How Can I Attach a Snap to a Fiberglass Panel?

Fiberglass does not hold screws very well as evidenced by most boats that are more than a year or two old. On close inspection, most of these boats have missing snaps where the screws have simply pulled out. Attaching a snap to Fiberglas can be a tricky proposition. If the snap is installed in a fiberglass hull, the hull needs to be drilled out larger than the screw used to attach the snap and a stronger epoxy plug poured into place to prevent the snap's screw from pulling out of the comparatively weak fiberglass. A fiberglass panel, on the other hand, requires a different attachment method.

Things You'll Need

• Drill bit set
• Cordless drill
• Pop rivets
• Marine silicone adhesive
• Pop rivet gun

Instructions

1. Choose a pop rivet that will fit in the center hole of the male portion of the snap.

2. Insert a drill bit into the chuck of a cordless drill and tighten the chuck. Choose a drill bit the same size as the pop rivet to ensure a tight fit for the rivet. Drill a hole at the desired location in the fiberglass panel.

3. Open a tube of marine silicone adhesive. Coat the side of the male portion of the snap that rests against the fiberglass panel with the adhesive. Put a dab of adhesive on the hole in the fiberglass panel.

4. Slide the shaft of the pop rivet into a pop rivet gun. Insert the rivet into the concave side of the male portion of the snap, and then through the fiberglass panel.

5. Squeeze the handle of the pop rivet gun until the rivet shaft snaps, this compresses the end of the pop rivet on the other side of the fiberglass panel while eliminating any space between the snap and the fiberglass panel.

6. Allow the marine silicone adhesive enough time to set up and dry before using the snap, completing the attachment of the snap to the fiberglass panel.