Repair leaks in aluminum boat

Most leaks can be easily repaired with this kit and the following. This seals it for good and will not leak or come off.

Sand the paint off around the crack braze it grindsand it smooth touch up the paint with some rustoleum camo paint that matches the color.

Repair leaks in aluminum boat. The first step in repairing an aluminum boat leak is pinpointing the source of the leak. If the boat is convenient to the water it is possible that the location may be spotted by merely placing the boat with the interior dry into the water and having several people stationed at the bow mid ships and the stern to detect where the water is starting to come in. A short video showing step by step how to fix leaky seems in an aluminum boat using West System Epoxy.

To purchase West System Epoxy please visit httpwww. How to Fix Aluminum Boat Leaks with JB Weld Marine Weld - YouTube. If playback doesnt begin shortly try restarting your device.

Making the aluminum boat repair. With the leaks identified and marked here are the techniques used for the repair. Flip the boat over for easier access to the bottom and prepare the surface for bonding.

For the seams clean out any debris that might still be stuck inside. On the rivets I used a wire brush in a circular motion to abrade the surface. Things to Consider When Choosing Epoxy for Fixing the Leaks in Your Aluminum Boats Rivets.

Steps on How to Repair Leaking Rivets on Your Boat. Identify where the leak is. Prepare the sealing resin.

Apply the epoxy mixture to smaller gaps. Fill the bigger gaps in rivets. Clean the excess epoxy resins.

Braze it with fluxless aluminum brazing rod and a propane torch. Sand the paint off around the crack braze it grindsand it smooth touch up the paint with some rustoleum camo paint that matches the color. Aluminum to aluminum bond will be the best cleanest and most permenent option.

You get 2 for about 7 and they will seal over a hundred rivets. Using a propane torch you heat the aluminum and melt the stick over the rivet or crack in a circular rubbing movement. Take away the stick and the heat and you are done.

This seals it for good and will not leak or come off. Unless you have a welder for aluminum this is a fantastic fix. Keep your boat level and hooked up to your tow vehicle for this step.

With a garden hose fill the boat with an inch or two of water paying careful attention to the aluminum underside for any drips or leaks. Once found use a waterproof marker to highlight areas that need attention. If none noticed continue with the filling process.

To fix a leaking aluminium boat using Gflex you will also need a WEST SYSTEM 807 syringe a handheld propane torch a heat gun and some paper towels. Heres what you need to do. To identify the exact location of the leaks fill your boat with water up to the waterline.

Ive put a little water on the inside and watched the outside for leaks screwed my jack way down and checked the front first then cranked up and checked the back. I thought she was leaking like a gunnysack but turned out to be my feed hose for the livewell and the transducer mount. Aluminum boat leaking at seam Mix the gluvit very carefully and it is very thin when mixed.

You might want to back the holes with tape first on one side and do one side at a time. It gluvit is designed to creep and flow into seams so. Tipping the hull to one side then the following day do the other side.

As far fixing your leak goes you should be able to get some good info from the link below. The Aluminum Boat and Repair Board Its aluminum boat repair msg board thats been up for awhile. Should find the info your looking for there.

Hope the info helpsGood luck. I you have a hole crack or leaky rivet it is super easy to fix on your own with a small propane torch and some HTS-735-11 rods. I have seen people use JB We.

Our epoxy leak sealer repairs leaking rivets cracks and seams on aluminum boats. This 2-part epoxy sealer comes in a convenient cartridge with a mixing tip that dispenses the exact 11 ratio with no measuring mixing or mess. Cured resin flexes to prevent recurring leaks.

Works on properly prepared aluminum surfaces. Boat Repair and Restoration. Boat Restoration Building and Hull Repair.

Sealing leaks in rivited aluminum boat. Start date Aug 16 2010. Joined Aug 15 2010 Messages 2.

Aug 16 2010 1 Many threads on this subject. Sealing leaks in rivited aluminum boat I re-read your post. I now understand what you.

I squeezed a little sealant into that hole before I replaced the screw. Sealant squeezed out from both sides when I tightened the screw. Note the new screw bedded with sealant.

When all was said and done there was a skim coat layer of at least 116 to. As aluminium boats age the accumulated wear and tear on its riveted joints can take a toll on the rivets themselves. Rivets can stretch and eventually loosen leaving gaps and leaks.

Severely damaged seams may require new rivets in combination with Gflex Epoxy. Most leaks can be easily repaired with this kit and the following. Of course the granddaddy of all leaks is the leaky hull-to-deck join which is usually the most difficult of all to repair.

Ive seen numerous boats where the deck joint leaks so bad that either the boat is uninhabitable or the boat has become severely damaged as a result of rotting internal plywood structures wet bedding and the like.