Repairing aluminum boat

[footshifter]

I have an older MonArk that is leaking around a few rivets. I took it to a "welder" in Fort O to have it repaired and he could not do it. Is there someone in the area who rebucks rivets or can actually weld on an aluminum boat (for a reasonable rate)? I tried some of the miracle welding sticks with propane/mapp does not work.

 

[CherokeeRidge]

I know several guys that fish the shallow rivers in East Tennessee who had that problem . They have Line-X (the bed liner people ) coat the bottom of their boats seems to work well.

 

[inthebox30lbs]

There is also a product that Bass Proshops sells ( not sure what its called its a stick that you heat up and apply around the leaking rivets. I helped a buddy fix a riveted Fisher bass boat that was leaking bad. You have to apply it from the inside of the boat which was a Pain in the @#$#@. We had to take off all of the decking and put the boat in the water to find the rivets that were leaking and mark them. Once we did that it worked great and the boat has never leaked since. Its an option if you are looking to save money and dont mind working a little. Hope this helps.
Scott

 

[Guest]

You can also put about 4 or 5 inches of water in the boat, see what rivets are leaking, place a dolly bar on the rivet on the inside and take a hammer and lightly peen the rivets from the outside untill they quit leaking and then go on to the next leaking rivet. I have an air rivet gun I use but a hammer will do nicely, just don't overdo it with the hammer, when it quits leaking, it is tight. Wipe off the rivet with a paper towel to see if it has quit leaking. I have done quite a few boats over the years with this method.

 

[Liveliner]

Doc1 - 10/4/2007 8:08 PM ............ I have done quite a few boats over the years with this method.

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[footshifter]

Well, as luck would have it, the reason it was leaking at the rivets was because it had cracked at the rivets. Prior owner had used silicone to seal the leaks. Was going to use Gluvit to seal the boat bottom but Boaters World only carries it in gallons. Used some 3M 5200 from the bottom and will let the boat sit on its top for a week - hopeful that takes care of the problem but I really need to find someone who has the capability to weld/braze aluminum. If not, then I guess I need to find out what the price is for scrap aluminum.

 

[footshifter]

Used the 5200 on the bottom of the boat - put it in at Queen City Res- no leaks on bottom. Now leaking at transom. Price for scrap is 57 cents per lb. I'll let you know what I decide.