Followup - Leaky Boat

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I posted in the general forum the other day about me fixing my leaky aluminum boat. For years, it's leaked and finally I've about got 'er licked.

24 rivets and I think 20 of them had a slow leak. I got all of them drilled out and replaced the rivet with a SS bolt from the bottom - flat washer and lock washer on top with some marine silicone. 23 out of the 24 do not leak! Done.

But I have this one that was leaking bad when I filled the boat up with water. I took the bolt back out and noticed a hairline crack that runs from the hole that I drilled. It's only about 1/2" long, but big enough that I probably don't want to drill another hole that big.

So, I need some advice from someone who's been there - done that. I can think of no other way to fix it except to use a bigger washer... but even then ,i'm not sure if that'll work. Suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

Have someone weld it...

 

[Football Hunter]

Have someone weld it...

yep

 

[rsimms]

Agreed (on the welding).

You actually could probably stop water leaking with some of that Liquid Metal Patch. I've used it on my canoe. However once you start beating and banging on the water, the patch won't keep the crack from growing.

Only a good weld will do that.

 

[Mike Belt]

Double bubble? The only time I ever chewed gum was on the road to a fishing hole with my little 10 foot john boat. I'd plug it when I got there and it'd carry me through that trip. Not very permanant though...

 

[marlin45/70]

I would agree on having it welded, but one piece of advice is to drill an 1/8" hole at the end of the crack and then have the crack and both the drilled and rivet hole welded. This will stop the crack from continuing on.then just redrill the hole for rivet. any welding shop should be able to do this for a minimal price.

 

[8up]

if you use a bigger washer cut a piece of rubber inner tube and make a small hole in it and put it next to the aluminum and tighten it up. This should seal it up, but wont keep the split from getting bigger.

 

[Zeek]

TIG that rig!

 

[turkeyhunter64]

find you a good aluminum welder. Welding Aluminum is a fine art. Get a good one to do it.

 

[J Hartman]

yea u would for sure have someone weld the crack... but you know when then rivets leak, all you need is hot glue and a propane torch, and there is absolutely nothing better, faster, or easier, we've been fixing our aluminum boats that we've had through the years like that as long as i can remember. and that glue seeps on down into the fine holes and fills them, it's good stuff.

 

[shhs37]

yea u would for sure have someone weld the crack... but you know when then rivets leak, all you need is hot glue and a propane torch, and there is absolutely nothing better, faster, or easier, we've been fixing our aluminum boats that we've had through the years like that as long as i can remember. and that glue seeps on down into the fine holes and fills them, it's good stuff.

I agree!