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09-19-2023, 11:40 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grande Prairie
Posts: 779
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Sealing a riveted boat
I have an ancient 13ft aluminum boat, riveted hull. It's starting to leak a little around the seams in the hull, enough that after a few hours of fishing there's 1/4" of water in the boat. What do you guys suggest for sealing the seams? I can't seem to find marine grade sealant anywhere other than crappy tire and it's in a tiny bottle and the GE marine silicone at home hardware says it's not for use below the water line. Is there a caulk I can use that will seal it up?
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09-19-2023, 12:05 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: calgary
Posts: 3,013
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I used a product called Gluevit on mine many years ago. It worked well and never leaked for many years after and was sold. It is hard to find still from what I understand but some of the specialty boat stores have it or can order it in for you. Comes in a qt can like paint and brush it on the seams.
For caulking 3m 5200 is the only 1 I would use. Messy stuff and sticks like nothing else out there. It also days days to set so make sure you allow lots of time to cure before going out in the water. Brutal stuff to take off too.
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09-19-2023, 01:29 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: In the woods
Posts: 9,080
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Flex seal lol
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You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you’re capable of great violence. If you’re not capable of violence you’re not peaceful, you’re harmless. Important difference.
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09-20-2023, 09:45 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: sask
Posts: 22
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Why plaster chit on it when the rivets are loose?Wash all the dirt out of it then tighten the rivets with hammer & dolly have done several boat with excellent results. Might take 2 people to do some of it.
Last edited by ljc; 09-20-2023 at 09:54 AM.
Reason: poor grammer
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09-20-2023, 02:29 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grande Prairie
Posts: 779
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ljc
Why plaster chit on it when the rivets are loose?Wash all the dirt out of it then tighten the rivets with hammer & dolly have done several boat with excellent results. Might take 2 people to do some of it.
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I did that and still have some leaks. This boat is probably almost 50 years old. I filled it with water and marked the wet spots so I'm going to try sealing them up.
I found some GOOP marine sealant which was the best I could find in town. I'm gonna have to try that.
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09-20-2023, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 232
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I recently used Gflex 650. I'm not sure how it holds up over the long haul, but after 3 days of my boat never leaving the water and some roughish waves it has held up, boat stayed bone dry. Put it in every seam and about halt the rivets.
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09-20-2023, 08:40 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outbound
I have an ancient 13ft aluminum boat, riveted hull. It's starting to leak a little around the seams in the hull, enough that after a few hours of fishing there's 1/4" of water in the boat. What do you guys suggest for sealing the seams? I can't seem to find marine grade sealant anywhere other than crappy tire and it's in a tiny bottle and the GE marine silicone at home hardware says it's not for use below the water line. Is there a caulk I can use that will seal it up?
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Boat craft in Edmonton. 4926 99St NW
Edmonton, AB, T6E 3N6
Hours Of Operation
Monday - Friday 10:00-5:00
Saturday 9:00-3:00
Phone
780-437-4919
Gluvit https://boatcraft.com/products/gluvit-epoxy-sealer
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09-20-2023, 10:08 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 7,007
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This stuff is what they recommend for repairing the sports pal aluminum canoes . I bought some for mine but have not used it yet.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
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09-21-2023, 01:40 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 34
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100% Gflex
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09-21-2023, 05:47 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 6,354
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fordtruckin
Flex seal lol
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Don't laugh , lol..I used it on the rivets and seams of my 14 ft Tanner and it hasn't leaks in 2 years ..I'm sold on the stuff
Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk
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09-28-2023, 01:52 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Calgary
Posts: 70
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G-Flex is awesome, make sure you clean the spots you want to seal witha wire wheel, when dry squeeze the product lightly around the rivets/along the seams you want to seal. Hit it with a propane torch within a few minutes, this means you will work in sections rather than applying all the product and then heating. The torch will thin the G-Flex and it will suck right into the gaps. When it drys you are good to hit the lake.
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09-30-2023, 10:01 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 11,935
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I've had good luck reworking the rivets with a small sledge and block/bar. Sometimes if you can feel the rivets wiggling, all it takes is a couple good taps.
Coating with a sealant/caulk (a number of brands mentioned above) is easy and effective, but if you caulk a loose rivet it will keep wiggling and eventually wear a hole around itself through the caulk and you are back at square one a few years later.
I've done both on some old tinners and turned them from a leaky sieve into a bone dry boat - and there nothing like dry feet on a cold day.
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09-30-2023, 10:30 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 7,007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EZM
I've had good luck reworking the rivets with a small sledge and block/bar. Sometimes if you can feel the rivets wiggling, all it takes is a couple good taps.
Coating with a sealant/caulk (a number of brands mentioned above) is easy and effective, but if you caulk a loose rivet it will keep wiggling and eventually wear a hole around itself through the caulk and you are back at square one a few years later.
I've done both on some old tinners and turned them from a leaky sieve into a bone dry boat - and there nothing like dry feet on a cold day.
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To be fair the stuff I mentioned earlier is what they recommend for the Sportspal canoe which is made of very thin aluminum and put together with screws and then caulked on all the seams with the sealant much like a birchbark canoe. It goes on thick over the screws and is meant to be flexible somewhat.
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10-01-2023, 09:38 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: calgary ab
Posts: 2,703
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EZM
I've had good luck reworking the rivets with a small sledge and block/bar. Sometimes if you can feel the rivets wiggling, all it takes is a couple good taps.
Coating with a sealant/caulk (a number of brands mentioned above) is easy and effective, but if you caulk a loose rivet it will keep wiggling and eventually wear a hole around itself through the caulk and you are back at square one a few years later.
I've done both on some old tinners and turned them from a leaky sieve into a bone dry boat - and there nothing like dry feet on a cold day.
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I agree with the re-tap. Takes two people for sure. Did this on my 12 aluminum Harbor Craft. Stopped all leaks. Also re-sealed transom. Never should have sold it. Deep V hull.
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10-20-2023, 08:37 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albert
Posts: 817
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I used gluvit when I sealed the seams on my 18.5 ft inboard during the restore. It flows into the seams as I recall. Not a drop over the years. I also used a high build epoxy primer on the bottom too so double protection
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10-20-2023, 09:43 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: In the woods
Posts: 9,080
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H380
Don't laugh , lol..I used it on the rivets and seams of my 14 ft Tanner and it hasn't leaks in 2 years ..I'm sold on the stuff
Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk
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That’s awesome! Wait you’re not the guy on the commercial with the holes in the boat are you?? J/k
__________________
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you’re capable of great violence. If you’re not capable of violence you’re not peaceful, you’re harmless. Important difference.
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10-21-2023, 03:16 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grande Prairie
Posts: 779
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I ended up using the GOOP Marine sealant as everything else wasn't available locally. It seems to have done the trick for now!
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10-22-2023, 07:51 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 342
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boat leak repair
HI Guys
Try a material called Sikaflex. It is a marine sealant. made for use in water, fresh and salt water. Works real good. It is also used on trailers to seal leaks. It is very flexable so don't put it on too thin as it shrinks a bit after it drys. There is two kinds one is self leveling one that is not. It is used around doors and windows on trailers and on roofs to seal around vents. Make sure the area where you are putting it is spotlessly clean. Once it is on it aint commin off. Get it on your clothes and your cloths are ca-put, done ,finished. The stuff that flows will flow into some pretty skinny places. It should go on when it is warm if it is too flow well. Your building supply should have it as it is an indusrial product.
Bjay
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10-26-2023, 07:53 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 6,354
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