Aluminum bottom repair...

[RyBisp]

I have an 18ft aluminum lowe boat. The seam on the bottom has water seapping in it and also a few rivets are leaking. What is the best way to go about repairing this or is there a sealer/paint that will cure it? Looking the most inexpensive route. Thanks in advance !!

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Aluminum bottom repair...

I don't have a rivited boat, so won't give you specific advice. But do a search on this- I've noticed a lot of discussion on repairing leaking rivits - both dealing with the rivits themselves as well as various products that can be used (like 3M 5200)

 

[RobG]

Re: Aluminum bottom repair...

I've used metal tape that you get at Home Depot or Lowes and covered it with a few thin layers of JB-weld epoxy, both my 12 and 14 foot jon boats are leak free around the rivets (i even fixed my bow on the 14 after I smashed it beaching it on some rocks. The tape and JB-weld hold tight.

 

[reckless]

Re: Aluminum bottom repair...

get urself a few durafix rods and a propane/ oxygen/mapp kit from sears.<br />it works like brazing(soldering) to u have to let the heat from the aluminium melt the rod, use a stainless steel brush as they say<br /> i got a few last week and its just as strong as a weld.<br /> http://durafix.com/index.html

 

[DJ]

Re: Aluminum bottom repair...

If you can get to both sides of the leaking rivets, you can try to tighten them up using a hammer and a block, on the other side.<br /><br />If you can get to the inside use Gluv It.<br /><br />Available at:<br /><br /> http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72274

 

[GaCracker]

Re: Aluminum bottom repair...

I never had any luck with the durafix. The boat acts as a big heat sink and you end up warping the hull. That's not so say someone somewhere hasn't had luck.<br /><br />Also tried Gluv-it. Problem with Gluv-it and all other epoxy products is that they can't deal with the expansion of aluminum. They will give short term relief, but quickly let go. I bouth a gallon of Gluv-it and flowed it on the inside on a hot day, hoping it would find cracks and seal them. It did, briefly.<br /><br /><br />I did have some luck using the green/blue sticks sold through Cabela's and other catalogs. Lightly tighten rivits, cover head with the green/blue stuff.<br /><br />I've read about some folks using the Herculiner truck bed coating from the autoparts store (on outside). I don't see why that wouldn't work, plus adds dent protection. If I'm called upon to make the same reapir again, that's the way I'm going