Removing epoxy, silicone from rivet repair attempt

[deerhuntre]

I recently purchased a boat that turns out to require running the bilge every half hour to remove about three inches of water. It's a 1986 19' aluminum fish and ski. Along the way someone applied some sort of epoxy that looks like JB-Weld to about half the rivets on the hull from the outside. Other rivets have silicone. I applied Sikaflex 291 on top of all that. Now the hull looks just awful with all this gook caked on all over and it still leaks. I really want to start over and remove all the substances and look into using Gluvit from the inside instead. At least I think I want to do this. It makes me very tired just thinking about it.

So I'm looking for suggestions on making this boat seaworthy while removing the mess from the hull. Arg.

Thank you!!

 

[jmoorepghpa]

Re: Removing epoxy, silicone from rivet repair attempt

Wow. Thats a whole bunch of stuff to remove. To start with the sikaflex and the silicone if you have a heat gun try to soften that up a little and see if it will scrape off or you can get it with a wire brush. (when the stuff is hot always brush AWAY from yourself). If that isnt working you're gonna have to try some acetone or xylene to break it up. The epoxy or JB weld material will be a much bigger pain in the posterior. Get one of those little vibrating engravers and grind the tip down to a flat chisel shape. Shouldn't cost more than about $10. Being mindful that aluminum is soft use this little devise to chip out the hardened epoxy. It's like an air chisel on a smaller scale. Just watch when you are getting close to the hull. I don't know that you will remove every last bit of it but you should get most of it off.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Removing epoxy, silicone from rivet repair attempt

A few things...

Silicone is not good to use on aluminum boats ...... it ends up failing.

Can you gain access to the bottom of the boat from the top?

I would actually use water and identify the leaking points and work on them first. (Yes, put the water inside the hull)

Get some blind rivets (available on the internet) and replace what you need to.

Gluvit is the best stuff to stop leaks but is only applied to the inside of the hull. It is thin and flows like real thick oil but seals and hardens. (the top access to the bottom of the hull).

Aluminum welding is also an option if you have a crack. I would suggest you get on your back and wiggle under the boat on a trailer with a bright light. You will be amazed defects, scratches, gouges, loose or missing rivets will be pretty obvious.

Since it is a 1986..... might as well check the wood in the transom.....

Most of all of the old stuff needs to be removed...... If you insist on a wire brush........ ONLY use one on a small drill and the brush should be made of brass or bronze and medium bristles at most. Do not use an angle grinder with a cup brush unless you want to see your hull ripped apart. Any brush made from regular wire (steel.... stainless is good but very hard) is not healthy for the aluminum hull.

 

[burroak]

Re: Removing epoxy, silicone from rivet repair attempt

By searching the net with Ask.com, you will get very precise and technical information regarding the removal of both substances.

 

[deerhuntre]

Re: Removing epoxy, silicone from rivet repair attempt

This is a really great community! Thank you to everyone for the suggestions. I'm putting together my "project plan" to organize my plan of attack.

Again, thank you!!