Aluminum boat hull repair question

[MXFisher]

Well, I been have a problem taking on some water in my boat and after alot of searching and eliminating things like the live well, bilge plug etc. I have found the leak. One of the rivets on the bottom is damaged and is the source of my problem. I watched the water leak back out of it so I'm sure it's leaking in there.
My question is have any of you had to repair a damaged rivet on your alum. boat? I found kits to fix the rivets but you need to be able to get to both sides of the  and don't think I will be able to. I thought about welding but would rather leave that as a last resort. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Dan

[fishryc]

Well, I been have a problem taking on some water in my boat and after alot of searching and eliminating things like the live well, bilge plug etc. I have found the leak. One of the rivets on the bottom is damaged and is the source of my problem. I watched the water leak back out of it so I'm sure it's leaking in there.
My question is have any of you had to repair a damaged rivet on your alum. boat? I found kits to fix the rivets but you need to be able to get to both sides of the  and don't think I will be able to. I thought about welding but would rather leave that as a last resort. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Dan

How's it going Dan?
 I had the same problem many years ago. What you have to do is go Wal-Mart and buy a big bath towel and place it on the leak and ring it out as necessary!
 Just kidding, obviously. But I bought a product that was inexpensive and worked well. I cannot remember what it was called, but it was an approx. 3/4 inch square, 10 inch long bar of some blue material. You melted it onto the leaky rivet with a poropane torch; kind of like sealing an envelope with wax. It was made for this and did just fine.
Scott

[walleyechaser]

I've used the marine grade liquid alumninum.  You'll only have to do one side but you have to do it when its a fairly warm day.  I can't remember the exact temp but it will say on the package.  I also used it when I mounted my transducer and it works great.  You can get it at your local hardware store. 

Just make sure it says marine grade.

[MXFisher]

How's it going Dan?
 I had the same problem many years ago. What you have to do is go Wal-Mart and buy a big bath towel and place it on the leak and ring it out as necessary!
 Just kidding, obviously. But I bought a product that was inexpensive and worked well. I cannot remember what it was called, but it was an approx. 3/4 inch square, 10 inch long bar of some blue material. You melted it onto the leaky rivet with a propane torch; kind of like sealing an envelope with wax. It was made for this and did just fine.
Scott

Good Scott, how have you been? Of course I'd be much better if my boat wasn't leaking!!LOL

Do you remember where you bought the material? A marina or Wally world or something along those lines? I googled it and there's about ten pages of crap to weed though.......

[grumpymoe]

if you dont want to do the repair by replacing the rivet, you can buy steel epoxy...it will bond to pretty near anything and will also cure if the spot is damp...you just work the chunk same as putty until its uniformly mixed then press forcefully into place and spread it out...it can be sanded, filed, drilled in 15 minutes if required...1 hr and its there permanently....up here at the hardware store, its about $7.00....Grump

[walleyechaser]

if you dont want to do the repair by replacing the rivet, you can buy steel epoxy...it will bond to pretty near anything and will also cure if the spot is damp...you just work the chunk same as putty until its uniformly mixed then press forcefully into place and spread it out...it can be sanded, filed, drilled in 15 minutes if required...1 hr and its there permanently....up here at the hardware store, its about $7.00....Grump

sounds very similiar to liquid aluminum.

[oakorchardfishking]

sounds very similiar to liquid aluminum.

I was thinking the same thing... the liquid-weld stuff!

[walleyechaser]

I was thinking the same thing... the liquid-weld stuff!

works great on my little aluminum boat.  I drilled holes for my transducer and filled em in with that.  No leaks and its been 3 years now.

[fishryc]

if you dont want to do the repair by replacing the rivet, you can buy steel epoxy...it will bond to pretty near anything and will also cure if the spot is damp...you just work the chunk same as putty until its uniformly mixed then press forcefully into place and spread it out...it can be sanded, filed, drilled in 15 minutes if required...1 hr and its there permanently....up here at the hardware store, its about $7.00....Grump

 Two good ones of this type are "PC-7" and "Liquid Steel" made by Magic Amarica Company. Both are two part epoxy.

[shrub]

try this stuff

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0001390010655a&navCount=2&podId=0001390&parentId=cat21324&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat21324&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat21324&hasJS=true

[Left Handed Model]

JB Weld....  smear on...let it harden... no more leak...

[biggeorge50]

I had 2 rivets leaking.  As a temporary repair I drilled them out and hammered a lead split shot in each hole.  3 years later the "temporary" repair is still working.

[grumpymoe]

just an after thought to a few posts....JB Weld is a top-notch product....however....it is not the same as some of the steel epoxy products out there....this stuff is absolutely amazing and FAST...cut off a chunk and work it in your fingers until well mixed....(I suggest latex gloves to keep your hands clean only)....just like a little ball of putty....and you work it into the hole...spread out with your thumbtip....(they even suggest using a bit of water to feather out )....its paintable, can be sanded, drilled, cut....will adhere to glass, metal, aluminum, steel and just about anything else you can think of...the reason I think so highly of this stuff, is this past weekend, I had a 2nd water pressure tank on our home well that was starting to seep....I planned well ahead of time...all the tools to remove a tank from galvanized pipe....to make a story short, I didnt and couldnt break the fitting without using heat or redoing the entire section of pipe...as a last resort, I applied the product to the water pressure tank and allowed the one full hour to cure...the result?.....PERFECT....now I can wait for milder spring weather before tackling a project that needs to be corrected properly....this stuff when used appropriately is the CATS MEOW!!!!....I intend on carrying it with me on all outdoor adventures...never know when it will come in handy......Ramlin Grump

[MXFisher]

Well I went with J-B water weld. Seemed like the best choice out of the selection at the store. It's in it's 20 minute drying/hardening period right now. I'll let you guys know how it works out....



Hopefully I will be fishing this weekend

[spoonfed]

 the only thing with jb is it isn't very forgiving with movement.  with an alum boat being flexible it might not hold to long for you.  i used it on a leaking duck boat and only got one yr out of it. it flaked and peeled around the edges.  i used a 2 part clear epoxy i bought at boaters world made for use on alum boats. can't remember the name but it was quite pricey. like 30 bucks but its held now for three yrs. hope the jb works for you.