1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

[Imawoman]

Good morning! I have a 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum V Bottom 14' boat that keeps leaking thru some sort of livewell system it has. There are 2 cone (?) type things on the bottom of the boat and a valve type thing in one of the livewells that is frozen solid. The last time it leaked I filled the boat with water and found the leak coming from one of the cones on the bottom so I sealed it with a hard white sealer I bought at a hardware store and it worked great. Last week I was fishing (the boat has carpeting) and the carpeting was soaked with water so when I got home I filled the boat again with water and the other cone thing on the bottom was leaking. I let the boat dry out and used 3M 5200 on the cone and it did not work at all. My questions are what would work to seal those cones and how does the livewell system on an old boat like this work? Are there fill tubes somewhere hidden inside the hull that could be removed? Thanks for any advise!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

Good morning! I have a 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum V Bottom 14' boat that keeps leaking thru some sort of livewell system it has. There are 2 cone (?) type things on the bottom of the boat and a valve type thing in one of the livewells that is frozen solid. The last time it leaked I filled the boat with water and found the leak coming from one of the cones on the bottom so I sealed it with a hard white sealer I bought at a hardware store and it worked great. Last week I was fishing (the boat has carpeting) and the carpeting was soaked with water so when I got home I filled the boat again with water and the other cone thing on the bottom was leaking. I let the boat dry out and used 3M 5200 on the cone and it did not work at all. My questions are what would work to seal those cones and how does the livewell system on an old boat like this work? Are there fill tubes somewhere hidden inside the hull that could be removed? Thanks for any advise!!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Got a picture of these Cone Thingys,..??

 

[Imawoman]

Re: 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

I just took a few pictures of the inside of the livewells and the underside where these things (LOL) are. On one picture you can see where I put that white sealer stuff on it. There may be some type of a space between the bottom of the boat and the bottom of the livewell???

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

Ayuh,... Those are thru-hulls to feed the livewell,...

If yer not gonna use the livewell, take 'em out, 'n repair the hull where they were...
Or, better yet, take 'em out, 'n reinstall 'em, better sealed up...

Chaulkin' works when sandwiched between things, Not so much when slathered Over things....

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

Ditto. If you don't want them anymore, cut them out and have an aluminum welder patch the holes up for you. It shouldn't cost more than $10-$20, if that. However, if you do want to use the livewell, then I would install some new/fresh valves as the ones you've filled are probably not worth the trouble of trying to save. For future reference, if you do need fill any small holes in your hull, above or below the waterline, you should use a hard drying epoxy such as JB weld marine stick/putty, or JB 2 part epoxy which has more of a honey like consistency and is better for small, hard to reach spots. Th putty starts off soft and pliable like play-doh, but dries extremely hard and can be sanded, painted and machined. Hope that helps.

 

[Imawoman]

Re: 1970 Orlando Clipper Aluminum Boat Leak and Livewell Question

Thanks SO MUCH!!!! I'll try to track down a welder that works on aluminum and let him deal with taking them out & sealing the holes so I don't sink out on the water!!! Have a super day!!