I have a 14ft aluminum jon boat which is riveted together. The guy I bought it from said it leaks a little, but after I used it for the 1st time.....I found it leaks more than what I want it to. There's about 5 rivets that leak fairly heavily. I bought a little bilge pump which works wonders for evacuating the water....but it's a pain in the a$$. You fish a little til your feet get wet...then run the pump for a few minutes.....then do it all over and over again. My question is for those that have had old riveted aluminum boats that leak....is there anything that I can use to seal the rivets. I've tried silicone caulking with little success. Would epoxy or JB-Weld work better? This makes me wish I'd held out for a welded boat vs a riveted boat, but I got an awesome deal, so I'll make do for now.

Here is one way. Watch the videos.

http://www.muggyweld.com/boat.html?OVRAW=aluminum%20boat%20repair&OVKEY=aluminum%20boat%20repair&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=2628354512&OVKWID=28004047512

Here is the best way.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=D5XTE0VTPYNDUCWQNWRSCNIK0BW0IIWE?id=0001390010655a&type=product&cmCat=gifts&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=gifts&cm_pla=0240101&cm_ite=0001390010655a&_requestid=61925

Remember to use the link on BassResource

OUTSTANDING!!!! The Cabelas product is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. I know it would take some time....but I wonder if it'd be worth it to use that on every rivet that is below water level in the bottom and sides? Or just use it on the ones that obviously leak and worry about the others as needed?

 

Gluv it.

Nuff said.

Elevate the boat on saw horses, blocks, whatever and fill with water.  Mark the rivets that leak.  Repair those.  When more leaks apear repeat process.

Kelley

I prefer to drill out the old rivet and replace with a tapered head bolt (short one)   Add a touch of sealant/adhesive to the threads and you'll never touch it again.

I have repaired many rivets and it didn't cost anything, get a friend, turn the boat up side down on saw horse's and with 2 ball peen hammers( one on the inside of the boat and one on the outside) start tapping the rivets, swelling them in the holes, that also tightens the ribs up and keeps it more ridgid. If you don't tighten the rib down to the skin of the boat it will move and the same problem will reoccur. LBH has a good idea also and IMHO everything else is temporary.