trying to find the leak

[autogun]

I recently bought a Gruman 16' Skidaddle w/50hp Merc. that sat in the (Buffalo, NY) elements for at least 8 years...upon getting the engine 'running' (other issues)...I took her for a spin at the lake. She's taking on water, probably around 5 gal. per hr. I figured any leak that big should be easy to find, right...??? Well I crawled under on a creeper with a light, found no apparent damage. I then filled the bilge with water via the garden hose...maybe just a couple half drips started to form on a couple rivets...and no drips after over 2 hours...what next...? Any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[GlasV162]

Re: trying to find the leak

Sometimes aluminum boats only leak when underway; I have an aluminum rowboat that does the same thing; watertight at the dock, but then it takes on a small amount of water through a few of the rivets as soon as I leave the dock. There's a product called Gluvit that's designed to "find" the leak and seal it. You might try some of that on and around the leaky rivets that you found. Good luck.