Hey guys I wanted to get some input before I started working on my boat. I have a 1968 thornes 4 bench aluminum boat. I started having water problems last season and decided to fix it this year before the season starts.

I filled the boat with water and I do have a few leaky rivets. Suggestions? I have purchased some rtv caulk, and I have been thinking that JB water weld may be a better way to go.  I also have some aluminum welding sticks.  Anyone have a better idea or experience on this?

Aluminum welding sticks suck! Don't mess with the water weld, it works but ur better of with good ol jb weld just make sure you rough up the surface before you put it down.  On my 14 foot we tried the aluminum weld sticks and they didn't work at all, we used water weld which is good to have when out on the lake but u have to pull the boat out and let it sit for 15 minutes or so b/c the pressure will just pop it off.  The regular jb weld is the best, in my opinion, we put it on last year and still no leaks this year.

X2 for the JBweld

JB Weld for sure.

An adamant NO on the JB weld.  Not that it won't work, but there is a better way.

Tighten the rivets.  

Take two hammers, one sledge one regular is ideal.

Place the heavier one on one side of the rivet

Hit the other side with the regular hammer a couple of times

Now you are not trying to turn the rivet into a pancake, you are just trying to flatten it a little.

That's it.  Faster and more permanent as long as you have a second person.  

JB Weld does not flex well and may start leaking again depending on where the leaky rivet is at.

my boat leaks and i have tried silicone with no prevail. then i tired jbweld thinking it would solve it right quick...wrong. like gatortom said, it doesnt flex, so when you put the boat in the water and start walking around in it, the pressure makes the hull flex, but the jbweld just pops off.

I've used JB Weld for a lot of automotive and farm equipment over the years and the stuff is magic. It IS NOT magic on my small aluminum boat however. The flexing of the boat keeps cracking the JB Weld and the leak starts again. I found a product called "Marine Goop" from the same folks that brought you "Shoe Goop" and a couple other "Goops". It's rated for marine use and stays flexible.  Stopped my leaks no problem.

Go to the autoparts store and get some bondo with the fibeglass strands in it. Rough up the surface. Apply a small amount. Sand smooth(wear a respirator!) and paint.

The bondo will allow for flexing. Works like a champ. 2 Years and still no leaks on my jon boat.

Bill

This stuff is the real deal.  I've used it on my aluminum jon boat and it works great.  If you do the surface prep, it's extremely durable.  I haven't used any of the other products that were suggested in other posts and never would; not after using this stuff.

There is no UV protection in Gluvit, so you'll have to prime and paint the areas afterwards.  I sprayed on a primer followed by an aluminum colored overcoat.  I think they were Rustoleum products.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=2091&engine=adwords!6456&keyword=gluvit

I'd weld it for ya, but it's kinda far....  

So far i have been using the poor boy half azzed method: Gorilla Tape   Works like a champ

Ugly, but works in a pinch.I know your looking for a more permanant solution though...... :

jeez,  are y'all scared of hamers?

:

You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the input. A few questions for clarification.

If I hammer the rivet back down what's to keep it from loosening up again?

If JB weld isn't going to hold up because of flexing,  I have a friend who owns a collision shop and he has an aluminum welder. Should I just have him weld it? Or do I have to worry about the heat weakening the aluminum?

If I hammer the rivet back down what's to keep it from loosening up again?

Nothing.  It will loosen up again in another 30 or 40 years just like it did the first time.

If I hammer the rivet back down what's to keep it from loosening up again?

Nothing.  It will loosen up again in another 30 or 40 years just like it did the first time.

;D ;D ;D ;D

Thanks again to all you guys for your help. I got the problem fixed and I believe I did it as cheap as possible. I ran a bead of RTV caulk down the seam and started tapping down the rivets with the help of a friend. Tested it out...NO LEAKS!! I am back in business and hopefully high and dry for a long time.