LEAKY RIVETS ON 13 YEAR OLD BOAT

FISHNFOOL · 02-26-2002, 01:02 PM

any suggestions on how to seal or repair a 17 ft aluminum hull that has leaks--(rivets, seams?) boat has a plywood floor that I really don't want to remove-- any good silicone or sealers or whatever that you experts reccomend. thanks

mike5097 · 02-26-2002, 01:21 PM

Check out this website.

http://pagebiz.com/bds/aluminum/repair.htm

Kind of cheesy, but alot of good info if you wade through everything.

I think what you are going to find is that you will have to remove the floor and re-rivet and seal to do it properly.

BTW---Those aluminum brazing sticks they sell for repair didn't work worth a hoot for me.
Maybe I did not do it properly.

A friend of mine did try the epoxy melt-on repair sticks from Cabelas, and he seems happy with the results.

Mike

[ 02-26-2002, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: mike5097 ]

fishuntr2 · 02-26-2002, 02:18 PM

Leakender 2000. Actually I was going to send for some of this stuff and try it. It was advertised on TV some time ago and it might work. I have a 25 year old 12 ft. skiff that leaks bad. But I can access the inside easily and I have used marine goop before. It works ok for a couple of years until my boots scuff off the globs around the leaky rivets. When someone is with me they just have to bail. A gallon milk jug cut so the handle is usable works great.

Fish mojo · 02-26-2002, 03:32 PM

I just ordered some of the Cabella's Stuff. I have the same problem- leaky rivets. I'll post and let you know how it works. A problem I see I'm going to have- How will I get to the rivets covered by the bunks on the trailer? Not sure how safe I feel blocking up a 2500 pound boat and working under it. Any ideas?

02-26-2002, 03:54 PM

The stuff is called "Marinetex." It will fix any holes, any leaks and will be reinforce the
rivets stronger than the originals. Got me off the river once with a six inch hole in the boat.

mudsucker · 02-26-2002, 07:44 PM

watch out for the stuff you have to use a torch to put on if you boat has a rubber gasket like stuff between the layers of aluminum at the seams as the heat from the torch will melt it and cause you more problems then you all ready have with the leaks :shocked:

crabbait · 02-26-2002, 08:30 PM

For Sale - one old leaky aluminum boat. Great "fixer-upper" for handyman. Will trade for Willie's or Northriver or any welded boat not in similar condition.

Good luck on your project.

GoFish · 02-27-2002, 08:27 AM

Used to have an 18ft. Starcraft. Boy I put alotta fish in that boat. One time we were..... Oh yea, the leaky rivets, sorry I get distracted easily thinking about all the fish I've put in that boat. I can remember a time at Bouy 10 we.... Oh, sorry. Anyway that thing had leaky rivets too and the Marinetex will work good if you pull the floor, put the boat in the water, mark all the rivets and seams that need sealing and then pull the boat, dry the spots and apply the epoxy. they say that the Marinetex will set up underwater but why test the limits? What I did with my old Starcraft was to paint the ouside of the hull with epoxy paint. I got a new color and the paint sealed all the leaks. These hulls flex though and whatever you do it will not be totally permanent.

FISHNFOOL · 02-27-2002, 01:41 PM

thanks for replies----WHERE IS A PLACE TO BUY MARINETEX?? THANKS AGAIN

Paranoid · 02-27-2002, 02:29 PM

Heres another option. I had an old 16' Hewscraft. The seams leaked badley and someone had replaced rivets with hollow pop rivets. I struggled for years with the leaks. I finally had enough and flipped the boat over on the trailer and stripped off all the "glovit" type coating. I brought it in and had the bottom sprayed with "Rhino Lining", the stuff they use for pickup beds. I had them leave off the second texture coat. What was left was a glossy smooth bottom coating approx. 1/4" thick that wrapped up over the seams on the sides. The boat never leaked a drop again and was almost bullet proof. The stuff was fantastic. No real noticeable increase in weight and self sealing to boot. I am considering doing the bottom of my driftboat next.

[ 02-27-2002, 03:31 PM: Message edited by: Paranoid ]

Grass Hopper · 02-27-2002, 02:45 PM

Available in Seattle or by mail @ 800 215-3684.

02-27-2002, 02:49 PM

Fisherman's Marine and Steven's Marine should carry Marinetex locally.

Rick

GoFish · 02-27-2002, 03:12 PM

Hey Paranoid,

I'm hearing more & more uses for that stuff and your suggestion sounds good. 1/4 inch had to add some weight though. I didn't know about the texture coat part. I thought that the stuff always dried with a lot of texture.

Grits · 02-27-2002, 08:22 PM

I used a rubber mallet and had some hold a board on one side and pounded the rivets with a rubber mallet. This took care of the problem for me.

MicroFish · 02-27-2002, 09:15 PM

I used a product called Aluminox on Sea Nymph
rivets a few years ago---------worked great!
Made by Seacare Corp, Monmouth Beach, NJ.
I haven't seen it out here for a long time---but
haven't really looked, either.