I just recently discovered that there is a hole in the bottom of my battery(who knows how), and it has come to my attention that the leaking acid will eat the aluminum in my jon. I noticed this morning that the grey paint all over the rear well is starting to peal away.

Is there anything special I should use to treat this area with and/or scrub it to cut the acid?

Do I just rinse it with plenty of water and soap and hope for the best?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

           Justin

Well you need a new battery and it should be in a strap down battery box.

As for the paint peeling you need to do some detective work to find the cause.  Was it just a bad paint job in the first place?  Is this where the battery is stored - may be due to acid fumes from the leak?.  Does it need more ventilation to stop condensation?  

There are protective paints for aluminum but they will require careful preparation.  The worst thing you can do is put paint over the top of a corrosive surface so it can no longer dry out.  If it is just bad paint and the metal is not being attacked, just cleaning like you suggest could be sufficient.

Thanks for the reply and yes that is where I store the battery,in the rear end.I never noticed paint peeling before. I am not worried about the paint itself,the boat is a 30 yr old P.O.S. I am mostly concerned with the metal being eaten away and wondering if there was any special way to clean it such as baking soda etc..

Another question: Anyone know anything about fixing the battery? Is it possible? There is a small crack on the bottom and 1 of the cells has leaked dry. Don't have 100.00 to buy a new one :-[

I would like to know if you could fix them too. I accendently sat one of my batteries on a screw that had its tip sticking out. It has just a tiny hole in the bottom now.

I get me some baking soda and put it down in that area where the battery acid was leaking out at.

As far as fixing the hole in the battery, Not sure where I was at, either auto zone orileys or wall-world sells this putty/pastes to fix leaking battery.  Never used it just putting the Info out their!

I get me some baking soda and put it down in that area where the battery acid was leaking out at.

2X Replace the battery that cell is most likly bad if it ran dry

I would mix some baking soda and water together and pour it onto the area you think the acid got onto. If there was still acid there it will bubble up and the baking soda will neutralize it.

Materials needed

Nylon bristled brush

Sand paper: 80-100 grit

Scotch-Brite Hand Pads: part # 7447

Conversion coating: acid etch primer/Alodine/Chemfilm

Paint: automotive or marine grade polyurethane

Steps

010 Flush the area thoroughly with clean water while scrubbing with nylon bristled brush

020 Allow to completely dry

030 Scuff sand with 80-100 grit sand paper to give better tooth and paint adhesion. Sanding must be taken into the best previously adhered surface in order to have the new coat of paint hold properly. Start with sand paper; finish by hand with Scotch-Brite Hand Pads. Rinse thoroughly with clean water, allow dry completely.

040 Apply a coat of acid etch primer following the mixing and application instructions to the letter.

050 Within 24 hours of applying the etch primer, apply the topcoat finish

Wow, that brings back some bad memories.

I backed my 14ft jon in after fishing one day and the battery had tipped over and I didn't know it. I shut down the garage door and didn't go back in for over a week.

When I opened the door a week later the smell was not good and I had seen what had happened.  After a few choice words I hooked it up to the truck and ran off to the car wash.  I spent about 30 mins power washing that little boat and watch as all my truck bed liner peeled off.  What a shame.

I just let her dry off, sanded it down good and repainted.  Held up pretty good until the day I sold it.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Good luck with the battery!