14' Aluminum Boat

[chili]

14\' Aluminum Boat

I have a 14' Aluminum Boat that has a few small leaks. I figure the leaks are around the rivets. 1. Is there an easy way to determine where the leaks are coming from? 2. What is a good product to patch up these leaky places? Thanks for any information.

 

[Bird]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

Is is a double hull boat? Or have a non-removable floor? If you think it's leaking at the rivets, why can you not just watch and see where it's coming in. Many years ago we had an aluminum boat that leaked around several rivets and we just identified which ones, then with it out of the water, held a sledge hammer for an anvil on each rivet on one side and hit the rivet with another hammer on the other side; i.e., tightened the rivets and stopped the leaks.

 

[chili]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

My boat is just a simple single hull Jon boat. Is there a good product that will cover the rivets if tighting them up dosen't work?

 

[Bird]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

Mark, I don't know of anything in particular that would coat the rivets and stop leaks although I would think there probably are some type of caulking, or even paint, if the leaks are small enough.

 

[aardvark]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

There are probably several epoxies that would work. At work I use 3M brand fast cure 5200. It comes in a squeeze tube and also in a caulk tube. It's available at marine stores, and also Home Depot. What do you normally do with the boat? Does it have an outboard or is it oars, etc? You can probably also paint over the leaking area with fiberglass resin and then put down some fiberglass as well. This would give a good seal is done correctly, and also add some strength, but not alot of strength. Also, if you have an acetylene torch or MAP gas torch, you can probably braize the leaking seam up to seal it.

 

[aardvark]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

Oh, and probably the best way to find the leaking rivets is to support the hull with blocks and fill it with water, and then watch for leaks. At 14' it's pretty small and that seems like it's the easiest solution.

 

[cag]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

Chili the way Bird explain to repair your boat is the way to go. If you want a quick fix go to the home depot and purchase eavesdrop silicone this is flexible enough to last about a year...cag

 

[chucko]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

I hand one that did that years ago. What we did was put it up on about 4 saw horses and put a little water inside the boat ....Not to much or it will fold like paper!
looked under it for the leaks and it was the rivits. You them just reset the rivits with two big hammers, one on each side. Takes two people. You must be careful because one miss with the hammer and you get to take the boat to a welder.
all that said all rivited boats leak some or will sooner or later.

 

[cag]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

Chucko, you explained how to repair rivets perfectly. I don't know much about tractors, but boats of all types have been used for many generations in our family, my Dad fished commercially and my Mom side of the family were Indians and also used water ways for many generations, the same water ways I use with my boys today. I know this is a bit off topic but I just thought of sharing this with you guys.

 

[Bird]

Re: 14\' Aluminum Boat

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( my Mom side of the family were Indians and also used water ways for many generations )</font>

Birch bark canoes? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'm a native of Indian Territory (Oklahoma), went to grade school with more Indians than whites, nearest neighbor and best friend back then was Choctaw, and as kids we read books about the early Indians using birch bark canoes, and since we don't have birch trees down here in the south, I could never figure out how you could make a boat of any kind out of tree bark until my first trip to Alaska in 1972! That birch bark is amazing stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif