Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

[San Antonio Cop]

I recently bought a leakey 18 ft aluminum jon boat,with a trailer and 1983 '60 hp Johnson motor. It cost me $1300 for the entire rig. I plan on using it for duck hunting. It has some kind of substance on the seams to, I guess, help with the leaking problem. The stuff looks like it's going to be a SOB to remove. I was thinking about getting as much as the stuff off and then putting spray-on/roll-on bedliner over the entire bottom. Does anyone see anything wrong with this idea?

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Nothing wrong with the bed liner stuff, but it is heavy.

 

[San Antonio Cop]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Does the bed liner stick to anything or will it take alot of prep to get the bottom ready?

 

[2manyboats]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Some people apply the coating to the inside, as long as the leak(s) is accessible. Most bedliners will adhere to a clean painted surface lightly sanded the wiped with xylene. This way you get a nice new finish on the inside.

 

[Pan-one]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

I used the spray bedliner years ago on my 12' alum. duck boat. I just turned the boat over and sprayed it on. I did an extra thick layer on the rivits. It is holding up well. <br /><br />My friend also did this with his fiberglass flat btm. that was leaking. It is also holding well. <br /><br />Good Luck. The duck hunting is a little slow, not seeing as many this year?

 

[San Antonio Cop]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Pan-one --- Did you use a commercial sprayer or just the spray can type from WalMart? The duck hunting down here in South texas is better than it's been in a few years. My hunting partners and I have been 7 times so far this season and we have limited 6 of those 7. Pintails and Canvasbacks are everywhere.

 

[swimmin' for shore]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

I talked to Line-X recently, and they actually were courteous enough to reccommend that I not use their product. You need a product that will "pool". That means that whatever product you use needs to go on cold. Rhino-lining is ideal. Yes, it will stick to most anything. For best results, their suggestion is sandblasting beforehand, then cleaning with xylene, vinegar and water, or acetone.

 

[2manyboats]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Hey S. A. C., can't shoot Canny's and Pinny's for another couple weeks around Dallas. Is it different down there? Hunting has been good here where there's water.

 

[San Antonio Cop]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

2many - same with Pintails & Canvasbacks down here as well. We have been out 8 times and have limited all 8. We're having a great year so far.

 

[2manyboats]

Re: Sealing the bottom of an aluminum jon boat

Good to hear. Our lease near Creole, LA is a mess from Rita. The devastation to wildlife in the marsh is, well, indescribable. <br /><br />But here North of Dallas, the birds are a'flyin'- finally. Still a chore for a limit, but that's mostly operator error.