I think I have a pinhole leak in my tinny

[Beefer]

I think I have a very small leak in my aluminum jon boat. I'm noticing a little bit of water, and I mean a little bit. There is a possibility the plug is leaking (seems a bit dried out), but I think it's coming from the hull. I can't see any holes, but there are a couple of tiny rust colored spots on the bottom.

Assuming I get around to changing the plug, and I still see water, what's the best way to A) find the leak, and B) patch it?

 

[90stingray]

Re: I think I have a pinhole leak in my tinny

Clean the hull and put it in the water. Remove the boat once water is noticed. Once dried you can look for the water spots and stains. Or you could fill the inside with water to see where it leaks out. Is the hull rivets or welded? Once you find the leak you may want to change out some rivets, or there may be a cracked weld somewhere.

 

[roscoe]

Re: I think I have a pinhole leak in my tinny

We had a 195? tinny in our family for 40 years.
It always leaked, about a cup of water a day.
We always said we would worry about it until it increased to a gallon a day.
It still leaks a cup a day.

But, if you want to fix it, rebuck the rivet(s) if they are the cause.
Use JB Weld.
Use Gluvit, although cost would make me think twice for a single pinhole leak.
You could probably stop it with a dab of 3m 5200.
Or a small sheet metal screw with a dab of 5200 on it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: I think I have a pinhole leak in my tinny

Get it on saw horses and put 2''-3'' inches of water in it and mark the leaks, probably rivets, then rebuck them by using 2 steel hammers, hoild one on the outside and whack the inside of the rivet once or twice to reseal them, pretty easy fix.