Leaky boat

[pulleye16]

So Late last fall I discovered a pretty large leak in one of our boats, its actually one of the first original lund boats my gandfather gave to me. Not 100% sure where the leak is located. Thinking of just filling it up with water and scoping it out. Any ideas that could help? Whats a good way to fix it without breaking the bank and ruining this vintage boat? Do those kits at stores work (aluminum)?

p.s. yes i did have all winter to do this but thankfully it's just a little puddle boat we keep at the cabin and won't need it for opener!

[Phred52]

pulleye16, I'd suggest you first put the boat in the water and get a general idea where the leak is located. You'll be able to tell by the areas that get wet first. You may even be able to isolate which rivet(s) are the culprits. Mark the areas and get the boat dry again (at least the outside) put it on the trailer with the drain plug in place and run water into it from the hose. You don't need to bother filling it above the water line, doubtful your leak is that high. Use a car creeper and roll around underneath looking for drops of water. If done over a dry concrete floor or sheets of cardboard that helps too. When you find some leaks, have a buddy reach into the boat with a 'body dolly', and you underneath, rap the rivet to re-seat it. Dry it off and watch to see if it drips, if it does, rap it again. ALWAYS use the dolly backer! You don't need some kit and a big wad of goo hanging on the outside of your boat to make it stop leaking. For the safety of both you and the boat, don't get into the boat with water in it, while it's on the trailer. Phred52

[coombia21]

fill the boat with water while the boat is suspended or on the trailer and determine where the leak is. Then just patch around the leak with the aluminum boat repair kit. It is just a stick of filler, you heat the metal up with it and just fill the hole or leak with filler. Kind of like welding or soldering. It worked for me.

[eurolarva]

Depending on where the leak is. Water carries a lot of weight. You put too much in the boat while it is on the trailer you could damage the trailer or the boat. Water weighs 8 lbs per gallon and a boat can easily hold over 200 gallons of water. 1600 lbs of weight in the boat on the trailer and it might not be a good idea to crawl under the boat. '

Look at the rivets. If you trailer the boat look at the areas where the boat comes in contact with the bunk boards or any part of the trailer where the boat comes in contact. If the trailer is not set up right it can be the reason for the leak. I have had minimal success with fillers and repair kits. If it is a bad rivet drill it out apply RTV to both sides and just pop a regular rivet in then coat it with more RTV.

[pulleye16]

After reading these responses I'm thinking to myself this maybe an all summer job cause I left out one important piece that I just thought about. I have floor boads inplace as well as a casting deck. I'm guess logically I'd have to gut all this out....bummer, definetly should have done this last winter! I'm leaning towards its bad rivets cause this boat is only on a trailer during winter months and sits on the lake, deeper water all summer long. Also, thanks about the water weight info as I'd never had even thought about it, but it makes absolute sense. Thanks for the helpful hints!

[Craigums]

I don't want to hijack the thread but I also have a question. Ive got an little aluminum boat that I drilled some holes into to mount a transducer, now my boat is leaking also. What is the best compound to buy to seal it up tighter to prevent the leak. ps: I dont care about looks

[Juneau4]

JB Weld has fixed many a small hole in aluminum boats.

[Nick Kuhn]

JB Weld works great, but before going that route try taking the screws out and put them back in with a pretty good glob of marine sealant and see if that does the trick. I just did a transducer and I pretty much went nuts with the sealant.