water getting into boat while underway

[1216bandit]

I just got the boat which is a 1993 22' starcraft islander with 235 hours on it. The interior is mint and the hull as well, so it shows no signs of abuse or neglect. No scratches, dings or paint missing below the waterline.

I removed the doghouse so I could check for leaks at the back and floated it at the dock for 3 hours and everything was bone dry in the transom area, the live well fittings are fine and the bellows are like new. I put everything back together and while out today lifted the dog house while running and water was starting to flow from forward to the back of the boat, not enough to panic about, but still something just is not right. I am thinking it has to be a loose rivet somewhere. I really would like to avoid tearing up the floors and hope someone can give me a few pointers on how to find and repair the leak. Can 5300 be used to seal the rivets from the outside?
Thanx!

 

[oops!]

Re: water getting into boat while underway

yes you can use 5200 on the outside....but it will look like carp.

take a hammer and whack the loose rivets.

 

[Bondo]

Re: water getting into boat while underway

I really would like to avoid tearing up the floors

Ayuh,... Crawl under it, 'n Look, on the trailer....

Replace bad 1s with "Closed end pop-rivets"...