid rivets, you need the right mandrel, a hammer, and help on the other side of the boat. the drive rivets are nice but only above waterline and they come in big diameters as well

[swnoel]

You can get structural, closed end aluminum pop rivets, and that's probably what I'd do, but mostly because I have all the tools for pop rivets. If you have a Harbor Freight close you can get a structural pop rivet tool for about $25 I believe. Solid rivets aren't that hard to do and are probably the correct thing to use but you need an air hammer with the right head and a bucking bar to do it. I don't think I've ever used drive rivets as fishlessman suggested but my interests are peaked!

I agree... I had some pin holes develop in an aluminum boat and bought some closed end aluminum rivets. I drilled the hole out to the right size dabbed on a little marine silicon and installed them. Them worked great.