I've been sailing an H 16 for a year now and broke a mast cleat. I purchased the mast cleat kit from Murray's to replace the broken cleat for the jib halyard but am having trouble installing it. I drilled out the rivet and removed the broken cleat but am having trouble drilling out the rivet castings. I've used a 3/16" drill bit but can't get the castings out and new castings won't fit (of course). I'm worried about ruining the mast so quit until I could get some advise. I was also wondering if stainless steel self tapping screws might work as well as rivets, which I've never installed before.
Any help would be greatly appreciated especially by Friday when I hope to be sailing again.
Get a Dremel tool to cut the rivet off flush with the mast using a cutting wheel and then punch the rivets through with a punch or nail set. Then re-use the holes for the new cleat.
Always use a slightly larger bit to drill the rivet than 3/16. Up to 5/16. You want to remove just the shoulder then use a 3/16 punch to push the old rivet in. What are the 'castings' you refer to? Is that the casing? They should be soft enough to remove easily but are slightly larger than 3/16. They simply keep water from coming through the center of the rivet. You may have to cut the rivet into if the old cleat broke away before you finished drilling the rivet.
I have seen screws used in place of rivets for the jib cleats, but the threads must work well with the existing 3/16 holes.
if your 3/16"rivet holes are too worn to accomodate the rivet snugly, you can either get the sleeves from the murrays catalog or use 1/4" x #12 sheet metal screw. i'd recommend a round head on the screw. that will fit the hole well but a rivet will leave you feeling like you did the job right.
Thanks, everyone. It sounds like I just need to punch out the rivet casings (not castings) now. I have the cleat and old rivet out and was having trouble getting out the casing. The rivet hole on the mast is still snug.
How should the new casing fit in the hole? Should I be able to push it in by hand or would I need to tap it in with a mallet?
As you can tell I'm not very handy.
The casings are generally pretty soft. Most of them I get are dented or bent in the mail. They won't stand up to any malleting or hammering. Just place the casing over the rivet while seating the rivet. The holes should be just large enough to accomodate the rivet and casing with a good push with your fingers.
Here's a tip when you rivet the new cleat on. The rivet on most cleats is recessed and you won't be able to get the nose of your rivet gun into this area. Just stack a couple small washers on the rivet shaft, between the rivet and the nose of the gun.
Good luck,
Jack