Home Forums Fishing Freshwater What to use? Sealer?

I have a 12ft riveted aluminum boat that leaks. Not sure where though. We haven't used it in years. What would work best to coat the whole bottom either inside or outside? We are also looking for something to put in the boat to cut down on noise. I don't think I've ever heard a boat as noisy as this one.

Get the boat level, plug it and run it four inches deep in water. The leaks will show on the outside. Any good sealer will work but a good spray on will probably flex more than a silicone type sealer. To sound proof your boat get some good insulation sheets from the lumber yard and cut to a squeeze fit and top it off w/1/4in plywood screwed to the ribs w/stainless screws. The whole project won't cost $60. powdr

This is one of the few places where that Flex Seal stuff might actually work. You can get similar stuff at better prices at any home improvement store. I've seen "spray sealant" by RustOLeum at Lowes.

That's what I was thinking about trying. Seems like it would be simple enough to spray the whole inside instead of trying to find individual leaking rivets

If you can find the leaks, marine goop is a great product. Cheaper in tubes like caulk. Carpet also reduces noise. Indoor/outdoor carpet can be had in many shades at a big box store, will quiet things down, and reduce slipping.

Now if the weather would cooperate long enuf to get the boats water ready. . and to clear the ice off the lake =so there is somewhere to go!

I've stopped leaks in an old Crestliner several times by bucking the rivets.

Vern what does that actually entail? powdr

Gluvit, which is a two-part flexible epoxy, comes highly recommended from people on boating forums. I have never tried it myself, though.

Link:

Gluvit by Marine-Tex

put some water in the boat and find the leak areas....mark em and drain the water.....put the boat on it's side and have a buddy hold a heavy piece of steel [larger hammer head works fine] against inside rivet head while you hit the outside head with a hammer.....doesn't usually take much and rivets shouldn't be hammered excessively......do the leak area and several rivets each side.....

Just bought a 12' sea king from a buddy of mine. When he got it it leaked like a sieve, but being the handy guy he is, he bucked the rivets and painted the whole underside with Gluvit. We took the Mother inlaw trolling for rainbows on Mother's Day and were on the water for about 5 hours. The little boat literally didn't leak a drop. I have never seen a riveted boat that was as watertight as this one.