Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

[tuneball]

Hello everyone,

I bought an aluminum boat last year which has a leak and I would like to fix it before the season starts. I've already tried filling the boat up with water over the rivet line and marked where it was leaking from, I then drained it and let it dry. I patched all the leaky spots with aluminum epoxy putty. It fixed the leak to a certain degree, not as much as would of like it to. I've heard of some people flipping their boat over and loctiting or sealing all the rivets that see water. My question is does anybody know what product I would use in order to do that. I've checked loctite, but there is like 50 different kinds out there. Please help, anything is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

[QC]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

Hey tuneball. The product that you want is called Gluvit . . . I am going to move this over to the Restoration section as you will get more responses there for this type of question . . . Good luck!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

DAN it really depends on what type boat you have, an aluminum jon boat, or a cuddy cabin. we need to know what you are working with.

 

[evinice66]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

cabelas aluminum boat patch $6.50 and you need a hand held propane blow torch.... works wonders!

 

[sschefer]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

The first step in fixing leaks at rivets is to tighten the rivet(S). You can do that with something as simple as a block of steel on the rivet head and then re-peening it with a ball peen hammer. Depending on where it's located it may be a two person job.

Once you have the rivets tightend up, then use GluVit to replace any missing or damaged seam mastic. It will penetrate into the seam and creates a flexible seal around the area.

 

[tuneball]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

I have a 14' aluminum, it's a Lund, probably mid 80's.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

I have a 14' aluminum, it's a Lund, probably mid 80's.

It would be prudent to take the time to tighten all the rivets and Gluvit all the seams.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

Concur, rebuck the rivets, all you need is a hammer and something heavy to back it up, another hammer or peice of steel.

Throw the boat up on some saw horses and start filling it with water, put an even spread on the horses as you are dealing with alot of weight, get a couple inches of water in the boat and start marking leaks, rebuck those rivets and you are good.

Have a buddy hold one hammer on the outside of the rivet and you hit the inside of the rivet a coulpe times, problem solved.

Gluvit I'm sure is a fabulous product, only heard good things about here, but brass tacks, it is a band-aid fix, the boat still leaks but the band aid keeps the water out.

 

[tuneball]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

Thanks guys,

I will tighten the rivets and Gluvit the seams, should work.

Thanks again,

Dan

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Fixing my leaky aluminum boat

If Gluvit is as good as the claims make it sound, would it not make sense to try to work it into all below-water-line seams BEFORE re-bucking the rivets?
That way you are compressing it a bit and that should really give you a better seal.