I've never used a rivet gun before but when I am putting in my extra tie
Downs and installing rod holders after I insert a rivet the stem breaks off like it's supposed
To but after putting in 12 rivets I have been been through two rivet guns-
When most of them broke off the stem came right out except those
Two times, when that happened I can't get another rivet into the gun-
It just seems that rivets are the way to go instead of screws-
Am I wrong about that?
Is this a normal problem when using rivets?

Have you ever used well nuts instead of rivets?

I suppose they may or may not work depending on what you are securing but I have never had an issue with them failing to hold anything I have attached to them.

And, YakAttack has a "Mighty Mount" that might also be used for attaching various things very securely. Videos exist showing how to install each of these.

Brad

Thanks Brad-
I'll check into those -

With rivet guns, sometimes the stem will stay in the gun after it breaks off. You can spread the handles a bit from their normal position and that often times will spread the jaw enough to drop out the broken stem. Probably not obvious that you can open the handle further than it is to drop the broken stem.

Good luck!

Thank you captain yakker
I got a new Gun today and am gonna give it another try-
I appreciate the input-

when I had a kayak, I had more [censored] on it than I needed. that being said, I went from rivets to well nuts, or lock nuts.

I'm with ya-
I officially give up on the rivets-
Lock nuts should do this -

In all the rivet guns I've seen, the rivet stem receiver is changeable to accept different stem diameters. Should be able to unscrew it and push the broken stem off.

Make sure the receiver is the correct size for the stems you have. You might be using a larger receiver and slightly bending the stems inside the gun.

Push another rivet through the hole in top to push out the cut off rivet.
USe lock nuts and well nuts. Rivets are not strong enough in my opinion.

Rivets tend to work back and forth and in time will loosen. Well Nuts are you friend.

If you use washers on the rivets, they will hold anything you want to mount on your kayak. Modern fiberglass boats have the cap riveted to the hull, and this works great and lasts for decades.

I went with well nuts and am very satisfied-
Thanks to all for the input-

Glad to hear you got it installed. Your very welcome for the input.