Pop rivets to attach gudgeon to transom?

LawnBoy

New Member
Is it a good idea to attach the gudgeons to the transom with rivets? Or would it be best to install an inspection port and use bolts/ washers and nuts.
 
It's not a bad idea... even. There's a thick piece of wood on the inside of the transom on every Laser, through which no standard-sized rivet will reach through. Riveting into fibreglass (or wood) should be globally outlawed anyway in my opinion...

If the screw holes are worn out so that the original (or similar) screws don't work, then you can try filling the holes with epoxy (or some other reasonably hard filler) and re-drill them, but an inspection port + bolting is better in the long run. (And of course you can do both.)

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If wood inside transom is rotting replace with HDPE plastic. Its the material plastic cutting boards are made of. Glue on with marine adhesive. Will need inspection port.
 
If wood inside transom is rotting replace with HDPE plastic.
I believe that would be a big enough change that the boat wouldn't be a Laser anymore.

Bolting should work even if the wood has softened a bit.

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