aluiminum repair

[wolkie]

Please any and all help.

I have a 14ft alumacraft boat that has leaks on some of the rivets and main seam. This is a cheap boat so I dont want to sink alot of money into it, any suggestions on permanent and also temporary repairs would be most helpfull!

[AaronM]

If you do a search you'll find all the information you need.

Fixing leaky rivets:

here

here

here

here

Leaking boat

here

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: wolkie

Please any and all help.

I have a 14ft alumacraft boat that has leaks on some of the rivets and main seam. This is a cheap boat so I dont want to sink alot of money into it, any suggestions on permanent and also temporary repairs would be most helpfull!

I just read all those here posts and in my opinion most dont understand the rivet process,I recently bought a air hammer and rivet sets just for the purpose your stating.If ya get my way for the price of rivets I'll help ya,But I live by Willmar Bout 120 miles from you.If you want to buy the tools I can let ya know where to get them and the rivets,and how to determine the correct legnth.My email is in my profile.I have $55.00 invested I had aircompressor.airhammer as low as 10 bucks rivet sets 6 bucks ea. rivets can only buy by 100s least amount depending on size 8-20 $$ per 100.

[Sandmannd]

You can look for Bakken's Boat Shop. They are great folks to work with and just south of Owatanna. I believe the owners son posts on here so hopefully he'll see ya and give you some advise.

[wolkie]

Thank you guys very much and Sparcebag that is a awesome offer and extremly gracious of you!!!!!!! Sad to say but willmar is a bit out of reach for me at this time but I will e-mail you for that info. I was also wondering if anyone has used a product called Gluvit? It's a two part epoxy (like paint) thats supposed to fill small cracks and holes.

[shamrock7]

Gluvit would be classified as temporary fix but you should be able to keep your feet dry for a year or two if you get good coverage.

[Steve Bakken]

We've used Gluvit a few times at the shop and it does work, but the surface preperation has to be absolutely perfect.

If it's at all possible to fill the hull with water, look underneath and identify and mark where the water is leaking from. Rivets can be re-set as long as you have a partner and access to both sides.

Try setting the tongue on the ground. See if any water runs out of the back end under the end of the keel. Then tip it up and again, observe the back end of the keel rail. There is a point on the front of the hull where the one piece of aluminum splits and is wrapped around to form the bow. This seam is sealed by a rubber gasket between the keel and the hull. We have repaired dozens of leaks that originate from that gasket dry rotting. The key to this is to have the bow down so that the water will reach this seam.

[Sandmannd]

Hey Steve, haven't seen you on here in a while. Good to see you're still around and posting. Hope your Dad is doing good. You guys have an awesome repair shop.

[wolkie]

Thanks Steve! I have filled the boat with water and identified the leaks. It is leaking from a number of rivets, The transom side of the two ribs running under the boat and the keel seam. I have a few Questions, 1 do I just drill out the rivets on the keel seperate the two sides put in a new gasket and re-rivet? Also where can I get the gasket or a suitable replacement product? 2 for the ribs by the transom is there a gasket there and do I just drill and replace? 3 how do I determine the size of rivets needed?

Thank You all Once again for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Bakken]

Thanks, Sandman,

Wolkie, To do the keel repair process that way, you want to make sure that you have access to the back side of every rivet that you will remove. If you do, then you should be good to go.

They don't manufacture replacements for the seals so, you'll need to get the old one out and find something of equal thickness and qualities. The whole process can become quite a job and at the shop becomes quite cost prohibitive. That's why most customers opt for plan B. If you have access to the inside of the seam, clean it very well, grind the surface out about one inch out from the seam, clean the bare aluminum with alcohol and wipe dry, and fiberglass the area. Make sure you go up the seam far enough to get above the water line. It's not as sophisticated and not as high quality of a repair, but it DOES work.

2. Fortunately, no gasket here. Just loose rivets in a hole.

3. If you have an assortment it's a piece of cake. Since most people don't have a bunch of assorted rivets laying around, a drillbit works great. Just find one that fits the hole and your all set.

[wolkie]

Thanks again Steve!!!!!! You are a gentle man and a scholar!! If I see ya drinks are on me! Looks like I have some fun work on my hands. I wish you and your's many happy days on the water!

[sparcebag]

Wolkie on the split seam on bow,I've found a tube of butyle rubber works.it fits in a caulk gun and the tip gets in the seam fairly easy,kinda like form a gasket.It also is flexible and moves with the movement of boat.I use a bead inside and out.And a small diameter wire to get it in close to the unremoved rivets.