I have a 1974 starcraft that has a leak .I purchased the boat last month and have used it alot but I notice it leaks alot. I repaired a few pin holes(old repairs too) on the bottom about 3 inches from the stern with some marine tex .I noticed the bolts that mount the motor the previous owner installed last year dont have any fresh marine caulking on them .Could all that water come throught there and what would be the best way to seal it without removing the motor if possible?
Put some water in the boat while on the trailer to see which rivets leak,then wqhen drained and dried clean the leakers up with sand paper and wipe with acetone before applying some 3m 5200 sealant on the rivets.Put a quarter sized amount on both sides of the rivets and smoothe it.Charlie
CrazyCharlie I did check the rivets with a partial fill and found only 3 slow drips .I want to know if I just pull each motor bolt pack it with marine sealer insert and tighten bolt and do all 4 like this will that seal transom leak?
The slow drips are no longer slow when the boat is floating because of the weight/pressure of the boat pushing down in the water.You sound convinced that the engine mounting bolts are leaking so you may as well seal them as well.I would also run a bead of sealant around the entire engine mount.DONT skip the rivets.If 3 are dripping from a partial fill of the hull then those 3 will do more than drip when you are floating.There probably are others that dont drip from the partial fill but do drip when you are floating.When you add those all together you have a decent size leak.The Gluvit is a good sealer if you can get at the inside of the hull but will add zero strength to the rivet to hull connection.3m 5200 will seal and add strength to the rivet/hull connection.Done correctly the 5200 is permanent.Charlie
Originally posted by crazy charlie: The slow drips are no longer slow when the boat is floating because of the weight/pressure of the boat pushing down in the water.
I tried explaining that very concept to a friend, he thought I was crazy.I'm glad someone else has confirmed it. Thanks Charlie Aldo
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Charlie I did the engine mount and ran out of marine sealer so im gonna try to do these bolts one at a time being I can remove the engine without a couple extra hands. The gluvit you guys have been talking about, is it for the inside of the hull only or will it work out side as well?
Redpuppy,re-read the last line of my last reply.Dunaruna,I owned a 25ft riveted cabin cruiser.Man did that baby leak!!! Barely leaked a drop when on land and filled with water.Could not have done the sealing w/o the 5200.That stuff is unbelievable.If your friend wants proof--take a styrofoam cup and pop a fork through the bottom and place it in a sink filled with water and let it float and then slowly push it down into the water.Charlie
aluminum hull - leaking
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