Waterproofing Aluminum Riveted Boats

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garethhou@gmail.com - 19 Sep 2006 18:29 GMT

I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
friend.
This boat is in decent shape and I was advised there are no current
leaks with this boat.
I am planning to fix this boat up a bit by putting in floor
boards/carpeting and a few swivel seats.

My question is, is there something I can spray or apply to the bottom
of the boat (inside) that will make it waterproof?
I watched a show on the channel World Fishing Network where a couple of
hosts sprayed something and made the boat waterproof. I just cant
remember what it is.

I am trying to avoid having to use putty or something to make bandage
solutions to any leaks.

This is my first boat so any help is much much appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

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MMC - 20 Sep 2006 13:59 GMT

I would think a good, thick paint on the outside of the hull would work
better than what you propose. Coal tar epoxy would seal it up real well and
not cost an arm and a leg.
MMC

>I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
> friend.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Thanks,
> Gary

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Whatmeworry - 20 Sep 2006 14:18 GMT

> I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
> friend.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Thanks,
> Gary

The first thing that comes to mind is having it sprayed with Line X,
the bedliner coating. Not sure of the effectiveness of spraying the
inside though i have seen pics of it sprayed on the outside of a hull,
large workboats.

Lou

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garethhou@gmail.com - 21 Sep 2006 16:55 GMT

Hi Lou,

Thanks for the advise.
I called these guys and was asked to call the local office. They were
not able to provide me a price over the phone. This stuff looks and
sounds good however I am concerned about the costs to apply this
product. Since it is a older 14ft aluminum I did not want to spend over
75-100$ applying this. I will follow up with them and see if they can
quote me over the phone because I do not want to haul the boat all the
way to their office.

Gary

> > I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
> > friend.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Lou

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Drew Dalgleish - 20 Sep 2006 23:12 GMT

>I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
>friend.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Thanks,
>Gary

If it's not leaking why mess with it? The only place it can leak is at
the seams so spraying something on the whole boat probably wouldn't do
much. If the seams start to leak I doubt that anything sprayed on the
inside will keep the water back.

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garethhou@gmail.com - 21 Sep 2006 16:58 GMT

Hi Drew,

Thanks for your advise.
It is not leaking right now, but I wanted to do this for a preventative
measure so I do not have to deal with this later on. My plan is to wire
the bottom of the boat for my fishfinder/trolling motor and lights. I
also plan to put floor boards on the boat.
If it starts leaking after I have installed everything then I think it
might be a bigger problem fixing the leak(s) at that time.

Gary

> >I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
> >friend.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> much. If the seams start to leak I doubt that anything sprayed on the
> inside will keep the water back.

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Bob - 27 Sep 2006 17:19 GMT

> I recently inherited a 14 foot aluminum riveted boat from a family
> friend.
> Gary

Hi Gary;

In the 70s I got a free 18' Al Grumman canoe. It was thrashed thoughly
by a bunch of beer drinking cowboys from Bend, OR. A couple drift
boat guys suggested an epoxy product called Gluv-it. Its fairly
standard stuff in the PNW. The drift boat guys added since most the
ribs were broken, seems moved around, and most the rivets were loose
they suggested calking the obvious holes inside the canoe with sealant.

I got an additional 10 years of hard use out of the Grumman and then
passed it on to a geology guy in Elko NV.

Gluvit the outside.
Sealant for the rivets and seems on the inside.
I imagine if your boat moves really bad the epoxy will fail.
But......... hey it was a free boat. Be happy you have the opportunity
to have wet feet and enjoy.

Bob

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Boat Forum / Building / September 2006

Waterproofing Aluminum Riveted Boats