Help Please- Aluminum boat repair

[apextrail]

I have an aluminum bass tracker that sprung a serious leak this morning on KY lake (took on 20 gallons in 3 hours). I found a rivet that holds the center flute pouring water from it when I loaded the boat on the trailer. It also leaked all the way home from KY lake (200 miles). Can I remove the rivet and pack the hole with silicon or do I have to put a new rivet in there ? Have also considered epoxy used to fix holes in aluminum boats. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[greenriverman1]

I think I would think about having it ARC welded but the Tracker dealer should know best. I would talk to the dealer first.

DA

[kyshorthair]

I would have a new rivet put in there or have the hole welded if the metal is thick enough.

[JimDicken]

Just an idea.. I see a product advertised occasionally on TV. It is supposed to be some kind of product that you use with a propane torch that can be used to fix a motor or just put 2 pieces of metal together, OR to fix a hole.
Alumaweld? If I see it I will try to post it. I saw it at a show years ago and it worked. Basically it is a solid metal super glue. You heat the metal with the propane and then draw the stuff across the metal that has been heated. You can then fill in a hole, or attach another piece of metal. In your case you could fill the area around the rivet and the rivet would hold to the new metal. It is sandable and not brittle..
AGAIN I can not be sure of the name, but it seemed to work REAL good on Aluminum, and aluminum engine blocks.
Jim

[apextrail]

Hey Jim,

I considered that product but the rivet is in the "flute" or center channel that runs right down the middle of the boat. If that stuff would flow up into the hole (similar to solder) it might work.I am afraid it may have to be fixed from inside the boat which would be a major deal removing interior stuff. This may be a bigger job than I can tackle in my back yard. Any suggestions on a repair shop that would do this kind of stuff ??

[Rowdy]

If it's 1 rivet J B weld it Just push in the hole real good.

Rowdy

[sambora]

I would just fill the hole with JB weld and then marine silicone over it. You have enough rivits around it that you would not compromise the structure of the front chanel. If you do decide to weld it, remember you have alot foam under the deck. You must remove the foam away from where your welding or it will catch fire. It's alot of work to remove the front deck and scrape foam away and to weld, replace foam and re-attach the deck. If you have more questions got Trackerowners.com and post and do a search or post a question. You should find alot of answers.

[apextrail]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the JB Weld may do the trick. Never really considered it for some reason.It is only 1 rivet that I can tell and it is obviously loose. I can actually wiggle the head with my finger.

[sambora]

Apex you can empty all your compartments and fill the bilge with water while the boat sits on a level driveway, perferably concrete. You may have more than one leak, if so this is an easy way to find it.

[apextrail]

That is how I found the leak. I stopped at a gas station on my way home and saw the water literally pouring from the rivet. It had a fair amount of water in it and I did not see any other leaks.

[artcarney_agr]

J.B. Weld works every time!!! My duck boat gets a leak in it every so often from a loose rivet and a quick patch of J.B. Weld always does the trick!!!

GIT R DONE and have fun!!! :)

[Moose1am]

JB weld it. That stuff has plugged a hole in my boat where a rivet head come apart back in 1990 while I was preparing to go to KY lake for a boating and camping trip. I almost canceled the trip but my neighbor told me about JB weld and gave me some to use. He and his family were going camping with us.

We put the JB Weld over the hole and then departed for KY lake. We ended up staying the entire weekend and water skied all weekend long. The JB weld is still plugging up that hole in the side of my aluminum bass boat. My boat is a 1978 Fisher-marine Water strider III boat. I have had 3 or 4 rivet heads pop off. Three times I had the holes welded shut by a aluminum heliarc welder. Each time it cost me over 50 bucks to have the hole welded shut. The JB weld is still working and it didn't cost me a dime.

I have a set of the JB Weld tubes in my house and would not be without it anymore.

Make sure you clean the surfaces of the metal really good. I recommend using an acid paste to rub on the metal to clean it and that will help the JB Weld adhere much better. Just put the acid wash on and let it set for a few minute and then wash it off really good with lots of water. Let the boat dry completely and then put on the JB Weld.


The best overall repair is to put in a new rivet but that would involve taking the boat apart and that's not really an option. So the JB Weld is your best bet. Welding would work good but you must be careful you don't set the boat on fire if there is foam next to the hole being welded. That's why I won't recommend welding the boat with anything hot. Now if you know for sure that there is nothing flammable close to the hole then go get it welded shut by a heliarc welder. But make sure that you don't get anything like foam inside the boat's hull too hot.



Regards,

Moose1am