View Full Version : Rivited Boat Leak???
wheatie
03-05-2005, 08:39 PM
My 14', 1972 Kalamath leaks a bit which is probably no surprise. If I flip it over and try to clean and seal it, what works best if anything at all?? Thanks!! :tongue:
We used to put a sledge hammer on one side and hammer the other side to tighten rivets. Seemed to work fine.
KChookem
03-05-2005, 10:07 PM
You might call one of the manufacturers.
I once had a product made for this repair, but do not recall the name. Basically it was a "stick" that when heated, would melt to seal the rivet. Another option might be something like JB Weld.
Pickles
03-06-2005, 05:25 AM
LEAKY RIVETED BOAT THREAD! (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=579952&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) :cheers:
trap50
03-06-2005, 05:41 AM
Try the 2 hammer idea Jim had before you goop it up. Tightening the rivites does work best.
BONES
03-06-2005, 12:34 PM
I had Smokercraft Alaskan with several leaky rivits. I took it to a guy that Stevens recomended and he drilled the old ones out. Replaced them with slightly larger rivets and put a piece of metal on one side and a roto type hammer on the other and pounded away. Its been several years and the guy that has the boat now still has no leaky rivits. Worked like a charm and did not have to spread any junk on the boat. Good luck!!
Draggin' Bait
03-06-2005, 02:16 PM
My previous boat was a 1959 Lonestar, with a riveted aluminum hull. It eventually developed a leak up in the bow where it was not possible to get to both sides of the metal. The leak was into an enclosed, foam-filled compartment. The metal hull itself had finally given up the ghost at a stress point and there was actually a small piece of sheetmetal, about 1/4 inch on a side, that had broken out. It was just barely above the water line in flat water, but pounded directly into the chop once the wind came up. Anyway, replacing a rivet wasn't going to do it. Two different repair shops said to get a tube of silicon, wait till it was dry inside, and shoot silicon in there through the hole till it couldn't take any more, then let 'er set. I did, and sure enough, no more leak. Total cost to repair was about $4. Clearly that trick will only work when you are filling a void on a sealed compartment, but it's a handy little trick to know.
flyinfish
03-06-2005, 07:16 PM
Cabelas sells a stick that looks like a hot glue gun stick except it is green. You heat up the stick until it melts and apply it to the leaky rivet. Works like a charm. Have used it several times and it only costs a few bucks.
wheatie
03-07-2005, 05:32 PM
Hey guys, thanks for the tips and the PM. I didn't even think about tightening or replacing the rivets. I definitly need to turn it over and take a closer look.
muddog
03-13-2005, 01:01 AM
Flyinfish has it! Go get Cabelas alum. boat repair stick and hit every rivet you'll be glad you did.
kickerfixer
03-14-2005, 07:03 PM
You need a rivet gun, a bucking bar and somebody who
knows what their doing. install new rivets. Thats the best
way and the right way to fix leaky rivets.
wheatie
03-15-2005, 03:37 PM
Not sure if it's coming in the rivets or the seams, but I guess it wouldn't come in the seams if the some rivets were not loose. :crazy:
DriftR
03-15-2005, 04:48 PM
Take that leaker to Rhino Linings of Clackamas. Talk to Robert Nugent the owner. He did a great job for me on applying Rhino Linings to my boat. Tell him DriftR told you about him.
kickerfixer
03-16-2005, 06:48 PM
If the seems are riveted its got to be the rivets. The
problem with the rhino lining that I have is after that
stuff is dry will it put a stink in the water that will
repel fish? I also have some experience with the rhino
lining in my drift boat. When it first came out I put
it on the the inside of the boat. The guy who put it on
was upfront with me, he told he didn't know if it would
stick to aluminum. It started to peel off after two years.
But maybe it has improved since then.
DriftR
03-17-2005, 09:43 AM
Yup, the Rhino linings applied to my boat is great. They now use a primer on aluminum and I don't think it will come off. However, they have a lifetime warranty to the original owner so that's why I used it on my boat. No problems with it that I can see. Besides, it keeps gear from sliding down the shelves and rattles from popping up. Looks good too.