Spreader Rivet Replacement - 1984 ODay 222

[JimGate]

Looking for advice on replacing the rivet that should be holding the spreader to its base on the mast. The old rivet is gone. Portside spreader on a 1984 ODay 222. Can I simply buy a rivet gun and stainless steel rivets from HDepot?Thx, Jim

 

[jssailem]

Sure.
Might choose aluminum. Easier to use.
Either way, the Stainless rivets are fine. Be sure that, as the old one pulled out, the mast was not damaged by dissimilar metal corrosion.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Yes. Something like this would be an upgrade if you have space for it

 

[dlochner]

So long as the hole is not enlarged, yes you can just rivet a new base in. Match the rivet material with the metal used by Catalina, aluminum for aluminum, SS for SS. If you use SS coat the rivet with Tef-Gel (Amazon link) to prevent corrosion. If the rivets are large, a heavy duty rivet gun may be necessary.

 

[JimGate]

Yes. Something like this would be an upgrade if you have space for it

Thanks!

 

[shemandr]

When SS rivets were needed our boatyard had a rivet tool that far surpassed a typical rivet gun. It had arms 18" to 24" long and you needed that leverage for quality SS rivets.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

The spreader arms are technically a compression load so strength of the rivet isnt as crucial as say the mast base which is subject to sideways or I guess you could call it a tension load on the fasteners when the mast is stepped. My boat has nothing but tape and a small channel holding the sidestays in place on the spreaders. Scary to think about but it works. In the OP's case, there's a substantial base holding the spreader in place so aluminum or steel rivets would work.

I had the same setup on my O'Day 25 as @JimGate does in his photo. The spreader and mast were aluminum but the base was stainless. A sidestay got caught when I was stepping the mast and I had to have the mast repaired. I believe I used 3/16" aluminum rivets to hold the base in place. My spreader was held in its base with a screw and lock nut (that's how it was when I got the boat). Tef-Gel is a good idea as there's both steel and aluminum in this application