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wayne.yl · 03-26-2007, 11:59 PM

after replacing the rear floor in our 77 sovereign, I cannot reattach the outer skin to the corner rib. It seems the outer skin it too big for the corner rib. I tried to rivet the skin but when I attach it to the rail it leaves indentations in the skin. I thought I was spacing the rivets too close together but that is not the problem either. The inside skins attach fine to the rail as I used the same rivet holes to reattach the inside skin. But the outer skin must be a poor repair from a previous owner or I am overlooking something. Does anyone have any suggestions on what my options are? I don't want to leave the skin hanging free from the railing with a 1-2 space between it and the railing. Thanks,
Wayne

boatdoc · 03-27-2007, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

after replacing the rear floor in our 77 sovereign, I cannot reattach the outer skin to the corner rib. It seems the outer skin it too big for the corner rib. I tried to rivet the skin but when I attach it to the rail it leaves indentations in the skin. I thought I was spacing the rivets too close together but that is not the problem either. The inside skins attach fine to the rail as I used the same rivet holes to reattach the inside skin. But the outer skin must be a poor repair from a previous owner or I am overlooking something. Does anyone have any suggestions on what my options are? I don't want to leave the skin hanging free from the railing with a 1-2 space between it and the railing. Thanks,
Wayne

Hi Wayne; It is difficult to picture from your written description which panel you are having problems with. Are you installing a new panel or placing old one back. Good pics of that area may be of much more help. We have a lot of skin experts on the forums that may be able to help you when they see the pics. Thanks, "Boatdoc"

wahoonc · 03-27-2007, 06:10 AM

Wayne,
Just a guess but it sounds like you may have moved the framing in a bit and now the outside skins aren't lining up. I had a similar problem with my front floor replacement. Fortunately mine was caused by the plywood sticking out a bit too far so I was able to move the frames in and trim the plywood off with a dremel.

Aaron

Aerowood · 03-27-2007, 08:21 AM

Its sounds to me that you have the corner channel to far inboard. If you still can, remove the inner skin and remove the fasteners that attach the channel to the new floor, cleco or attach the outer skin to the channel. This will locate the channel to the proper orientation to the outer skin. Now reattach the channel to the new floor panel and rivet the inner skin back on. Some pictures would help figure this out.

Lumatic · 03-27-2007, 09:02 AM

I wonder if the frame may have flexed when tension was released when the original connecting points were removed.

rickandsandi · 03-27-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Its sounds to me that you have the corner channel to far inboard. If you still can, remove the inner skin and remove the fasteners that attach the channel to the new floor, cleco or attach the outer skin to the channel. This will locate the channel to the proper orientation to the outer skin. Now reattach the channel to the new floor panel and rivet the inner skin back on. Some pictures would help figure this out.

Wayne-

Even though Aerowood is know to give us Fighter Pilots a bad seat on his bird, he has nailed your problem! You need to attache the outer skin first, then set the rail to the floor then attached the inner skin. Let us know how you make out!

wayne.yl · 03-27-2007, 04:03 PM

It is raining again here in Oregon, so my work on the trailer will have to wait, but I think you have diagnosed the problem. I did attach the inner skin to the corner rail first instead of the outer one. I will wait 'til the sky clears before redoing my work and let you know how it goes. I will take some pictures of my work, and try to post them. Thanks much. BTW I do think that curbside corner has been repaired because I noticed one seam where this panel attaches to the back panel has a different kind of rivet and this is where I continually have a leak. Should I consider removing these rivets and redoing this seam or should I just try to seal the joint from the inside? This panel has numerous rivet holes along the bottom where it would normally attach to the corner rail. It is rather unsightly...I really just want to replace the whole skin except I am not that brave or that skillful yet.
Wayne

Aerowood · 03-27-2007, 04:41 PM

I would remove the rivets where it is leaking and apply sealent in between the two skins. This is called a faying surface seal and is always the best way to seal a skin lap. Good luck

Kip

wayne.yl · 03-28-2007, 03:42 PM

Hopefully these photos will show my dilemma. I have a bent corner frame rail halfway up the wall and the skins are not even attached to it. Needless to say, I have leaks all around this area. Should I try to reattach the corner rail at the bottom and middle? It will mean trying to straighten the middle rail first. Do I unattach the bottom rail from the flooring and try to rivet it the the outer skin first and them reattach it to the floor?
Wayne

Wabbiteer · 03-28-2007, 04:24 PM

Does the arc of that problem floor channel shown mirror the opposite side?

wayne.yl · 03-28-2007, 04:40 PM

I think this is another photo that may help show the area in Question. I have unattached the floor from the corner rail but this didnot release any tenson to the rail as it is in the same spot 1-2 inches inside the skin in this area. Given the damage to the middle corner rail, I think this is just a bad repair that I have to deal with. How much work is it to remove this corner skin, the middle rail, trim the excess skin so as to pull it tight around the corner, and reattach it?
thanks for your input.
wayne

wayne.yl · 03-28-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wabbiteer

Does the arc of that problem floor channel shown mirror the opposite side?

Yes it has the same arc.
unfortunately, I thought of that.
good thought though.
Wayne

Aerowood · 03-28-2007, 05:07 PM

This is just a guess but take a look at the skin panel to see if it has a compound curve. It could be as you suspected that the skin is replaced and they used a straight or non compound replacement skin to make the repair. Hold a straight edge vertically at the corner, to the opposite side and compare it to the side that you are having trouble with. the opposite skin should teter totar the straight edge at the corner. If this is the case there is nothing you can do but replace the panel, because if not done right, you will have alot of extra aluminum to deal with. A new Compound skin is stretch formed to fit this area perfectly. I forsaw this problem when I changed my aft corner skins with straight sheet and had to do quit abit of forming to make it fit.