leaking riveted starcraft ('82 MR180)

[redneck joe]

Still leaking. Fake daughter and fake grandkids with me today so no real quantifiable testing but slightly better.

But it was a great day.

 

[redneck joe]

It took on water with a fairly aggressive pull up on the shore so thinking in the back half of the boat. I've tilted up with water in it (on trailer) and nothing out the back so thinking along the chine. Will put some more water in and use my floor jack to tilt to the sides to see what happens.

I know the best is to rip out floor, not ready for all that just yet. That is a few years down the road project if at all possible.

 

[Moserkr]

Just a thought. 5 or 6 rivets that are "fixed" with blinds would not cause that big of a leak. That amount of water reminds me of when I had a rivet completely missing and it filled my boat to the floorboards in less than 2 hours.

I say "fixed" because you already know the blinds are a temporary fix. I did the same thing and started with 5 or 6. Then as I checked the hull I found more and more. Had over 40 by the end of a summer. Problem is solid rivets are structural, and blind rivets are not. I was just breaking all the weak, damaged rivets along a few seams but the leaking was manageable with blinds/sealant. Last run of the season before I ripped the floors up to fix it right, I ran her especially hard through some chop to give the rest of the rivets a test, and broke a bunch more.

Point Im making is take it easy on her until you're ready to remove the floors. Seems daunting at first but it's really not that bad to have to do. Other point is the leak is probably from the thru hole or seams vs rivets. But Id be checking for new broken or loose rivets after every trip.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Im going to go with the thru-hulls

use some good tyvek tape. tape over the thru-hulls. then drop in the water

 

[redneck joe]

Im going to go with the thru-hulls

use some good tyvek tape. tape over the thru-hulls. then drop in the water

thought of that - would not my tilt nose to the air test do the same? Pretty sure I had enough water in the hull to be above that level but I guess i can try again. I did not get in the boat after nose up to look at water level.

 

[redneck joe]

Just a thought. 5 or 6 rivets that are "fixed" with blinds would not cause that big of a leak. That amount of water reminds me of when I had a rivet completely missing and it filled my boat to the floorboards in less than 2 hours.

I say "fixed" because you already know the blinds are a temporary fix. I did the same thing and started with 5 or 6. Then as I checked the hull I found more and more. Had over 40 by the end of a summer. Problem is solid rivets are structural, and blind rivets are not. I was just breaking all the weak, damaged rivets along a few seams but the leaking was manageable with blinds/sealant. Last run of the season before I ripped the floors up to fix it right, I ran her especially hard through some chop to give the rest of the rivets a test, and broke a bunch more.

Point Im making is take it easy on her until you're ready to remove the floors. Seems daunting at first but it's really not that bad to have to do. Other point is the leak is probably from the thru hole or seams vs rivets. But Id be checking for new broken or loose rivets after every trip.

I've font a couple floors that's one of the reasons i don't want to and it really does not need it yet.

I've filled with some water on trailer recently, all good there but I will check again. My top speed is 27 mph, I usually cruise below 4000 rm at about 18 mph or at hull speed so no beating up.

I'm also leaning to the seams. Like several of the old boats I
ve pulled in over the years the more one starts using old stuff (motor wise) that has sat for years and dries up, the more it starts failing as it is used. Hence the reason i'm going to try water in and tilted to one side. I don't want to fill up on trailer that far so the tilt seems like a plan.

 

[flashback]

Tape some visqueen to the guwales to seal off the boat, cut a hole in the plastic and tape a blower nozzle in the hole. Spray soapy water on the hull and look for bubbles. I've done this, it works.

 

[redneck joe]

Tape some visqueen to the guwales to seal off the boat, cut a hole in the plastic and tape a blower nozzle in the hole. Spray soapy water on the hull and look for bubbles. I've done this, it works.

got any links to this process?

 

[flashback]

There may be some, but basically seal off the top of the boat with a full sheet of visqueen. No leaks, then pressurize the hull with a blower, if the visqueen puffs up like a balloon you have enough positive air pressure inside the boat. Fill a garden sprayer with soapy water and spray the hull

 

[redneck joe]

Sounds too easy, and cheap. What would be best tape that wont leave residue?

 

[briangcc]

I'd go with something like packing tape or duct tape. Any residue you can get off with Goof Off or Goo Gone. Pretty sure both are available at Homely Despots.

 

[flashback]

Sounds too easy, and cheap. What would be best tape that wont leave residue?

I just used some duct tape I had laying around. don't know what would be best for no residue, the duct did leave a bit. I suspect 2 inch wide painters tape might be a better choice.

 

[airshot]

Homely Despots.

Have had a few names like that myself for their stores !!

 

[redneck joe]

Ours in our little town is one of seven in the country this size. Another one is 20 min down the road. I like to call them micro depot.

 

[flashback]

I got a Lowe's 20 miles away and a Depot 50. Ace is close at 7 miles.

 

[flashback]

I was employed by hunter marine back in the day and deck leaks from rain was always a problem.

Your problem is different but the same idea will work. I had to seal the known deck leaks and cabin then look for leaks with soapy water.

 

[rxl650]

This fella has a few video's from finding the leaks to fixing the leaks. I believe he speaks about an old Starcraft without removing the floor. You most likely seen his video's by now. lol

 

[redneck joe]

thanks!. Honestly have not gone down the YouTube rabbit hole yet...

 

[rxl650]

Sounds like your content to tinker for now. Stem the flow as best can and enjoy time on the water until the mood strikes to tear into it. The older I get, the longer it takes for the mood to strike. lol

 

[rxl650]

Any headway over the weekend? Got mine home yesterday. Work begins on the glass boat as the weather gets nicer.