Fixing Jon boat rivet leaks

[fitz73222]

Ok, I know this is about as Aquasport as a Fiat at the Chevy garage, but I recently inherited a pretty nice 74' Ouachita big jon boat 14' X almost 6' beam and a really clean 94' Yami 25. This thing is a battleship and it took two of us flip it over for winter storage. The rivets showed signs a various silicone, epoxy and other assorted hardening goo`s in order to stop leaks. What is the best method of repair to seal off these rivet leaks. I know it is impossible to weld 35 year old aluminum because you just cant get it clean enough. Are there any new space age repair epoxies out there that will stick to these rivet heads and stop the leaks? Sorry for the diversion from our primary mission statement but there are too many brains in this forum for me not to ask the question!

[MoDean]

Not a new product by any means, but I have found aluminum epoxy sticks to be very effective in sealing up leaky rivets in my tin boats.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10300

[pete]

I saw the G man use west g flex epoxy and a heat gun to fix alum boat rivets on ship shape tv,they wire brushed the rivets on the hull bottom,put on the epoxy and heated it to flow it into the void.

[gran398]

Pete, thats cool:

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/g-flex-epoxy/

[wingtime]

I saw the G man use west g flex epoxy and a heat gun to fix alum boat rivets on ship shape tv,they wire brushed the rivets on the hull bottom,put on the epoxy and heated it to flow it into the void.

Yeah I saw that episode and forgot about it.  I thought that was a great fix for a common problem.

[mkguyvr]

I have drilled out and tig welded many a rivets in a buddies old aluminum vee, even build them up a bit to resemble a rivet. I would think the epoxy would work good, especially if you drill out the old rivet and use epoxy when putting he new rivets in.

[feeling2damgood]

here in bayou country we drill out the rivet and insert a small round head bolt with neoprene washers on the inside and out.
use a lock nut on inside with some locktite for added help grind down the bolt sticking out and done. works great.

[RebelYell]

..

I would be tempted to try JB Weld ( LOL )

The idea of drilling out the old rivet and putting a bolt through with washers on either side and a locking nut seems like a great idea.

 :joker:

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[John Jones]

I have one little leak in my aluminum boat.  I'm going to try Marine Tex Flex Set before I resort to welding.  I used it to repair a seam leak in a Zodiac several years ago by just pushing some into the seam with a toothpick and it worked really well and is still holding.  The guy at West Marine says they use it to attach mounts to the Zodiac style boats.

http://www.marinetex.com/marinetexflexset.html

Marine-Tex FlexSet is a non-sagging, non-shrinking, permanently flexible epoxy adhesive.

Sandable and paintable, FlexSet resists vibration and bending failures by curing to a tough, flexible consistency that creates an air and watertight seal between mating surfaces.

Bonds to Polyethylene Starboard & Marine Lumber, PVC, Hypalon®, ceramic, rubber, polyurethane, glass, acrylic, steel, fiberglass, polycarbonate, wood, ABS, aluminum, Lexan® and dissimilar materials.

Apply above or below the waterline, in wet or dry areas.

Bonds dissimilar materials like PVC to copper. FlexSet outperforms PVC Cement! Because of the vibration and shock resistance, FlexSet is highly recommended for PVC pipe repairs. As bonded joints shrink and expand, the FlexSet moves with them. Therefore, it won't crack or break from the surface.

[John Jones]

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I would be tempted to try JB Weld ( LOL )
..

Good stuff, BUT...  JB actually does contain microscopic steel and I'm not sure of how the dissimilar metals would react.  Probably eat a hole.  Just like a brass screw in an aluminum boat.  Brass on aluminum will eat a hole in a few weeks, even in fresh water.

[saltfly]

Well I’ve replaced more rivets then I care to remember :cry: . That’s why my Aluim boat is all welded . I would replace leaking rivets, by drilling the old one out and replacing it with a blind cherry max pop rivet. First after drilling out the old rivet. Put a little 5200 around the hole then push the rivet into place and pop it , done. I use a pneumatic rivet gun, but you can use a standard rivet gun. But it will just take more effort to pop it. Cherry max is a self sealing structural rivet. Their very strong and use through out the the whole aircraft industry. You can find them on the net and find a vender near you. All you will need to know is, the dia and length you need.

[Hi308]

I used Jb weld on my 70's sears gamefisher to repair a gash and havent had a problem. After 2 years, 10 salt water days, and dozens of fresh water outings no rust or corrosion on the repair site. And true as the boats name, it was "Good Enough".